"Hey, look at that!" A young-looking person exclaimed, pointing excitedly. His friend, who held a greatsword and a whip, turned to look in the direction he was indicating.
The friend, dressed in a white-green robe, furrowed his brow. "Is someone climbing the stairway?"
"Ahahahah! That person must be an idiot! Ascending the stairway? Not even elders can do that!" The young-looking person jeered.
"What if he is a genius from another sect?" The friend questioned whether someone of such weak cultivation would truly be crazy enough to try ascending the stairway.
"There is no way! You wouldn't know this since you were in seclusion, but the next planned ascent is in two years, and it's young master Shen's turn. That arrogant prick who will surely fail."
The younger person didn't believe that anyone worthy suddenly appeared.
"Hidden power?" The friend still sought explanations, but the young man merely shook his head.
"You know that it's impossible. It's just suicide. You aren't aware, but the sect master recently allowed anyone to try climbing. Since then, there have been dozens of recorded suicide cases."
The friend nodded. "I see. So it's that." Then, they resumed their journey, disregarding the spectacle.
Similar conversations were happening all around the sect. Even elders shook their heads at the sight.
The person in question was Stell. After his order to start an indefinite game, he appeared in front of a stairway.
Without even thinking, he started climbing it, unbothered by anything else. He didn't even think of the possibility that something bad might have happened.
He only had one goal in his mind. Prove himself!
He didn't want to be useless anymore. He didn't want to be weak. He didn't...
He didn't want to be a burden.
With bloodshot eyes, he began to ascend the stairs. With every step he took, he sensed an unseen resistance. A force telling him he would falter.
His body grew heavier with each stride. Nevertheless, he persisted, determination ablaze in his eyes as he yearned to achieve something.
All his anger, all his pain, everything was channeled toward the sole goal of climbing.
And so, he ascended the stairway, his mind retracing the past.
Ever since he encountered Felix, everything had been influenced by Felix's imperceptible power.
The falling stick that guided their way.
The phoenix egg and the pigeon.
A lucky and easy shooter game.
Even when they went outside, they hadn't met any difficulties until Stell separated from Felix for the first time.
Instantly, Stell faced his first defeat, barely surviving, unknown whether it was due to his own or Felix's luck.
Gritting his teeth, he dragged his foot a step higher. He couldn't see the end of the stairway, but he was sure that there was an end.
What was the purpose of a stairway if it led to nothing?
Then, he wasn't sure whether it was due to his clouded mind, but he could discern translucent figures.
They were the exiles he encountered in the city. They were falling, unable to progress further. With a hardened heart, Stell didn't even spare them a glance.
He had a goal, and his mind was only focused on that one goal. Everything else was a distraction. Even his own well-being.
Climbing higher still, he could feel his body beginning to ache, his skin stretching. After a certain point, his body began to weaken.
But he didn't collapse. He didn't back down. He only continued with the sole goal of proving himself. What was he worth if he couldn't even climb a staircase?
What was he worth if he fell down so early, so weakly?
And so, Stell continued climbing, heavily breathing. As he could feel his body cracking, his lungs started hurting as well.
Yet, it didn't matter to him. It didn't matter whether it was because of high elevation or some invisible pressure.
Then, finally, his legs gave out, making Stell fall on his hands.
Punching the floor, his bloody hand grabbed onto a stair as it continued climbing.
While crawling, Stell could see many other residents falling, unable to continue. Then, he saw Rose, Fire, and Water.
'NOT ENOUGH!' He yelled in his mind, unable to yell in reality as well. The most he could produce were heavy sounds of grunting as he could feel an extreme headache.
It didn't take long for his legs to completely give up, prompting Stell to continue climbing with only his hands.
And so he did. He climbed as much as he could, losing track of time and his own well-being. His hands began to stiffen, gradually giving out.
Tears welled up in the corners of Stell's eyes, and his clouded mind began to clear as he recognized his limit. Raising his head, he glimpsed ethereal figures.
Although he couldn't recognize all of them, he was sure that they were the backs of the protagonists he had met. And the back his eyes were fixed on was Damian's back.
The illusory Damian was slowly climbing as if he was strolling.
Gritting his teeth, Stell's hands gave out as he started pushing through with his head.
Then, he noticed a person appear in front of him. Although he couldn't see the person's face because of his weakness, he noticed a green robe the person wore.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?" The green-robed person looked silently at Stell.
Stell ignored him as he tried climbing just one more stair. Just one step closer to the protagonists.
The green-robed person moved slightly to the side, allowing Stell to continue pushing his limits.
And so, Stell did. He nudged with his head, somehow moving the rest of his body a step closer to Damian.
However, the backs didn't wait. They continued climbing, leaving Stell behind. Despair overtook Stell as he could only watch helplessly being left behind.
"I see." The green-robed person studied Stell as he nodded. "Due to the negligence of the territory, his spirit was damaged. No wonder he is so irrational."
Then, with a warm smile, the green-robed person asked. "Young man, are you willing to be my disciple?"
However, Stell didn't even hear the green-robed person. He could only watch the backs silently leave him as the tears started welling up in his eyes.
He was left behind again. Useless. He gave it his all, and yet, it wasn't enough.
It was all futile.
With despair overwhelming his mind, he started hoarsely laughing as tears began falling.
The green-robed person waited for Stell to come back to himself before he asked a question. "Young man, why do you push yourself so hard? Why risk your own life? Why try to kill yourself? Do you hate yourself so much?"
With desolate eyes, Stell ultimately summoned the last vestiges of his waning energy to gaze at the green-robed individual.
Though Stell sensed that the green-robed person was exceedingly aged, he could only discern a few wrinkles on their visage. It was as though the person appeared to be in their forties, yet they carried the weight of centuries. No, perhaps a hundred years was a conservative estimate.
With a warm face and even warmer green eyes, the green-robed person made Stell feel as if he was looking at a family member.
The green-robed person's question cut deep into Stell. With the very last of his energy remaining, he answered hoarsely before slipping into unconsciousness.
"I don't want to be an extra anymore."
***
A/N: With this, we are finished with the introductory act. I have a lot planned ahead, and with the introductions done, I am excited for the rest of the story.
I am still learning, and I hope that you leave a review or a comment once you feel ready. I would appreciate every constructive thought, and I hope to see you follow Stell and the rest through their journey.
I wish to spoil so much to hook all of you, but the only thing I can say is that you guys may be in for a treat.
Thank you for reading until now.