As Zar and Atlas climbed higher and higher, the pressure they felt grew increasingly more unbearable.
From the 80,000th step… the 90,000th step… until they reached the 100,000th step, Zar, who was filled with overwhelming confidence, knelt under the crushing pressure.
"No! How can I stop here? How can I be weaker than others?"
Punching the ground in defiance, Zar tried again and again to stand.
But as if a mountain pressed on his back, he was forced back to the ground.
"No! No! NO! This is not my limit!"
Urging the power within his body from 1 billion to 2 billion, 3 billion, 4 billion, 5 billion… Zar finally found the strength to rise.
Yet, pushing beyond what his body could endure, he began to bleed from every orifice.
Not caring about anything, Zar continued his ascent.
Climbing to the 110,000th step, his power surged to 10 billion!
Born with a powerful physique, he was able to overload his body's limits as much as he desired. Find the translation on MV&LEMPYR.
Initially, Zar's only problem was a lack of energy, which prevented him from reaching his peak.
It only changed when Maximus created an energy-loading device, which alleviated his powers.
Even then, he couldn't fully reach his limit.
Now, in the Atrium of Law, teeming with energy that granted him inexhaustible power, Zar could finally touch his peak.
Fueled by sheer will, as Zar continued his ascent, his power grew at each step.
From 10 billion to 11 billion, 12 billion, 13 billion…
From the 110,000th step… the 120,000th step… and finally to the 130,000th.
Just as Zar pushed his unscrupulous power amplification further, his body reached its limit.
At over 50 billion amplification, his body began to disintegrate, overwhelmed by the immense pressure.
"Brother Zar, you must stop! Your body can't take it anymore!" Atlas, who had silently kept pace beside him, shouted in panic.
At this moment, pieces of Zar's body slowly turned to dust, unable to bear the overwhelming power.
Unfortunately, Zar had already gone deaf to the world.
No matter how loudly Atlas shouted, Zar pressed on.
Ignoring the pain and the fear that everything might end with his next step, he continued to ascend.
For Zar, nothing mattered more than catching up with Maximus.
The pain? The throne of the Aeon Plane? Death? It was all irrelevant.
Remembering Maximus's words, that he was waiting for him at the top, Zar refused to stop for even a moment.
Amplifying his strength to 65 billion times, he ascended to the 140,000th step.
Amplifying his strength to 80 billion times, he reached the 145,000th step.
Amplifying his strength to 99 billion, he climbed to the 149,000th step.
Just as Zar continued to amplify his strength further, he was struck.
Even as endless energy flowed into his body, Zar seemed to have reached his limit.
He didn't notice that nearly all of his body had already disintegrated.
Like a skeleton held together by his spirit and remaining will, 99 percent of what made him had already collapsed.
Atlas, still beside him, no longer had the strength to persuade him to stop.
Even as the son of the plane, bearing half the pressure with his unrivaled will, Atlas's ascent began to falter.
Undergoing his own trial, Atlas could no longer focus on external things.
Leaving Zar behind, he pressed forward, driven by the mission of his very existence.
Meanwhile, on the 161,300th floor, Maximus, enduring the pressure with his raw body and will, paused.
"I didn't expect those two to follow me so quickly…" Maximus thought with interest.
Looking down at Zar, still stuck before the 150,000th step, admiration flashed in his eyes.
At such a level, Maximus had to tap into his core of origin chaos and source of chaos, yet Zar was brute-forcing it like it was nothing.
Of course, in exchange for success, Zar's life could end.
Though they should be safe within the Atrium of Law, self-disintegration was nearly impossible to reverse.
If Zar didn't break his limit or stop before reaching the 150,000th step, death would be his only outcome.
"Let me help you a little, my friend…"
Not wanting such a fate for Zar, Maximus began to use his true path to guide Zar toward a faint hope of light.
Seeing he needed one-tenth of his reserve of plane origin to mitigate the consequences, Maximus didn't hesitate and pressed on with his wish.
"This is all I can do for you… I hope you succeed."
Besides Zar, Maximus was also amazed, watching Atlas press on.
Though he knew the son of the plane was built for this trial, it was still incredible to see him break through each step like it was nothing.
One must understand that below Atlas, all the talents and old powerhouses of the Aeon Plane were still stuck.
Surpassing them all, there was no doubt the throne of the Aeon Plane would be Atlas's for the taking without him.
"Little student, you're about to catch up to your teacher~"
Seeing Atlas reach the 160,000th step, Maximus let out a smile.
The last 1,803 steps of the trial were the hardest to pass.
Watching Atlas about to step on such a fiery pit of hell, Maximus looked forward to his reaction.
As Atlas stepped onto the 160,001st step, he suddenly felt the pressure multiply dozens of times.
Sprawling to the ground, Atlas felt embarrassed and couldn't help looking around.
Fortunately, no one was nearby to witness his embarrassment.
Calming himself, Atlas tried his best to stand up and continue his ascent.
Unfortunately, like others who hit their milestone, Atlas couldn't move, no matter what he tried.
Feeling his core of origin evolve under the pressure, Atlas let go and rested his mind.
It wasn't that he lacked the will to risk his life, but simply because he didn't need to.
Knowing his teacher, Atlas didn't believe he could win.
Having surpassed the Aeon Plane itself, he doubted this mere trial could stop his teacher.
Instead of pushing so hard that it would shorten his life and potential, Atlas chose to let go.
"Teacher, the hope of the Aeon Plane rests with you."