"Do you know how long this ladder had been here in the Academy?" Null was asking this way because in his first life, there was no such thing as this. Ladder of Fortitude does not exist those days.
"As far as I know the Academy history. This ladder has stand 500 years of age." Replied the Fox Slayer.
"It might be, after I died, the Gods throw this thing here to strengthen the heroes and to propagate the next generation of heroes as well, after all the strongest hero of those days killed himself."Null told himself.
"What are you blabbering there all of a sudden?" Asks Fox Slayer.
"Uh, it's nothing, don't mind me. Thanks" said Null.
Then the two of them went together and step into the tenth step. Suddenly Fox Slayer felt pain in her head.
"It's so painful"
The Fox Slayer was holding her head tightly, squezzing it to gain pressure in order to minimize pain but could not resist it.
Null don't understand what is going on, he don't even understand what this test is all about since he fells nothing and it's just normal for him like the same as his usual days. It's like he is not taking any test at all. He is still wondering and confuse what is this kind of test. On the other hand he is also curious what other candidates are dealing with. Why are they in a mess? What is really going on here? What is happening to all of them?. Then he look at Lucky Zero who has not moved an inch and is still at the lowest level of the Ladder of Fortitude. He is sobbing, and spirit is low.
"Just what is this test all about?" He asks Fox Slayer who is currently suffering from a migraine.
Fox Slayer could not even heared him because she is suffering from a deeper illusion. The moment she opened her eyes, she could not see him as Null but can only see him as her Inner demon and he could not hear what he said. All she can hear now is the voice of her inner demon.
Suddenly a hand grab his neck and grip it then pinned him to the ground and throw him away. But that was just the beggining. He saw the girl coming for him with a whip in her hands.
"Now, the situation has become more interesting. We are witnessing the first battle at the Tenth step. It's a battle between the two candidates named Fox Slayer against candidate named Null. Who do you think will wake up first from their illusions?" The emcee explained.
"It's clear, Null was not affected from any illusions from the very start." The director said which makes the emcee felt ashamed as everyone agreed to what the Director said.
"That boy is stupid, so they will fight" said the Dean.
"How do you know that?" Ask the Supirentendent.
"As I observe, he is a total idiot as the report says" he explained.
"A report as you say, May I ask the Dean if he recieved any information from the Ex-hero Sky Surfer?" Asked the Director.
"I didn't believe him. However yes, he reported something telling me to be careful with this new candidates and if necessary let them take the aptitude test as an additional entrance test" the Dean confessed the truth.
"How many credit points did you give him for that information?" Ask the Academy Director.
"Nothing like that, he give it to me for free. Afterall I can't believe him" answered the Dean.
"That bad guy, he never really change. He came to my chamber saying he had some information that maybe helpful to the Academy and it has something to do with those Candidates but in the end, he never told me since I won't give him the money unless the information is verified so he left me with nothing." Explained the Director.
"What was actually the information that he give you?" Ask the Supirentendent.
"He said, one of the candidates is a demon hahahaha" he said and laugh and then the three of them laugh together. The emcee heared them laughing together and he thought that they will laughing about his early misjudgment so he felt more ashamed and kept silent.
"His so funny to believe in that crap. How will a demon penetrate our Academy which is being guarded by the Gods especially during this period were they are active." Said the Supirentendent.
"By the way, How is the Supreme Sword Master doing?" Ask the director.
"I have never visited him in his chamber yet. Why do you ask?" Said the Dean.
"I have summoned him yet he disregard it saying he was busy." Told the Academy Director.
"Maybe he only used that as an excuse, but the truth is he was also injured from challenging Blade for a sword fight. He is also recovering from that injury so he just told you he is busy." Concluded the Dean.
"It might be the case" the director agreed and the Supirentendent just nodded.
"Then where is Blade now? How is he? Director Xavier Asks.
"He has returned to America to repair his damaged core" the Dean anwered.
"I want to see that 100% Durability got beaten" a senior student Hero named Gunner said.
"What are you talking about, I don't understand what is happening to you?" Null got more curious about the situation. He don't understand why all of a sudden this girl attack him.
"Is this not against the rules?" Null asks. "I know students are not allowed to fight, we are just taking a test here. Besides I don't made anything wrong to you" Null even tried his best to explain.
The Fox Slayer is not listening to him nor ever heared of every single word he said. All she hear and see is her own inner demon in the physical body of Null by a realistic illusion made by the ladder.
Null doesn't even bother to dodge everytime the Fox Slayer lashes him with a whip.
"Can't you try to gather your senses and wake up already. You can't hurt me you know that?" Null said.
"I'm open for negotiations you know, we can talk about this."
But as Null tried to explain his body was entangled by the whip of Fox Slayer then she throw him from side to side, left and right, up and down and he could not free himself.
"Come on beat him! Beat him!" Cried the senior students.
"He is a cheater! Beat him more!"
"He is just a fake 100% durability, make him suffer more"
More and more senior students cheered for the beating done by Fox Slayer to Null.
'I am seeing it wrong? I am dreaming? Tell me because what I am seeing is the candidate who got the 100% durability is being beaten by the candidate Fox Slayer." Narrated by the emcee.
"Now ladies and gentlemen all over the world who are watching online. You can now vote for your favorite candidate of your choice who you think will reach the top. Just click on the hero profile of your choice and press vote." Announced the emcee.
"Let me also remind you that you can only vote twice so vote wise and withdraw wise and twice, hehehe"
Everyone can vote twice but also has the opportunity to withdraw their vote twice until the last 12 hours of the competition which the duration is seven days. But if anyone of the candidates will be able to climb the 100th step, all the candidates will be force to be drop out of the Ladder of Fortitude and the 7 day countdown will be forfeited.
Since Null was been beaten by the Fox he only get the second most voted candidate and the first is the Fox Slayer.
While being beaten, Null was experiencing some kind of power from his core that is trying to eat the whip of the Fox Slayer. Actually the power of his core is not trying to eat but want to make that whip disappear.
"Stop it! Stop it now!" He was not shouting at the Fox Slayer but on his core that he is unable to control. So he closes his eyes and focus all his strength to gain control over his core.
That moment he closes his eyes, everyone who was watching thinks he was seriously beaten and lost his consciousness. Some had even withdraw their votes on him. It was expected since it's only the first day and anything could happen in the coming days.
"No, Stop it!" In his consciousness Null commanded the darkness within his core that was trying to come out and wreck havoc and put everything to an end.
"I'm the master here, you obey and listen to my command" Null said.
It then calms down and that moment Null opened his eyes once again and pull the whip that Fox Slayer was holding. It was so strong that made him able to pull her into himself. Null did not let her go no matter what the Fox Slayer do to him since he don't feel hurt at all.
"So this is it huh? This is the test. Let me show you what can I do now." Said Null. "Now I know what to do, The first 50 steps will test the will, the steadfastness of the soul, emotions and consciousness or mentality, so we can only move on till we rich the 51rst step."
Null started running while carrying the Fox Slayer. He did not mind what she was doing but he don't let her go. He understand she is suffering from an illusion and all the others candidates as well. But when he look at the others below the 10nth step. They seems to be on thier own and not harming other candidates but it's a messed. They are crying, agonizing, trembling, shouting, afraid and some goes like crazy. Some are laughing others are dancing. There are some who punch and kicks the air like they are fighting an invisible enemy. The most aweful one was the candidate who had not moved an inch in the first step and is alone on that level, crying and begging.
"The Fox Slayer, could not even understand why did the inner demon of herself after insulting and mocking her would suddenly carry her away till it disappeared till he saw the face of a guy familiar to her was carrying her while running.
"If you're back to your senses, Can you take those whip from entangling my body so I can moved faster and more freely?" Asked Null.
Then, Fox Slayer let go of her whip from entangling Null's body. Now she is feeling awkward as her skin touched Null's warm body. Null can't fell her, he don't feel anything at all. He's number than numb.
"Put me down!" Cried the Fox Slayer as she was blushing. Her skin is even brushing on Null's shoulder.
"No I won't, this is my only Idea how to get rid of you and your illusions" Null anwered.
"My illusions, you mean my inner demon?" She asked and Null just nod while running onto the 12th step.
"So it was you I was aiming all my attack at all along?" Asked Fox Slayer and Null just give her a nod.
"No wonder, you are entangled by my Fox Tail Whip" she said.
"That ability of yours, it won't work on me. Don't try to use them" Null reprimanded her.
"You know I'm a tamer? Asked Fox Slayer seriously.
Null nodded in response.
"So it was really you, the Geo I know" said Jasmine gladly. Then she hugged Geo as she was carrying her and kiss him in the cheeks. Geo did not feel the warmness of that hug nor the cold gentle kiss on his cheeks. He felt nothing.
"Damn it!" Cried the Academy Director as he slamed the the table and it fall into pieces, which makes the other faculty members dumbfounded especially the Dean and the Academy Supirentendent who was just beside him.
"Why?" They asked.
"The evil boy has taken advantage of my only child!" Cried the director.
"What?" All of them where dumbfounded again.