Floating Island - Triple S Talent

Meanwhile, a young man dressed in luxurious attire stood at the edge of the crowd. His face radiated deep curiosity, with sharp eyes fixed on the stairs. Behind him stood an older man with a stern expression, dressed simply yet exuding authority.

"Master Zai, do you know what this is?" the young man asked as he turned to the older man behind him.

The man addressed as Master Zai shook his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, Young Master, I don't know anything about this object," he replied in a flat tone, yet full of respect.

The young man let out a small scoff, as if already expecting the answer. He returned his gaze to the towering stairs and pondered deeply.

"Can I climb it?" he thought, slowly stepping closer to the stairs. Carefully, he reached out and touched the glowing panel at the base of the stairs.

However, a notification appeared before him:

[Unable to ascend. The staircase guardian is not yet available. Please wait for further arrangements.]

The young man's face showed a hint of disappointment, but he said nothing. He glanced back at the crowd, realizing that others were experiencing the same thing. Every time someone tried to ascend the stairs, they were met with a similar notification, indicating that the stairs could not yet be used.

As curiosity enveloped the area around the Ascension Stairs, conversations among the people grew heated. Various speculations arose as they questioned one another, trying to make sense of the unusual situation.

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"Hey, did you get the same failure notification?" asked a young man, his tone laced with confusion and frustration.

"Yeah, it said the guardian isn't available yet," another man replied with a frown, his gaze fixed on the transparent screen before him, as if hoping for a different answer.

The people around them began exchanging glances. Faces filled with questions and impatience were evident. However, their attention was soon drawn to a figure appearing not far from the stairs. A woman with a formal appearance, dressed in a crisp white shirt, approached with confident strides.

"Miss Hana?" a hesitant voice from the crowd called out, loud enough to catch everyone's attention.

"Will she open it?" someone else whispered, their voice full of hope.

Everyone seemed to recognize the woman. Hana was one of the 12 core members of the alliance, known as a strong and capable figure. She had been assigned by Lein to serve as the temporary guardian of the Ascension Stairs. Her arrival via teleportation added an aura of authority that heightened the tension in the air.

However, Hana's teleportation differed significantly from Lein's. Hana's teleportation was a standard skill obtained through a skill book. Lein, on the other hand, having reached the rank of King, possessed an innate and far more powerful teleportation ability derived from his spirit body. This fact further underscored the vast power gap between them.

Hana stopped in front of the golden fence surrounding the Ascension Stairs. Her eyes scanned every corner, searching for something. Yet, the fence appeared solid and without any openings.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Hmm, where's the entrance?" she muttered, more to herself, but loud enough for those nearby to hear.

The crowd watched Hana with curiosity. She scratched her temple briefly, then let out a small sigh. A faint smile crossed her lips, a sign that she had found a solution.

"Well then, I'll just jump over it, heheh," she thought, bending her knees slightly in preparation to leap.

However, before she could do so, the golden fence suddenly displayed a small crack. Within seconds, the crack spread, breaking apart a section of the fence and forming an elegant entrance. Golden light radiated around the newly created opening, as if welcoming her.

Hana smiled faintly. "Thank you, Brother Lein," she said casually, confident that Lein had acted from afar.

She stepped into the center of the Ascension Stairs. As her feet touched the floor within the area, a system notification appeared before her.

[You have received an invitation to guard the Ascension Stairs for 7 days. Would you like to accept?]

Hana read the message calmly. Without the slightest hesitation, she nodded and replied, "Yes."

[Congratulations, you have successfully become the guardian of the Ascension Stairs.]

[Good luck with your duties...]

After the notification disappeared, Hana gained access to a special panel. The panel appeared with a dim light, displaying basic information about the Ascension Stairs.

[Ascension Stairs Protector]

- Protector: Hana

- Rank: -

- Climber List: -

Hana examined the panel closely, her eyes following every detail written on it. However, not long after, a series of new notifications began to appear, replacing the previous silence with a more intense dynamic.

[Someone is climbing the stairs. (Juba) has started ascending.]

[Someone is climbing the stairs. (Satria Baja Hitam) has started ascending.]

The list of names kept growing. Dozens of people were seen rushing toward the Ascension Stairs with heightened enthusiasm. They appeared eager, almost frantic, competing to be the first to ascend, as if a grand prize awaited them at the top. Amid the commotion, Hana's presence standing in the middle of the structure seemed to go unnoticed.

Hana let out a long sigh, observing the crowd with a neutral gaze. But upon closer inspection, the corners of her lips curved slightly into a faint smile that was hard to interpret—was it a sign of amusement, mockery, or a warning?

"Hmmm," she murmured, accompanied by a soft chuckle.

However, the atmosphere changed drastically in an instant. The heat that had filled the air from the sunlight suddenly vanished, replaced by a piercing cold. A gust of wind carried tiny ice crystals, and the temperature around them plummeted rapidly.

One of the climbers who had reached the first step screamed, his voice piercing through the frigid air. "What's happening? It's so cold!" He hugged himself, trying to fend off the cold that seeped deep into his bones.

"Help, I can't move my body..." another whimpered. His body began to shiver violently, and the tips of his toes were already visibly frozen.