Chapter 4: Congratulations
Dexter could've sworn he was on the seventh rock, just on the verge of reaching the next phase—yet somehow, he was back at the starting point. What's going on? he wondered.
How he ended up back at the starting point was a mystery, but he didn't have the luxury to stop and figure it out—he had to keep moving. Without wasting a second, he began climbing the rock again, determined to avoid whatever had brought him back the first time.
What began as pure determination slowly gave way to frustration. He fell from the rock countless times, growing sleepier with each passing second as his head throbbed and spun relentlessly. But every time, he forced himself back up—driven by sheer rage and mounting annoyance with the trial. His fingertips were bruised and bloodied, making each climb more agonizing than the last. His stomach twisted, hollow and aching, as if it were devouring itself.
With sheer determination and a burning desire to conquer the trial once and for all, he pushed himself onward, finally reaching the top of the rock. Without pause, he quickened his pace, leaping from one rock to the next until he reached the seventh. He drew a deep breath—and leaped.
But once again, he found himself back at the starting point. Frustration boiled over as he cursed and shouted at the Fate God. Yet, as he stood there yelling, the countdown began. Still fuming, Dexter had no choice but to start climbing again.
He climbed the rocks five times, only to be dragged back down each time. Thinking the path might be a trick, he tried swimming through the water instead—aiming to bypass the rocks. But the system pulled him back, issuing a stern warning: one more attempt like that would mean immediate disqualification.
Dexter was dying. Though he climbed faster than before, his fingertips were going numb, and hunger gnawed at him from the inside out.
He had no idea how much time had passed in the trial, but judging by how long each climb took, he figured it had been at least two or three days.
Dexter felt dizzy; his steps grew sluggish and his vision blurred. But he kept pushing forward. He'd always been physically lazy, but it was his determination and persistence that had made him a published author at just fourteen. So even as his body threatened to give out, his mind forced it to keep going.
He wasn't blind to how much he'd come to care for Daylan's family and loved ones. In his mind, he told himself he was just doing his part—doing the best he could before leaving when the time came. But the truth was, he would've done this trial a thousand times over in his previous life if it meant earning his parents' love and attention. That was the part he couldn't see clearly. He believed he was only acting the part, stepping into Daylan's role. But deep down, he was simply grateful for the chance to pour all his buried love and yearning into a family that might actually value it.
After what felt like an eternity of suffering, his mind also began to give in. He stood before the portal, staring at it steadily—contemplating.