After the trial concluded, only two hundred ascended applicants remained. With the trial being so intense, many of the aligned members simply spent the remainder of the day recuperating after receiving medical attention.

  All the applicants felt somewhat relieved when they received a message on their communicators stating that the next trial would not begin the following day but the day after, granting them a brief period of rest. As such, each member of the alliance spent their time off differently.

  Jackson primarily spent his day off lounging in his hotel room, eating snacks, and watching videos from various creators on Staircase.

  In the afternoon, he retrieved a device from one of his suitcases. The device appeared to be a helmet covering the top portion of his face. It was a gaming console that utilized Soul Tech to interact with the Conscious Mind, creating simulations within the mind itself.

  Devices like these were fairly common and used by both Ascended and ordinary humans. However, their usage varied between the two groups. Since ordinary humans did not have the same type of Conscious Mind as an Ascended, the simulations they could experience were far more limited.

  The simulations themselves also differed. Ordinary humans often sought experiences that allowed them to act in ways similar to the Ascended, while the Ascended primarily sought simulations tailored to their personal interests—more often than not, these had little to do with their lives as Ascended.

  Seated at his desk in an office chair, Jackson—still in his pajamas—put on the helmet and reclined the chair slightly. He then started up the console, controlling it with his Conscious Mind.

  Jackson had owned the device before becoming an Ascended, so his interactions with it now were different from before. Previously, he had to turn it on manually and enter a dreamlike state in order to use it. Now, he could remain fully aware of his surroundings while still enjoying the simulation.

  The simulation he often played placed him in the role of a Lord in a bygone era of knights and valiant heroes. That was not to say such things no longer existed in the present—nobility and similar things still held relevance in this new era.

  Jackson found himself inhabiting the body of his avatar, which gave him the appearance of an older, distinguished individual. He stood at the center of his village, surveying his surroundings. His guards patrolled as usual, the blacksmith diligently worked on the various projects Jackson had assigned him, and the rest of his subordinates busied themselves with their respective tasks.

  Stroking his bearded chin, Jackson mentally reviewed his list of objectives. There’s that questline involving the witch—I think I finally have the capabilities to complete it. Or, I could take my men on a mining expedition.

  He exhaled thoughtfully before deciding to start with something simpler.

  I think I'll just go and see how my farmers are doing, as I've wanted to improve my agriculture for a while now.

  ...

  Elsewhere, on the woodland outskirts of the city, Coraline and Ebony had decided to go for a hike through the forest.

  Coraline wore a simple, fitted blue shirt paired with cargo-style shorts that had multiple pockets, along with a pair of comfortable walking shoes. A large backpack was strapped to her back, filled with a prepared lunch for both herself and Ebony.

  The backpack looked rather oversized on her small frame, creating an odd contrast. However, as an Ascended, the weight was negligible.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  As they followed a natural hiking trail, Ebony had chosen to remain in his enlarged form. Noticing this, Coraline couldn't help but let a sheepish expression cross her face.

  In the past, when they had gone on similar excursions, Ebony had remained in his reduced form. However, this had led to an unexpected issue—ordinary predatory creatures often mistook him for easy prey. To avoid any future mishaps with the local wildlife, Ebony now stayed in his enlarged form.

  As the two walked through the forest, they came across a massive river spanned by a large stone bridge. Stepping forward to the edge of the riverbank, Coraline examined the rushing water. The river appeared to be deep, with an incredibly fast current.

  She then glanced down at Ebony, who had walked up beside her to observe the river as well. Humming a pleasant melody, Coraline set down her backpack and retrieved an object from one of its pockets.

  "This seems like a pretty good spot to open up a video," she mused.

  The object she had retrieved was a small sphere with metal propeller blades protruding from its sides—a Soul Tech drone, which she used to record videos for Staircase.

  Coraline had built up a decent-sized following on the platform, consisting primarily of other Ascended who owned Ascended beasts, as well as ordinary humans who found them fascinating. She often posted pictures and videos showcasing interesting interactions between herself and Ebony.

  Activating the drone with her Conscious Mind, Coraline tossed it into the air. The propellers whirred to life, and the drone hovered steadily above her.

  With an energetic tone, she began her introduction. "Hi, everyone! It's my day off from trials, so I decided to go on a hike with Ebony in the Crucibur City forests!"

  She then performed a hand signal, instructing the drone to ascend for a better vantage point. From its new height, it captured a wide shot of the roaring river.

  "As always, we'll be exploring the forest's natural beauty," she continued, "but first, we have to get across this river."

  Without activating her Soul Incantation, she pounced forward, launching herself into the air in a graceful arc over the raging waters. She landed lightly on the other side, her movements as fluid as a cat’s. Dusting herself off, she looked up at the hovering drone with a satisfied expression.

  Ebony, on the other hand, took a far simpler approach—he merely walked across the stone bridge. Once on the other side, he fixed Coraline with an unimpressed stare.

  Under his intense gaze, she sighed before responding in an embarrassed, somewhat whining tone, "Don't give me that look. I know I could've taken the bridge, but my way looked cooler!"

  ...

  In the commercial district of the city, Lioness stood outside a storefront. Wanting to relax and unwind, she had made an appointment at a spa that specialized in catering to the needs of the Ascended.

  Her outfit was simple yet stylish—a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and black boots. She felt noticeably lighter today, though that was mostly because she had left her metal behind in her hotel room.

  Despite priding herself on being a warrior, she never shied away from comfort. Both she and the members of her group frequently indulged in pampering sessions when they weren’t out causing trouble.

  Upon entering the spa, Lioness exchanged pleasantries with the staff before being ushered into her private treatment room. There, she proceeded to a separate changing area to switch into one of the complimentary robes provided by the spa.

  A staff member soon entered and informed her that her massage would begin shortly. Lioness responded with a simple nod before making her way to the massage table.

  Lying down, she focused on releasing as much tension as possible, allowing herself to fully relax.

  A few minutes later, her masseuse arrived—but it was neither a man nor a woman. Instead, it was a Soul Tech machine. Though humanoid in appearance, its robotic nature was unmistakable.

  The reason for this was simple: the bodies of the Ascended were far more durable than those of ordinary humans. Relieving their tension and stress required more than just human strength.

  The machine moved to the side of the massage table and began scanning her body for areas of tension. Once identified, it immediately got to work, expertly kneading her muscles with calculated precision.

  Lioness was so relaxed under the machine’s mechanical hands that she nearly drifted off to sleep. However, it gently shook her awake and guided her toward her next treatment.

  Remembering what it was, she flashed a faint, wolfish smile. This was one she had particularly been looking forward to.

  She sighed in delight at the thought. A mud bath infused with spirit alchemy… That'll do wonders for my skin. Not to mention, it'll help my battle scars fade faster than they normally would.