My Muscle System in the Mage World

[The challengers who failed cannot leave until a new challenger successfully completes the task of lifting the sword.]

"This..." Greater Lord Crystal's frown deepened, her expression growing even darker.

"Umm, Greater Lord Crystal, can't you use your spell from "that" magic to get us out?" Nina asked, her face filled with confusion.

Greater Lord Crystal glanced at her, and a strange silence fell over the group, thick with tension. Nervousness seemed to hang in the air.

The two kings stared at the red-haired girl in disbelief.

To their utter shock, Greater Lord Crystal smiled and spoke in the gentlest tone they had ever heard from her.

"I cannot even use my spell here, not even from that magic."

Her voice was soft and nurturing, like a mother teaching her daughter, with none of the usual air of superiority she carried.

"I see," Nina nodded, her gaze returning to the sword as her mind raced, searching for a solution.

She glanced at Aur, who still sat cross-legged on the floor, silently immersed in his own world, seemingly indifferent to everything around him, including her.

"Aur, we might never be in the same world again," Nina murmured in her heart, feeling herself grow more distant from him with a mind of superiority, "Perhaps it is destined like that."

"How about we ask the voice if there's any other way for us to escape or if we can take the challenge in a different manner?"

She suggested.

Greater Lord Crystal nodded, smiling gently as she approached Nina and softly ruffled her hair.

"That's a great suggestion, Nina. I'll do exactly as you said."

"Tha… thank you," Nina smiled gleefully, though a hint of hesitation flickered across her face.

"Hahaha, don't be so wary of me. From now on, you can even call me Grandmaster, and I can take you in as my student. I'm very interested in your talent," Greater Lord Crystal chuckled.

Nina didn't hesitate and bowed before her. During their time in the chariot, she had interacted with Greater Lord Crystal, who had always been gentle with her. So, Nina gladly accepted the offer.

However, Nina was still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world.

She didn't yet understand that kindness and gentleness didn't necessarily equate to trustworthiness.

The ability to remain cautious and carefully discern the intentions of others was a rare trait that not many possessed.

"Good, good," Greater Lord Crystal smiled with satisfaction before turning to address the voice once more.

It was not that Nina's idea was unique—many people had thought of it—but telling it to Greater Lord Crystal was a different matter.

Her terrifying power was something both Kings were distinctly aware of. Not to mention, there were multiple tier-six wizards in the Golden Army who could absolutely take care of the others. Who would dare to disrespect her?

So even if they had such thoughts, they couldn't disrespect her. Besides the authority of the Divine Human King even if it is just a branch of it was too terrifying.

"Is there any other way for us to complete this challenge?" Greater Lord Crystal asked again with a curious expression.

[Yes, according to the challenge, if they are deemed unworthy, the inferior creatures may take another test, which is to climb the stairs and reach the peak.]

The cold, emotionless voice echoed from all directions at once.

Immediately, the world blurred before everyone's eyes, and when their vision cleared, they found themselves surrounded by darkness.

With a light focused on a particular set of stairs that seemed to lead straight to the heavens, Greater Lord Crystal frowned as she scanned the surroundings.

[If the inferior creatures wish to be worthy, you will have to climb these stairs to be qualified to try lifting the sword again,] the cold, monotonous voice resounded before falling silent.

A strange stillness followed as everyone exchanged glances, pausing in uncertainty.

"We just have to climb these stairs, Master?" Nina asked with curious, sparkling eyes.

Greater Lord Crystal entered a thoughtful silence as she gazed at Nina.

"Show me the power of the child of luck," she muttered in her heart, a warm smile once again gracing her lips.

"Yes."

"Can I try it?" Nina asked through gritted teeth. "I need to prove that I am worthy of being your disciple..."

"You don't need to prove anything," Greater Lord Crystal said softly, rubbing Nina's silky hair like a mother.

"Master." Nina seemed moved by her words, but her eyes flashed with even more determination. "I will climb the stairs, Master."

"Very well," Greater Lord Crystal replied, shaking her head helplessly.

With that, Nina decisively approached the stairs as everyone watched in anticipation. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Boom!

A loud booming sound echoed throughout the surroundings, and her mental space was instantly sealed, cutting off her access to mana.

Nina's eyes glazed over in a daze for a few seconds before she regained focus. She took another step, only to fall into the same dazed state once again.

"Oh, maybe the test isn't that difficult?" The King of Myra's eyes gleamed with sudden realization, and he decisively ordered one of his subordinates to climb the stairs.

The moment the subordinate took a single step onto the staircase to heaven—

Boom!

Another deafening explosion rang out, but this time, his body detonated along with it. His mental space leaked out, only to be bound by chains that materialised from thin air, sealing it instantly. Not a trace of mana escaped.

Silence.

The entire area fell into a stunned, deathly quiet. The once mighty tier-four wizard was reduced to a blood mist in an instant, without even a moment to defend himself.

Everyone's gaze shifted back to Nina, the red-haired girl, with disbelief in their eyes.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I have to admit, making people question their existence is truly a gift of the children of luck," Aur muttered, casting an intrigued glance at Nina.

At that moment, Greater Lord Crystal's voice rang out, her gaze piercing through the crowd and landing on Aur, who had been standing quietly in the background.

"Why don't you step forward, Aur?"