Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

As soon as he took the first step, he found his body immobilized once again. His knees trembled like a newborn fawn but Simon endured it all while gritting his teeth.

Just as he was about to lift his other foot to take the second step, the aura bearing down on him doubled and his knees immediately gave up. BANG… the ground cracked even more and Simon collapsed face-first onto the ground.

However, just as his face was about to smack the ground, he supported himself with his hands. He was back to the same position once again after only just one step, there were still nine more steps remaining.

Simon could see the anxious face of Cecilia as she tightly clenched her hands and observed Simon.

'The test had only just begun and I'm already grovelling on the floor. Pathetic! What would she be thinking seeing her brother in this state?' various thoughts ran inside his head as he tried his best to get back up.

Simon punched the ground with a great force and stood back up from its recoil. "Haa… haa… haa" his breathing was ragged and every muscle in his body spasmed. Looking at the ground, he was surprised to see that even after taking the full brunt of his punch, the ground he was standing on was still very much fine with just a small fist-sized dent.

"The ground bears the weight of my titanic body. For thousands of years, my roots have absorbed the mystical energy from the mystical veins flowing inside the ground, nourishing it in the process. As of now, the veins of the mystical energy beneath your feet is so numerous that you won't even be able to count them".

"Bathing in the presence of an incredible amount of mystical energy for thousands of years, the soil had become extremely tough. Obviously, it would be many times harder than any ground you have trodded. Even if you cast an advanced magic here, it would only be able to displace at most a few meters of land".

Aldebaran explained when he saw the surprised face of Simon after his punch failed to damage the ground the slightest.

'So that's how it was. How could he have overlooked that? The ground that they were standing on, carried the weight of the Ancient Titan Treant, an existence thousands of meters in size. How can its toughness be compared with any other ground'.

Simon thought as he stared at his fist which had become numb after that punch. Just as he was contemplating how to take another step forward, an idea suddenly struck him.

"I see, so the ground can even take the full might of an advanced magic...hehe. Indeed I have never trodded onto a ground this tough before" Simon repeated as a wicked smile crept up to his face.

His crimson eyes shining with a crafty light as he pushed the mystical energy inside his body to its limits. He aligned one of his hands behind him and towards the ground before bombarding it with his magic. "Flame Magic Mastery- [Flame Blast]"

Boom… a crimson coloured heat that erupted out of his hands, came crashing towards the ground beneath with a thundering sound. The moment the magic erupted, a crimson flash covered the area before the ground trembled ever so slightly.

However, even after taking on the full might of his magic, the ground did not seem to be affected much at all. The land could take even the full brunt of an advanced to say nothing of intermediate tier magic which was a tier below it.

Though the moss in a few dozen meters was burned and the ground was scorched black, but those were some minute damage. Flames spread across the area and covered Simon in it.

Seeing that Simon was testing the toughness of the land even after his words, Aldebaran couldn't help but snort.

"Young man, I already told you. The land here is hundred of times sturdier than any other part of the forest. Even a wide-area advanced magic wouldn't be able to deal much damage to this land. Forget about your intermediate tier flame magic. Instead of wasting your energy by testing the authenticity of my words, you should focus your efforts on trying to take the second step". His voice showed that he was a little displeased.

It was not only him but even Fennel and Cecilia were confused by Simon's action. If he had that much strength to spare, he should have used it to take the second step.

Flames bathed the area as layers of smoke rose into the air. Within the smoke, a vague silhouette of a person could be seen standing. When the flames died down and the smoke settled, Simon's figure came into view. His body was still trembling and it seemed like it took all he had to just remain standing. His clothes were tattered and the area around his ankles were burned. It looked like the attack earlier did nothing but damage himself in return.

However, Aldebaran was amazed. That was because Simon had taken another step forward.

The Second Step, the young man had taken the second step and had remained standing. Just as he was about to praise Simon, he received another shock.

BOOOOM… A thundering noise louder and more impactful than before rang out in the surroundings as flames rampaged across for dozens of meters. Just as it was about to reach the spectating duo, Aldebaran swiftly dissipated them.

The surrounding area which was already scorched black became a darker shade after another attack. However, he had no mind to pay attention to that and stared unblinkingly towards the place where the attack originated from.

Right after a few seconds of taking his second step, Simon had already finished his third step. The skin around his ankles and hands was burned as blood slowly leaked out of it. The two intermediate tier attacks earlier were used right next to him and his body received most of the recoil and damage from it.

Although he had [Fire Resistance], it was only a novice tier skill. How can it defend against flame magic which was an intermediate tier magic? Not to mention, the user of the magic was Simon himself and he had used all of his powers when casting that magic.

"Huff… Huff" every bone in his body creaked from the immense amount of pressure that was bearing down on him. Sweat drenched his clothes wet and he was out of breath. Nevertheless, there was still a content smile plastered on his face and his eyes were as sharp as ever.

After he took the third step, the aura bearing down on him tripled and it felt like even taking an inch was an impossibility. It was only because he used the full might of his intermediate tier magic that he was able to take the third step.

Yes, he was not mindlessly using the magic nor was he trying to check the authenticity of Aldebaran words. On the contrary, as soon as he heard that the land was many times sturdier, he came up with this plan.

Simon used the recoil from the impact of his intermediate tier magic detonating right next to him to propel himself a step forward. Though he suffered injuries in the process, it was all he could think of at this moment to endure the huge pressure that bore down on him like a mountain with every step.

Aldebaran couldn't believe it. The young man in front of him was not only determined and strong-willed, but he was also cunning enough to use the environment in his favour. He finally understood why Simon used his magic repeatedly on the ground. It was not to check whether the land was as sturdy as he claimed but to use the propulsion from the magic detonating right next to him to take another step.

Although this idiosyncrasy method would hurt the user in return, Aldebaran was quite impressed by Simon.

BOOOOM… BOOOM… as he was silently observing, the young man in question had used magic once again to propel himself another step. This time, Simon had simultaneously cast two intermediate tier magic of Flame and Gale.

The might with which they bombarded the ground was enough to send a slight tremor across the ground. Flame accompanied by gales rapidly spread towards the surroundings and Aldebaran had to step forward once again to contain them.

BANG… Simon left a deep footprint as he stepped on the ground that marked his fourth step.

Deep cuts and burnt marks spread across his arms and legs as blood continuously trickled down from them and fell on the ground. The scorched ground was turned a shade of red from his blood.

By now, veins were pulsing on his forehead and he ground his teeth so hard that the pressure on his gums forced blood to seep out from them.

Right after he took his fourth step, he was brought right onto his knees as the aura pressuring down on him increased by ten times.

"Huff huff" Simon was already out of breath and no matter how he tried to move his body, it failed to listen to him. He could feel his muscles screaming in pain, trying to tell him that this was his limit. Going any further was impossible.

Simon smiled as these thoughts ran inside his head as he silently stared at the ground.

Aldebaran didn't say anything as he quietly observed the young man. "They bear such uncanny resemblance… sigh, he is truly extraordinary" Aldebaran muttered as memories from long back came surging back.

He was truly amazed once again by the determination shown by the young man.. Aldebaran had designed the trial so that it was impossible for Simon to complete it.