Chapter 1656 Potential [5]

Chapter 1656 Potential [5]

"Huu..."

The ledges were relatively spread apart, and because her arms were occupied with the boulder, Melania could only step in the ones that could properly support her weight.

She already had the movements mapped for the first ten of these fifteen steps. She'd made it that far before.

For the last five, on the other hand, her path was still only theoretical.

Melania's body was hugging the wall as best as it could with the size of the boulder.

It was almost being used as a backpack, since Melania couldn't do this section of the mountain without being able to see what was above her.

Her arms were at her side with her wrists backwards.

She was gripping the boulder with all of her strength. Indents had been created where her fingers were, and somehow, despite the boulder's weight distribution, she was able to support all of it from the grip she had with her fingers.

It was an impractical level of strength, but that was the only thing that allowed Melania to make it this far, so she didn't question why it existed.

She unhitched her right foot moved it to the next ledge. Kicking into the wall, she created a small hole for her to wedge her toes into.

After putting weight on her right foot to check the ledge's stability, she unhitched her left and rapidly moved it to another ledge nearby, slightly higher than the first.

'One.'

She bounced a few times, keeping her body warm in the cold air that inhabited this high altitude.

Once again, she repeated the same movement.

'Two.'

Her left foot had to move first this time, but the path was still relatively vertical so she didn't have to make any crazy movements.

"Huu..."

'Three.'

"Huu..."

'Four.'

"Huu..."

'Five.'

One by one, she ascended through the footholds in the mountain that she'd long become familiar with.

The first step was always the hardest, but her muscle memory kicked in the instant she took it.

Ten steps. She took five minutes to take them, but she did end up in the position she desired.

There were five steps remaining.

She could see the edge of the mountainside. If she could just jump, she could grab it and hoist herself onto the peak.

Unfortunately, without hands, jumping was an impractical solution.

ledge.

She gripped the boulder even harder and curled her toes as she She wasn't completely stable, but she was confident that she could make the last few moves without falling.

Because from here on, she just had to go up.

One step.

"Huu..."

Her eyes saw the snowy flat clearing that was the mountain's peak.

"Huu..."

Two steps.

Her legs started to wobble from the rapid movements, but she stayed strong.

The end goal was more than just in sight. She could feel it, smell it, touch it, and taste it already.

Three steps.

She was over the edge with everything above her knees.

She unlatched her right foot and moved it to the flat mountain peak.

And, using all of her remaining strength, she pulled her left leg up to match it.

The instant both of her legs were on flat ground, Melania bent her body forward, balanced the boulder on her back, and adjusted her grip so that it was once again over her head.

Instead of taking three steps back because the boulder's weight was on her back, she now took three steps forward, losing her grip and letting the boulder slam into the snow.

BOOM!

It made a huge sound.

That was the last thing Melania heard.

She had done it.

She had finally made it to the peak.

She had achieved her goal.

And now, finally, she could rest.

There wasn't an ounce of energy left inside of her to celebrate.

Right then and there, on the cold snow of this mountain peak that somehow managed to exist in the middle of a large arid desert, she collapsed, losing consciousness.

740 days, 6 hours, 17 minutes, and thirty-two seconds.

The instant that amount of time passed since her arrival in this place, Melania passed a trial she was never supposed to attempt in the first place.

But to find out what she truly earned through her efforts...

Well, she had to wake up first, didn't she?