The Evernight Ascension Stairway remained shrouded in endless darkness.
At its lower end, nearly nine hundred participants had gathered at the foothold, watching the two figures who continued ascending toward the unknown.
At first, they had believed that Kharon and the Evil Diva were merely exceptional geniuses who had managed to overcome the first stage of the trial.
But as time passed, that assumption became increasingly difficult to maintain, for the two had already crossed the hundredth step, where the trial's nature changed completely.
Yet neither had been forced to stop; instead, they kept climbing.
136th.
137th.
138th.
139th.
140th!
'BOOM!'
A muffled tremor spread through the Stairway.
Ace's expression remained composed, but his eyes were becoming increasingly focused.
