Damon grabbed Null's shoulder before jumping up and running towards the upper stair. That move made Null bump into Dynamo, which made his face gloomy and irritated.
"What a clever idea!" exclaimed the Dean.
Just when everyone was expecting a duel between the two top-notch candidates, the unexpected occurred
"Thank you, I'm grateful, truly grateful for your help." The candidate Dynamo was expressing his sincerity, even bowing down to Null.
"What? What is going on?" cried Caterpillar.
"There was a sudden change in his persona, like Null had done something unnoticed that helped Dynamo deal with his inner demon," explained the superintendent.
"Your insights are truly great," commended the Dean.
"Never expected that Null bumping into Dynamo would help him eliminate his inner demon; now Damon is up at the 35th step. Fox Slayer is remaining at the top and is now at the 55th step. Dina-might is at the 38th step and is resting. And hundreds of candidates are on steps 16, 27, and 18. Those steps are now in chaos as they attack each other. There are no friends and permanent enemies there. Everyone is attacking somebody. What a mess," narrated the Fatty Cook.
Time after time, Null continues to move down the ladder. Until the sun shines once again, it marks the fourth day of the test that has begun. Null was already at the 20th step and about to enter the chaotic stages, but it now occupied the nineteenth step. Those candidates are grabbing and hurting each other and are controlled by their inner demon. As soon as Null entered the 19th step, he was stuck all of a sudden. Due to other candidates aggressiveness. All of them are harsh and love to destroy each other. But since Null felt all of those attacks coming from them, it was like it's alright to beat him.
One of the candidates was holding a knife and stuck it into another candidate's head, and then he plucked the knife out of his head and stabbed him in the chest three times. Blood splattered on the floor, and the suspect was just laughing at him, then threw his body to the floor. Nobody even cared about what was going on, and that was crazy. After he killed someone, he now moved to kill another.
"A Japanese candidate by the name of Mitsu is going for a killing spree, and it's unavoidable in the test, though killing a student is forbidden and is illegal in the Heroes Academy, but in the test that rule is ruled out," explained the Fatty Cook of Medicine.
"If only I had known earlier who that boy Geo was, I would gladly have taken this opportunity to kill him on this test,
"Damon thought to himself. He is getting closer on Dina-might at the 40th step while Dina is at the 42nd. Fox Slayer had climbed the 56th step. Mitsu has killed another candidate, and none even react since they are taken over by their inner demon. Just as Mitsu was going to attack again, another candidate, Potter, blocked his attack.
"I won't let you kill anyone anymore," warned Potter.
Mitsu didn't say a word. He just looked at Potter straight in the eyes, then jumped above him and slashed his curve, but Potter wouldn't just stand up and do nothing. The two clash a few more times, but Potter seems to be fine since he can always block those attacks.
"Look how filthy you have become," said Potter.
Still, Mitsu didn't say a word. Null passed by her as he was going down the ladder.
"Stay away!" Shouted Potter to Null, but it seems he was not even listening, and what he did next made him stunned. Not only him, but it made all of the audience who were watching him moved and stunned in a moment like they're having a daze.
"The boy has done it again!" said the Fatty Cook.
Null carried away Mitsu from any candidates, not letting her near any of them, but he didn't go up or go down this time. He only maintained some distance from other candidates. Then Null put her down far from any candidates before he moved to the lower stairs. Mitsu was stunned after Null put her down. She didn't know what had happened to her when the inner demon had won over her. She just continued to move upward. Null has to go all out, separating everyone from each other as he went down to the chaotic 18th step. He carried everyone away from each other, and it was never an easy feat. Sometimes a candidate would punch him or kick him, but he won't be bothered by it since he doesn't feel pain. As he succeeded in separating every candidate from each other, they would wake up from the illusion and would continue to move upward. Both the Dean and the Superintendent were not happy with what Null has been doing. Only they can't do anything to intervene in what is going on inside the Ladder of Fortitude. "He goes down just for this? Is he crazy? The test is not supposed to be like this!"Cried the superintendent.
"Maybe he just wants to help his fellow candidates and wants to make all his batchmates pass," reacted the Dean.
After Null has wasted four hours separating each candidate from one another, he went to the seventeenth step and did the same for entirely three hours, and now it's getting dark and the sun is setting already. The fourth day is almost over, and Null runs all the way to the first step just to awaken Lucky Zero.
"After all, it's all for that brat. Who really is this Null?" lamented the superintendent. It was midnight when Null finally reached back at the first step, where Lucky Zero was still there, not moving any steps at all. Lucky Zero was still fighting his own inner demon deep in his consciousness.
"I won't give up myself to you, no, never," he said.
Sooner or later I will still get you; I can't wait for that moment any longer; just give me your body. Give up, boy; despair is your only way in." The inner demon was like a devil deceiving him.
"No way I fall into despair for someone like you. You're not worthy of me," he cried.
"But I am you," answered the inner demon.
"No way, get away from me! Leave me alone!" Lucky Zero shouted.
The inner demon just laughs and laughs and controls uncontrollably.
"Therese is talking now; I'll now force you to surrender your body," said the inner demon as it appeared behind him.
"I can't waste so much time. I have to force myself now," cried the inner demon as he tried to take control of the body. Lucky Zero didn't give in that easy; he was still fighting Becky, though the inner demon had beaten him enough. He maintained his composure and decided not to fall into this inner demon.
"Get away from me," he yelled.
"Have I not beaten you enough?" asked the inner demon. "Why can't you just give up?"
"I am a hero!" shouted Lucky Zero. The next thing that transpired astonished him as he saw the inner demon gradually vanishing.
"What did you do to me?" The inner demon was inquisitive until it was totally gone,
When Lucky Zero opened his eyes, he noticed Null staring at him. He was confused, but as he peered deeper, he noticed the candidates climbing the top stairs and knew they were on the Ladder of Fortitude, but Null's presence next to him perplexed him even more.
"What exactly happened to you?" Null inquired after witnessing Lucky Crying, who had taught him that he was an easygoing man.
"My history was hunting me," Lucky Zero responded.
"Your memories? Is it that too much to bear that you can't move even an inch?" asked Null.
"I've killed them! I'm sorry! It was me to blame," he said as he cried.
"Look, you are not the only one who killed someone! Do you not know that a candidate recently killed someone here?" Answered Null.
"No, it was different; my sister died because I am a coward. I let him die; I am worthy of death, so punish me, brother. Just kill me; beat me to death." Begged Lucky Zero.
"What? Are you giving up now? Didn't you know where I've been to save you?" Answered Null that made Lucky Zero confused.
"You saved me; you are the one that made my inner demon disappear?" Lucky, who was bewildered, asked.
"Yes, that's right, I saved you because I think that's what should be done," Null replied without hesitation. Lucky Zero was even more amazed and impressed by him.
"Wow! Thanks, man. You're a true friend. But I don't deserve to be saved," Lucky said with regret.
"Who among them deserves to be saved? Tell me," Null asked while pointing at the candidates on the upper level. Only then did Lucky Zero notice the orderly arrangement of the candidates. They are no longer chaotic like what he saw in the online events of previous years. They move orderly and in unison, like a march of soldiers.
"Are these real? Could it just be a coincidence? Did you really perform all these miracles? How did you do it? Why are you doing this?" Lucky Zero, unable to believe what he saw, was left with many questions.
Null just smiled instead of answering.
"Why are you just grinning there and even chuckling? What's so funny?" Lucky asked.
"Alright, just like that. Be as talkative as you used to be. It's fine with me if I don't become a hero as long as the important thing in this life is that I can save my friend," Null replied, remembering his friend Anthony once again. Back then, the two of them joined the Heroes Academy at the same time. It was different back then. They only climbed a mountain to pass and fight wild beasts in that mountain, and it was too easy. Null that time was injured, and it was Anthony that took care of him. He carried him while climbing the mountain, and without Anthony, he could have never been a hero.
"Friend? Only a friend?" asked Lucky Zero.
"What? We can't be lovers? I disagree," reacted Null.
"You're really an idiot. It's not what I mean!" He shouted at Null.
"Oh, you are scolding me now; you are truly back to your senses. Wait here, and I will bring Vanessa here," said Null and tried to step away from Lucky Zero.
"Vanessa? Where is she now?" asks Lucky Zero.
"Surely you remember her; there is really something between the two of you. Wait here; I will bring her down here," Null replied.
"No, don't bring her down; let's go up to where she is instead," said Lucky Zero.
"Then let's run," ordered Null. "Hey, wait! I have a way that's way faster than running," said Lucky Zero. He turned their way into ice, and a ski appeared in his feet. He made a ski also for Null.
"Wow! This is amazing!" Shouted Null as he skidded through the icy way, moving to the upper stairs.
"Now, we never thought that Null was actually a friend of Lucky Zero. He risks it all just to save him and awaken him. It was so touching, I was so touch that I almost cry in tears. Not only he save his friend but also other candidates from fighting each other while being controlled by their innerdemons. As you see the two young guys are just playing in the Ladder as they are skiing upwards from one step to another and just at the moment ago Null was back at one now he is on the 20th step once again. Candidates are crowding at 25 and 26 but they are in an orderly lines and rows hundred meters apart from each other. Null has synchronized them and it was truly an amazing feat. Damon and Dynamu already surpassed Fox Slayer at the 61rst floor. Damon at the 63rd step and Dynamo who just surpassed him is at the 64rth. It's a pity for the Hunter's Association this year. They can't salvage anyone from the candidates of the Heroes Academy in this Test of Fortitude for they are all going to pass." Narrated the teacher of the Heroes Medicine Department.