Ulam was running with all his might. He had only just managed to reach the Core Realm using a growth pill that his grandfather had given him. It would be ridiculous to think that he knew any of the techniques used in this realm. He hadn't even had time to experience it. He was still learning. That's why he couldn't use any techniques while running. In contrast, despite carrying a half-dead weight, Gomez was much faster than him. Surprisingly, though, he was waiting for Ulam.
Ulam looked at him suspiciously. It would be ridiculous to believe he was a nice guy. Panting, he chuckled softly.
"What? Are you thinking of using me as bait in the third test?' he asked suddenly. At that moment, Gomez was looking around carefully. After what had happened and the loss of his greatest fighting power, he was paying the utmost attention to what would happen in the face of an even more difficult test. He cared about his life. In response to Ulam's question, he just glanced sideways at the young man.
"You think you're awake? You're just an inexperienced Core Specialist. You're nothing. So drop the smart-ass attitude!"
Ulam was annoyed by these words and frowned. He knew this. Compared to other towns, he certainly seemed to be more talented, but that was normal. Ulam had access to far more resources and came from one of the kingdom's largest clans. Yet even with these advantages, Ulam was considered talentless compared to others. Compared to people in other cities, compared to people from his own clan, and sometimes even compared to village geniuses.
"I wonder if you'll say the same thing when I get the inheritance?" he said suddenly, but these words only made Gomez grin more broadly.
"Even then, you'll only be slightly above average compared to people in the capital. Just look at the dead weight on my back! He's 26, I think, and he's already in the middle of the Sage Realm. When I inherit the legacy, I'll only reach the Sage Realm too. I'm a few years younger than Malehit. My value to the clan will increase, but will I really be able to make a name for myself in the capital? I don't think so. You're even worse off than me. Even with the legacy, you won't reach the Sage Realm."
At that moment, Gomez stopped and turned around. His eyes were filled with intense emotion. He looked directly into Ulam's eyes. Ulam's face had also become quite ugly.
"How high can someone like you rise?"
At the same time, Ulam's emotions began to change quite violently. He seethed with anger, but he hadn't lost his mind completely yet. He knew he had no chance of winning against Gomez.
'Why should I fight him anyway?'
At that moment, Ulam realised there was a problem, but his mind was already clouding over. Compared to Gomez, Ulam had a much calmer mindset, enabling him to snap out of it instantly.
Their eyes met. The shock in Ulam's eyes momentarily brought Gomez back to his senses.
"The third test?"
But the fog had already clouded a significant part of their minds. Their instincts were awakening, and it would not be surprising if someone whose mental balance was not quite right had lost it by this point.
KIIIRRRTT!!!
It was like someone who had lost a leg and was swimming on the edge of death.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
As blood covered everything, Gomez grabbed the man who was biting his neck, lifted him into the air and slammed him onto the ground. Blood flowed like a river from his neck as he brought his hand up to it in pain. He could see the bloody piece in Malehit's mouth. It was small, but he was wounded nonetheless. Gomez's eyes also filled with blood as he suddenly lunged forward and pounced on Malehit. Ulam stared in shock at what was happening. Malehit had been unconscious for a long time. When had he really woken up?
"Those born with talents like yours always think they can have whatever they want! Kill whoever they want!"
Gomez swung his fist, but Malehit dodged the blow as quickly as a bug on the ground. Although his eyes were spinning too much for him to speak, Gomez was still somewhat conscious. He could still speak enough to express his anger.
"The third test is the eruption of emotions from the heart. Only those with a strong heart can walk the path."
A heart of origin energy. For anyone under 30, even those in the Core Realm, to reach such a level of peace of mind would be laughable.
Ulam watched the two men clash in astonishment. His heart was pounding. Even though neither was using any techniques, the fight was fierce. Despite having lost a leg, Malehit was still at the fifth stage of the Sage Realm. He jumped around on the ground like a spider, covering Gomez in blood. Each time they collided, Malehit would choke Gomez with his formidable power, yet Gomez was still able to resist.
At that moment, Malehit was fighting with his bare hands. Gomez, however, was swinging his hammer and creating more bruises on Malehit's body. He was trying to turn Malehit into a pulp, as if he wasn't already badly wounded. Ulam didn't know what to do — Gomez was trying to kill Malehit!
'Evra is already dead. I don't need this bastard anymore!'
Gomez had already built up incredible anger towards Malehit because of what had happened in the past. Because of him, he might not have had the chance to take up this inheritance filled with opportunities. If it weren't for Gomez's past contributions, Malehit would have succeeded.
At least now he could try his luck.
When he raised his hammer, it was no longer an ordinary weapon. He swung it at the half-conscious man's head, intending to kill him.
DINNNGG!!!
There was still one person who could stop this attack. It wasn't Ulam, who was growing colder and colder in the freezing temperatures. It was the young man whose eyes flashed with madness as he crushed the first blood-covered test sword. Evra's entire body was covered in blood, and the sword that had stopped Gomez in his tracks in front of Malehit was his. The trembling, upright face, filled with terrible rage, belonged to him. As the spell of the third test took hold of Evra's mind, his eyes grew increasingly red.
"I should have known from the start that you would betray us!"
As the sword swung, an immense power burst forth from it, greater than that of a Core Specialist of the first stage. It hurled Gomez dozens of metres forward. In that cold, he slid on his feet without collapsing and came to a stop shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, behind Evra, Malehit was freezing to death in the increasingly bitter cold. If he didn't move, death would be inevitable. Despite his incredible rage and fire, even his little brother in front of him couldn't stop his teeth from chattering. Ulam was watching them from afar and still didn't understand that he was the key to passing this test. But even if he was, the power was not in his hands.
Gomez looked at his enemies in front of him. He showed no trembling, no fear. A faint yellow aura emanated from his body. His eyes were turning yellow. He wasn't cold. He wasn't afraid. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such a scene. He was born to survive.
No one was better suited than him to adapting to the harshest conditions. He extended his pickaxe forward. He would survive once more. Just as he had before. He would survive and ascend to the realm of the Sages!
He didn't care whose bones he would have to step on to do it!