Valen and his group, consisting of a total of three Empyrean-order hunters and roughly ten Royal-order hunters, reached Wihanx Finger after a day of traveling.
This area had a city surrounding the huge finger since there was also exotic wilderness to the north.
Valen and his group built a huge courtyard for themselves not far from the west of the finger and began their wait game.
"We'll confront them once they leave. Until then, start preparation for it. We must not miss them once they exit the finger."
...
2nd day on the 299th resting area...
Rin and Erix just finished today's limitless plane session before the group started dinner for various buffs.
"Let's finish this today," Lilith smiled, "I'm sure we'll be able to pass the 300th challenge."
"Our journey in the abyss is soon coming to an end," Lilith added.
"How many stops do we have before we reach Core Domain's Pale Hunger Swamp?" Erix asked.
"Two more stops until we reach there, but those two stops are just for tough challenges and to acquire some high rarity life-attribute resources," Lilith said before taking a bite from a layered wrapped bun.
"We won't have to spend much time there."
"So, how long roughly before we reach the Pale Hunger Swamp?" Rin asked after taking a spoonful of Tier-5 Bean curry.
[Your Strength has been increased by 20% for one hour.]
"Roughly twenty days," Lilith said. "Don't forget to eat that sweet soup. It will increase your wind elemental damage."
Rin took the soup.
"Erix, take these meatballs."
"Finish it fast since we don't know how long our last individual challenges will last."
Everyone swiftly ate the various dishes Lilith made for the temporary buffs, as they would help them immensely in their coming individual challenges.
After eating the dishes, everyone stood before the only door in this resting area.
After a few minutes of waiting, Lilith's gourd stopped first while the colorful starlight motes around her became chaotic and started gathering.
The same thing happened with Rin, Erix, and Lily afterward.
"It looks like these mysterious motes will take the form of our reward," Lilith said, her eyes sparked with curiosity like the other three.
...
On the 299th resting area, the monk and the assassin appeared in the corridor, their faces ashen.
They had also accepted the challenge after Erix's group challenged it.
However, it was clear that they failed, arriving back to the resting area and ending their journey of Wihanx Finger.
"Those four aren't here...maybe that passed?" Hakin, the assassin muttered. "Sigh, let's see what we lacked."
"I don't think they passed," the bald man said as he slammed his pole on the ground before it vanished into his hunter card. His expression was frustrated.
Suddenly, their eyes flashed, and both of them heard a notification.
[You are walking on the path of assassination and swiftness, but you lack the resolve to test yourself against those on the same path as you. Your thirst is not strong enough.]
[You are walking on the path to harmonize the spirits and elements and believe yourself to be highly talented, but you are a fool. You venture to various places and meditate to learn wonders, yet you lack the confidence to take on the risks for your progress. You lack guts and have a high fear of risky endeavors. You will never reach the top with your current self.]
"It looks like I lack thirst...sigh, I did take a leisure three months to reach here," the assassin sighed and turned to his recently made companion, who was climbing the finger at a similar pace as him after reaching 250th floor a month ago.
"Nothing," the bald man shook his head while trying to keep his face together. "I am leaving. We've been here for half a month straight."
"Yeah, let's see what's happening outside. Last I heard, members of two Cosmic Factions had a big fight over the appearance of a high-level blessed island."
"Blessed island?" the bald man was envious. "If only I can get something like that and then return to my world, I'll be set."
"Same...If I return with a Blessed Island, I'll easily join among the top forces of my world, but..."
The assassin wryly smiled and shook his head.
"It's Impossible for us. We even failed to reach the top of this finger. I really wanted to see the scenery at the top and see what kind of reward we get."
"Whatever, failing here doesn't mean the end of the world," the bald man said while his fists involuntarily clenched. "Let's go on a challenging journey with me. We are at similar power levels in different fields, so it'll work."
"Great, I was about to suggest the same thing, haha!"