After the Dread Barrens, which was the worst fate a survivor could face after failing this first challenge of the Armhands Selection, anyone who failed to climb the stairs between steps 1,001 and 2000 would be sent to the Blue Field.
Minos and his people didn't know the real difference between being sent to these two places, but the difference was brutal.
In the Dread Barrens, one would basically live as a slave, working most of the time and barely having time to rest. As for cultivation, even if one could find the time, it would be a luxury, as the area was particularly low in energy for a demigod or sovereign to make progress there.
The area's requirements weren't low either, and if you didn't put in a lot of effort or weren't very lucky, you might be forced to stay in such a place for the rest of your life!
One would live much better in the Blue Field than someone in the Dread Barrens. Such a place had cultivation conditions for people at the 10th stage, and the services in this glacial region were not as degrading and demanding.
Usually, after being sent there, one would have to work hard for a few decades and achieve what was necessary to retake the Armhands entrance test.
But these two places were somehow connected. If someone in the Dread Barrens didn't want to risk the selection test again, they could work to be sent to the Blue Field, where they could improve their options and then enter Armhands more easily.
But these two places were somehow connected. If someone in the Dread Barrens didn't want to risk the selection test again, they could work to be sent to the Blue Field, where they could improve their options and then enter Armhands more easily.
It was a longer road but less dangerous. If one had talent, luck, and perseverance, sooner or later, this path would lead them to become de facto members of one of Examire's greatest forces!
Minos and his people didn't know these details now, but they would find out in the future.
Of the few more than 20 remaining crew members, 3 would fail between steps 1,102 and 1,230.
Minos, Maximillian, and the other strongest members of the group tried their best to help these individuals. Still, they couldn't fight against the beings of this malicious and deceitful organization. They could only watch as these three individuals were led to portals that took them to the icy lands of the Blue Field.
After more than 5 hours of testing, the group would reach the final part of this trial, with only a little more than 100 individuals competing to enter this organization.
But none of them had the strength to try and hinder potential future opponents, so in this part of the first selection race, everyone focused what energy they had on finishing the race.
Ruth was at the head of her group when the race was about to end, and she used the fact that she had more energy than the others to help them and give them an extra boost at the end of the race.
In this way, they would reach the 2,000th step, arriving at that point extremely physically and mentally exhausted, with no chance to question the members of the Armhands when they finished the race.
Even when they reached the area at the top of that peak, where the previous pressure didn't affect them, the Minos people didn't say anything to the examiners of that selection waiting for them up there. They just lay down or sat around and tried to breathe better after hours of suffering to climb that gigantic staircase.
Even Ruth, who could regenerate, stopped to rest at the end of this ordeal without the strength to question the aliens who had put her through it.
They were the first to pass the test, but soon, another 50 aliens would arrive at the top of this peak to rest and await the examiners' guidance.
When no one was left on the steps of the giant staircase, the aliens watching this test couldn't help but look at each other, seeing that far fewer contestants had made it to this part of the selection.
They expected that 10% of the contestants would enter the Armhands that day, which would be about the same number of people who passed this first of the three selection tests.
But there were still two elimination phases to go, which meant that the number of people who passed that day would be much lower than they had expected.
"Blame that guy." Said one of the aliens, pointing at Minos, the one responsible for the massive number of deaths on the first 300 steps of this staircase.
"What are we going to do? Will we continue with our plans with only these remaining competitors?" Asked one of the people at level 104.
"If we do that, it's possible that less than 10 people will actually join our organization today... That's below acceptable". The leader of the observers commented. "Let's proceed with the second phase of the selection as planned. Depending on the results, we can change the third test."
They agreed, knowing that after this survival test, designed to eliminate the weakest and highlight the jewels to be polished, the second test would be less risky and have fewer eliminations.
Then, the leader of the observers looked at the beings from different species and worlds and explained what would happen next.
"Congratulations on your success in climbing the Motionless Tips. As a reward for your success, you will all receive a Tonic of Purification potion and have three hours to rest.
Once you've recovered, we'll move on to the next part of our selection. But don't worry, your chances of dying from now on are quite low, and even if you fail, you won't be sent to places as bad as the Dread Barrens or the Blue Field.
However, your performance will play an essential role in your possible positions in Armhands after the selection is over. Not all of you joining our organization will have the same rights and duties, so don't underestimate the next test, even if the risks are not great."
Another alien from the Sovereign Stage stepped forward and signaled for the Armhands Grandmasters to distribute the prize resources of the winners of the first part of the selection test.
In an instant, everyone had strange potions in their hands, which the competing aliens from Minos' group quickly consumed without hesitation.
Minos' people were hesitant to consume those potions. But in just three hours, they wouldn't be able to recover from their current condition without special resources.
With a strange force preventing them from accessing their spatial rings, the group had no choice but to take the risk and continue to consume the Tonic of Purification.
Whether it would do them any good or harm them, they would find out in the next few hours!
