The Copy Mage

All asking about what exactly the reward was for making it onto and stabilising on the ninth step, Damian and his friends were eager to hear the answer and were shocked by what they heard.

"Hahaha. Young one, you are very ambitious indeed. Asking about the reward for getting onto the ninth step, before even making it onto the eighth step. Well, since you have made it this far, I will let you know about it. However, before you get your hopes up about receiving the reward, I must inform you, it has never been accomplished by anybody before and is very unlikely to be achieved by anyone,"

"The ninth step, just like the third and sixth experience the biggest jump, but since the eighth will already have been extremely difficult to stabilise on, almost to the point it is nearly impossible for most, the ninth step is one that is yet for someone to stabilise on for long enough. However, the reward for doing so is something that I am sure anyone would want,"

"The reward for making it onto the ninth step is that you will be able to come to the central branch of the academy and meet me, while you will also have the opportunity to request anything from me and I will do my best to fulfil your request to the best of my ability. The conditions are that it cannot jeopardise the academy or harm anyone in any way, but I am sure there is something you must want that I can provide,"

Was he really offering such a great reward?

If one truly could request anything, they could ask for great riches, or resources or complete backing of the academy or many other things, as long as they weren't too extreme or affected the academy in any way.

Thinking about what they would ask if they managed to meet the requirements, Damian and his friends were unsure, while they also began to feel intimidated by the ninth step.

From what the principal said, he had made it so that it was nearly impossible, which was why the reward was so amazing, since it was extremely unlikely that anyone would be able to do it.

Even Darren Shan, the legendary swordsman of the academy was unable to.

However, despite that, even if they were unable to, they still wanted to know what exactly one could receive if they made it onto the tenth step and stabilised on it.

What exactly could surpass the reward of managing to stabilise on the ninth step?

"Still curious. Well, the reward for the tenth step is..." the voice said before pausing for dramatic effect.

"Nothing," it revealed.

"Well, technically everything. There hasn't been a reward set since making it onto the ninth step has already been made to be basically impossible, while the tenth step truly is impossible and nobody would be able to do so. So for now, focus on the step you are on young one and we are likely to meet in the future, which I am looking forward to," the voice said before fading away.

With that, all the principal's will's messages had been delivered and it would no longer respond no matter how much one tried, while Damian and his friends were more focused on something else, anyway.

They wanted to strengthen and prepare themselves as much as they could on the seventh step to make it onto the eighth step, which was technically the highest step to be stabilised on, then to reach the ninth step.

Meanwhile, Damian was even seeking to make it onto the tenth step despite the voice claiming that it was supposedly impossible.

Sat in a meditative position, seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into a few hours until eventually only the invigilator and a few other extremely curious students remained in the audience.

Even after those few hours of cultivation and meditation, in which they had experienced rapid progress due to the constant strain they were experiencing, they still didn't attempt to move on to the next step.

Standing there for a few moments, they began doing some basic exercises and although it was increasing the overall fatigue their body was in; it was also strengthening their bodies, and they had filled their energy reserves while cultivating.

"This time, I will be the one to lead the way," said Cole, who with his ability activated had become wield and wanted to win at all costs.

Lifting his leg was hard enough, and as soon as he attempted to break through the threshold of the seventh step, he felt as though he was trying to move while drowning in cement. It felt as though moving any further was impossible as he began to shout at the top of his lungs.

"I will get through this!"

Seeing how much he was struggling and all the effort he was putting in, also feeling confident in themselves, the others joined him in the struggle to make into onto the eighth step.

However, unlike the previous times they were climbing the steps, there was an entirely different level of pressure and they were all forced to their knees, apart from Damian.

Just as Damian felt as though the pressure was becoming overwhelming, he quickly reacted and created two poles with his energy to help him stand up straight, and nothing in the rules said that one couldn't do so.

Feeling something within him, that unusually feeling once again arise within him, he felt as though every cell in his body was brimming with power. He was unsure what exactly was going on, but the more he focused and thought about the things he wanted to achieve, the more power he felt he had.

Just like Cole, Damian couldn't help but let out a loud cry as he broke past the invisible wall stopping him from making it onto the eighth step, and planted his right foot onto it.

"Nothing will ever be able to hold me back!"