Chapter 157: Unexpected Ascents

“What’s happening!?”

In the midst of sudden chaos, several Third-Stage fighters instinctively blurted out questions.

Though the difference between the fifteenth and sixteenth floors seemed minor, everyone knew exactly what each additional level meant.

The higher you climbed, the tougher it got. By the time you reached the sixteenth floor, it was almost universally accepted that only S-Class Strength Type fighters could pass.

It was these slight power differences that often made or broke your defense!

“Surely he can’t be using his Willpower talent during the Strength Trial!”

In bewilderment, a Third-Stage fighter lost his voice asking, while Zhang Meng beside him wore a grave expression.

“It’s impossible. Over the years, plenty have tried exploiting loopholes. Even if you use bonus items before the trial, the system resets everything!”

“No matter how unique Yenir’s talent is, the system’s limits still apply!”

The first to question fell silent, his expression sheepish as he no longer spoke a word.

Throughout the years of the Doomsday process, everyone had felt the system’s terrifying might. There was no room for error when exploiting loopholes! To them, the Doomsday System was divine. He now realized how laughable his earlier speculation had been.

“Let’s see… maybe he just pushed himself to the limit?”

Suppressing his doubts, the atmosphere turned tense and eerie from the moment Yenir broke through to the sixteenth floor.

Not long after, as Yang Guoping quickly announced a few names, several Awakeners who had withdrawn early reappeared in the real world.

Over twenty trial participants, most stuck on the fifteenth floor, found it nearly impossible to move ahead.

After all, these people were primarily recruited as fillers by various major factions, only meant to temporarily secure a spot.

Those who withdrew bore injuries all over, yet their faces beamed with joy.

Before entering, high-ranking figures from several major factions had instructed them to perform well, so that upon completing the trial they would be promoted to Third-Stage fighters. They expected to bask in congratulatory praise and recognition, but within seconds of emerging, these newly minted Third-Stage fighters were surprised to find that no one was paying them any attention.

What’s going on?

They unconsciously glanced toward Yang Guoping, who was focused on the equipment display. Looking around in confusion, they noticed Yenir was nowhere in sight.

What’s happening? Has that kid not withdrawn yet?

Although they prided themselves on not being on par with top geniuses, they all knew that in a Strength Trial, overcoming Yenir—the Willpower fighter—was no easy feat.

Before they could think further, Yang Guoping’s expression darkened as he stared at the display.

“Seventeenth floor!”

“Yenir has pushed up to the 17th floor!”

“There are only six left now!”

With his announcement, the room burst into chaos. The Awakeners who had just returned were left slack-jawed in disbelief.

Had they misheard!?

A Willpower specialist breaking through to the 17th floor? It sounded like a ghost story.

If they hadn’t just come out of the trial, they would have seriously doubted whether the trial was even real. Beyond the 17th floor, the enemies were Second-Stage elite mutants! In a prolonged fight, only Strength Type fighters with exceptional talent could possibly survive.

“Where’s Zhang Yang!?”

The normally composed Zhang Meng blurted out, a rare flash of anxiety crossing his face.

Yang Guoping looked up at him and, after a brief hesitation, checked the display:

“Zhang Yang remains on the 17th floor.”

“Now, Yenir and Zhang Yang are on the same floor. Wang Kai is on the fifteenth floor and Yan Feng on the sixteenth. Everyone else has withdrawn.”

With those words, a stunned silence fell over the hall, and even Wang Meng clenched his fists tightly.

For some reason, a bad premonition began to rise within him.

No one knew how Yenir managed it, but the system never lies! Now, the two were completely neck and neck!

Within the crowd, the previously worried Zhao Long briefly showed a glimmer of excitement on his face.

That kid… actually did it!?

Could it be that Yenir is actually dual-type? Hiding his true talent all along?

As everyone regained their senses, even the weathered veteran Zhang Long smiled in mild surprise:

“Yenir is something else.”

“Could it be that this kid is dual-type in Strength and Willpower? Hiding it until the perfect moment to strike?”

With those words, many Third-Stage fighters unfamiliar with the plan nodded thoughtfully.

If that were the case, they could barely understand.

Yet just thinking about it seemed bizarre. Most Awakeners wouldn’t hide their talent—if anything, they would boast about it. For Yenir to push straight to the 17th floor, and if his talent did indeed bear Strength traits, it was somewhat over the top…

Unlike those who hesitantly accepted the news, both Zhang Meng and Yang Guoping, who knew well that Yenir had been dropped from the Fire Seed Plan before, were convinced that Yenir was purely Willpower type. They had confirmed it through tests!

They had even reviewed the data—thousands witnessed the Test Crystal’s results. There was no mistake!

Completely unsure how Yenir managed it, they could only swallow their astonishment and continue waiting.

…….

“Ahhh!!”

“Just die already!!”

Inside the Trial Tower, Zhang Yang was wildly locked in combat with a mutated White Bone. The creature, its head barely covered in flesh, looked like a corpse ravaged to pieces—terrifying beyond words.

His battle axe had completely become erratic.

At the brink of physical and mental exhaustion, Zhang Yang’s chest caved in, and with every exertion, a heavy flow of blood seeped out.

Blazing orange spiritual energy erupted in bursts, empowering his battle axe and causing the mutated White Bone to tremble. Under such immense force, large chunks of bone shattered apart.

Against 17th-floor foes, he had fought relentlessly for nearly four to five minutes.

Though the time seemed short, in the eyes of an Awakened fighter, it was an eternity.

Every nerve was on high alert, his limbs felt as if weighted with iron. As he panted heavily, a trace of defiance burned in his eyes.

He knew very well that he had reached his limit!

Initially, he had tried to conserve energy by dodging, but after sustaining injuries to his chest from the mutant’s stray attacks due to his lack of attributes, Zhang Yang realized he couldn’t hold out any longer. Only relentless offense could interrupt the mutant’s assault, which had brought him this far.

But clearly, no matter how strong his talent or how fast his stamina recovered, such enormous fatigue was already overwhelming.

“Boom!!”

Under the clash of immense power, Zhang Yang felt the grip on his battle axe fracture. Enduring the pain, he steeled himself and charged forward without hesitation.

“Berserk!!”

With a roar, he unleashed his final hidden talent. Enveloped in a flash of explosive orange light, he became one with the axe and slammed it down onto the White Bone’s skull.

“Crunch!”

Accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, his giant axe successfully severed the mutated creature of the 17th floor.

Yet, as the system’s prompt sounded again, his face blanching, Zhang Yang staggered, nearly collapsing.

Staring at the slowly falling corpse, he panted heavily, a grim smile on his face.

He couldn’t keep going.

Though his combat skills were far from poor—even among average Awakeners, he was outstanding—multiple missteps had made it clear that he had hit his limit.

There was no way he could clear the eighteenth floor.

To continue fighting meant certain death.

Clutching his chest wound, Zhang Yang took a deep breath. Reluctantly, he acknowledged that his performance, though extraordinary under pressure, could only take him so far.

Breaking into the top ten was incredibly hard. With more preparation, he might have done it. But for now, he was satisfied with his score.

In any case, he was effectively first! Achieving the eighteenth-floor result was something the Huaxia Battle Zone hadn’t seen in ages!

Straining himself to stand, Zhang Yang excitedly opted to withdraw.

He needed to exit to recover his injuries and, naturally, he anticipated the awe when everyone saw him return. The eighteenth floor was a result to be proud of!

“Vrrm”

With a flash of white light, he emerged in the Reality Tower, barely leaning on his battle axe.

But as he regained his senses, ready for a round of admiration, he was surprised to see that the hall’s atmosphere hadn’t erupted in cheers.

Instead, it felt strangely eerie.