The Copy Mage

Hearing the second voice in his mind claiming to be that of the will of the principal and founder of the academy, a legendary and mysterious figure, Damian couldn't help but be shocked.

[What! You mean to tell me that you are the will of the principal] he exclaimed.

"Yes, young one. That is I," the voice responded.

Damian began asking all sorts of questions, but to his disappointment, the supposed will of the principal didn't answer. Utsusu who was observing their encounter couldn't help but burst into laughter.

{Kid, it is only the will of the principal. While it is also only an array that has select answers prepared and it isn't the principal itself. It's like trying to communicate with a recording. Just ask about the reward, the staircase and things that the principal would have prepared in this case} explained Utsusu.

Hearing that, Damian felt stupid, but he didn't know much about arrays, while he also didn't see anything as impossible, so maybe the principal truly was communicating with him through the staircase, or so he previously believed.

"What are the rewards I get for reaching the seventh step?" asked Damian.

"It is amazing that you have made it this far and you certainly have the spirit and tenacity required to be a cultivator. You make me proud and are truly worthy of being a student of Akegria Academy," the voice praised.

Hearing how it spoke and opted to say something else before actually answering his question, it became clear and obvious to Damian, that just like Utsusu had said, it truly was merely a recording.

"The reward for reaching the seventh step is that you may collect any skill within the Skill Library that you are capable of retrieving, exactly like it was when you first entered the academy. The pass will be found in your Academy Identification and I am sure you will be able to acquire some great skills and make the most of this opportunity,"

"If you have made it this far, then it is very likely you are worthy of being a Core Student of this academy and are likely to become so in the near future. So make the academy proud and keep doing great,"

After the recording finished, Damian then went on to ask what the reward would be for getting onto the eighth step.

Meanwhile, focusing as hard as they could and surpassing their limits, suppressing the blood they could feel rising up their throats due to the strain their body was in, Damian's friends managed to make it onto the seventh step.

It seemed as though Damian making it seem so easy and their own competitive spirits had allowed them to surpass their limits, while they had also all activated any ability they could to do so.

When their power and strength increased by using their abilities, the pressure would also increase and stay proportional, so the downwards force they were experiencing would appear to be the same.

But their abilities helped them to reinforce their bodies and steel their minds, helping them continue onwards, especially that of Cole.

Cole's Hardening Ability made him feel invincible and the sensation he experience throughout his body was one that created a sense of hope, warmth and safety. However, that wasn't why his ability would help in the second round the most, as the pressure would counter act any power he gained through the activation of his Soul Spirit.

It was the mental effects it had that was useful. While his ability was activating, he would become a battle crazy freak that was reckless and wild, but was also very competitive and driven, aiding him in making it onto the seventh step.

Just like with the sixth step, they sat down and began meditating, cultivating and trying to strengthen their body. The pressure was tough to bear, and it felt as though they were buried under a mountain, but were still enduring and began hearing the principal's message.

They all heard exactly the same thing and had a similar reaction to Damian. They wanted to look at each other to confirm that they were also hearing it and that they weren't going crazy, but losing focus for even a second would be fatal.

Just like Damian, after hearing what the principal initially had to say, they then went on to ask what the reward would be for making it onto the eighth step, and were shocked by the answer they received.

They were all elated by the reward they received for making it onto the seventh step, which would help to improve their power and versatility, while they were also still going to try to make it even further.

"You are an ambitious one, aren't you? If you make it onto the eighth step, you would be accomplishing an incredibly feat and will be rewarded handsomely for it. As well as 10,000 contribution points, you will also have the opportunity to choose any weapon, item or piece of equipment from the academy armoury. Although they aren't the great treasures of the academy, as those are with me, you can find some great stuff in there that I am sure will be very valuable and beneficial to you," the voice said to all of them.

After hearing that, who wouldn't want to make it onto the eighth step. While they also couldn't help but become curious about what one would receive for making it onto the ninth step successfully.

Since it had taken them quite a few minutes and until they were relatively comfortable and stable on the step for them to hear the voice, Darren was unlikely to have received the reward of the ninth step.

From what they had heard, he had only just managed to get it onto the ninth step, before being launched off the staircase and majestically flipping in the air before landing elegantly onto the ground.

That meant that nobody had ever received the reward that was granted to those that made it onto the ninth step, which made them want to find out about it and also get it for themselves even more.