Chapter 62. The Hundred Steps Ceremony (4)

The Hundred Steps Ceremony.

This event began in the 10th year and has been held without fail for the past 41 years.

Among the nursery's events, it is an unusually large-scale ceremony presided over by the Sword Master.

For the existing cadets, the Hundred Steps Ceremony is not only a rite of passage to gauge the new cadets' abilities but also a process to select those who might become future competitors.

And the small bets placed on the results of the Hundred Steps Ceremony were a minor but irresistible form of entertainment for the existing cadets.

"Really, how many steps will they take?"

"I bet 1,000 points that they won't even make three steps."

"I'll bet 2,000 points that they'll make four steps."

"But the remaining ones seem to be in pretty good condition, so maybe they'll make five steps?"

"Four and a half steps!"

The cadets began predicting the results of the 50th year's ceremony based on the records of previous Hundred Steps Ceremonies.

The best record in history was nine steps, set 35 years ago.

And the highest record in the past ten years was eight steps, set two years ago.

So, when everyone was predicting that the 50th year's record would be within eight steps.

"Eight steps."

The sudden clear voice made everyone who was betting fall silent.

It was natural for their heads to turn in surprise.

The voice that surprised everyone came from none other than the area where the 49th year cadets were gathered.

It came from a girl sitting at the very front.

A well-known figure, not only among the 49th year but also among other cadets.

'Teresia Winchester?'

'What's gotten into her?'

She usually didn't get involved in such matters, which made the surprise even greater.

But her words were not over yet.

"I bet 100,000 points that they will take more than eight steps."

"……?!"

The gazes of those looking at her were filled with the feeling of 'Do you know what you're saying?'

Nonetheless, she only stared at the stadium.

Then,

"Eight steps… That's an interesting statement, Teresia."

A slightly displeased voice came in response to Teresia's words.

The source was a man who seemed to be at the boundary between a young man and a boy, sitting in the first row of the 48th year's area.

His short, dark blonde hair.

His thick eyebrows and black eyes.

He was a handsome man with distinct and bold features.

The sudden interruption caused everyone to watch the situation with great interest.

It was only natural.

If Teresia represented the 49th year, then the man who represented the 48th year and was their focal point was none other than him.

Thus, all the gazes that had been on Teresia now turned to him.

Amidst the attention on how he would respond,

"You speak of eight steps so easily."

The man's displeasure was evident.

Still, the atmosphere around him seemed to understand to some extent.

It was perhaps natural.

Two years ago.

It was he who had taken eight steps in this very stadium.

He had every right to speak about eight steps.

Teresia briefly denied it.

"I didn't say it easily. I thought about it thoroughly and believed it could happen, so I said it."

"……"

"And I didn't say eight steps. I said more than eight steps."

Her clear and precise rebuttal made the man's eyebrows twitch.

A stiffened voice came from him.

"That's right, 100,000 points on more than eight steps."

"Yes."

"I'll take that bet. I bet that they won't take more than eight steps. But!"

"……"

"I'll raise the stakes to 500,000 points. Will you accept?"

In response to his provocative tone, Teresia briefly shifted her gaze to the stadium.

Her eyes couldn't leave the black-haired boy standing straight and looking at the Sword Master.

After staring at him, Teresia nodded.

"I accept."

* * *

Yuri's eyes narrowed as he looked at the Sword Master.

'The Hundred Steps Ceremony.'

A simple ceremony of walking towards the Sword Master, breaking through a terrifying aura.

He didn't know the exact reason why the Sword Master, the absolute ruler of the world, engaged in such a childish act.

But Duran had said it.

The Hundred Steps Ceremony was a test given by the Sword Master.

'A test? No way!'

Yuri's thoughts were different.

His fist clenched tightly.

'Crack.'

'This is… an opportunity.'

Usually, challenging the Sword Master required risking one's life.

The so-called 'Throne Challenge,' a life-risking challenge to the Sword Master.

So far, the only one who had survived this challenge was the Unyielding Sword, Johan Redner.

He had thought that the only way to challenge the Sword Master would be through the Throne Challenge.

But there was another way.

'Even if I don't fight the Sword Master directly, this is a chance to glimpse the power of the world's strongest being.'

The Hundred Steps Ceremony was a rare opportunity to challenge the Sword Master without risking one's life.

Realizing this, Yuri looked up at the Sword Master.

'That far… is a hundred steps.'

The distance between the lines was about 70 cm.

In other words, the distance to the Sword Master was about 70 meters.

But the distance Yuri felt was much farther.

'Is this just a hundred steps?'

The Sword Master was just sitting with his chin resting on his hand, doing nothing.

Yet, he was overwhelming Yuri with a dominant aura.

It felt as if his entire body was bound by heavy iron bars.

'If this is how it feels from a hundred steps away, what will it be like when I get closer…'

Perhaps a terrifying aura would be waiting for him.

Yuri bit his lip.

'Can I really reach there?'

He pondered this.

But his contemplation didn't last long.

'Ha ha!'

Yuri burst into laughter inwardly.

'Yuri Holland… this foolish and weak kid.'

At the moment he cursed himself, a scene unfolded before him.

The hundred steps between Yuri and the Sword Master.

In that desolate space, the apparitions of people began to appear.

One, two, three people…

The apparitions of people who had gradually appeared had now grown to an enormous number.

Because they were all looking at the Sword Master.

From Yuri's position, he could only see their backs.

Yuri recognized who they were.

'Those who sought the Throne Challenge.'

They were the many who had challenged the Sword Master before him.

Some had only made it to 90 steps.

Some to 60 steps.

And some even less than 50 steps.

Countless people had approached the Sword Master, but some had given up and stopped.

While others continued to move towards him.

And in the midst of these apparitions,

At the forefront, a small, old man with one leg was walking ahead of everyone else.

'Johan Redner.'

For decades since the Throne Challenges began.

During that long period, the one who had come closest to the Sword Master in the hundred steps was undoubtedly him.

'Even this old man Johan is still struggling to reach the Sword Master… and I was already worrying about when I would reach him.'

To worry about it without even trying.

How truly pitiful.

Yuri smiled slightly.

He stared intently at the apparition of the small, old man approaching the Sword Master from afar.

'Old man…'

Surrounded by a red aura, the Sword Master looked as if he was enveloped in hellfire.

And the back of a challenger who, despite his body burning, continued to walk towards him.

With this, Yuri slowly relaxed his body.

'Just wait a little… I'll catch up soon.'

It probably won't take that long.

With this resolve, Yuri took his first step towards the Sword Master.

Crack.

Even before his lifted foot touched the ground, the pressure from all sides increased.

As if to say, 'I won't allow you to take a step.'

But Yuri silently planted his foot on the ground.

Thud.

'One.'

One step.

Despite moving only about 70 cm, the pressure doubled.

Yuri chuckled to himself.

'I'm crazy.'

Just one step and it's this intense?

Then, how much pressure would it take to reach the distance where a sword could touch the Sword Master?

The pressure that was crushing his entire body made Yuri's lips twist.

'Interesting.'

Yuri decided.

To test his limits in this place today.

'How many steps can I take with my current strength?'

With this thought, he lifted his leg again.

The pressure increased once more.

Crack.

Yuri straightened his back and resisted the crushing force.

And he moved forward.

* * *

Pant, pant.

Gunter was gasping for breath under the overwhelming pressure.

But the pressure didn't ease up.

'Mana…!'

Only by awakening the mana in his core and infusing his body with power did he manage to regain his senses.

Thud.

The sound from nearby made Gunter turn his head.

There, a cadet who had been struggling on the ground was now sprawled out.

It seemed he had fainted.

Similar scenes were unfolding all around Gunter.

Thud, thud.

At the start of the Hundred Steps Ceremony, those who had managed to hold on.

Then, the cadets who had been struggling on the ground fainted one by one.

"Grgh!"

"Help…"

As time passed, those who had been half-bent also began to support themselves with their hands on the ground, like those who had fainted earlier.

Judging by their appearance, they would soon join the ranks of the fainted.

Thus, after filtering out the weak,

Only those standing on their two feet remained.

There were about 30 of them.

Of course, not all of them were in good condition.

More than half of the 30 looked pale, as if they would collapse at any moment.

Only a very few seemed to be standing steadily.

Despite clearly hearing the test's content to move towards the Sword Master, no one dared to take a step.

Just standing there was already a challenge.

'This is the power of the Sword Master…'

Facing the Sword Master's strength, which he had only heard about, he finally understood the extent of his fame.

'To knock down so many people with just his aura from such a distance…'

Thus, Gunter couldn't help but wonder.

Could he really move towards the Sword Master?

No, he already knew the answer in his head.

'This is a test. I must move forward.'

But his body wouldn't move.

His mind knew it was a test, but the fear of the Sword Master held his feet in place.

'I must move!'

Just as he was repeating this in his mind,

Thud.

A small footstep echoed.

But to Gunter, it sounded like thunder.

His gaze naturally turned to the direction of the sound.

And he saw it.

The side profile of someone who had taken a step forward among the many who had fallen.

'That kid…?'

Even though he could only see the side profile, that long, black hair belonged to someone very familiar.

'It's that kid!'

The boy who had stood against him in the black line.

Gunter stared at the side profile as if entranced.

And it wasn't just Gunter.

All the 50th year cadets who had been standing steadily were now staring at Yuri's side profile as if entranced.

And at that moment,

Crack.

Thud.

Yuri successfully took another step.

The second step.

While others did nothing, he had taken two steps alone.

Now, the 50th year cadets were seeing not Yuri's side profile but his back.

This back view stirred a strange ripple in the hearts of those watching.

It was the same for Gunter.

'Why…'

Just two steps.

Just two steps ahead of everyone else.

"Why?"

Why does that kid's back feel so far away?

Just two steps apart!

And this fact moved Gunter.

'I won't fall behind.'

Thud.

Gunter lifted his leg and moved forward.

And that was the beginning.

Gunter Irons.

Poppy.

Arlin Helga.

The three followed Yuri's steps.

And as they moved, others began to follow as well.