Vahn's inner inner demon surfaced. He wasn't just walking on the trial; he was setting a trap of torment.
He slowed his pace just enough to allow the struggling Rudra to gain ground. Vahn was on the 35th step; Rudra was agonizingly stepping himself onto the 31st.
The crowd stirred.
"He's slowing down! The pressure must have finally caught up to the peasant!" Helix hissed as a sliver of wicked hope returning to his eyes
Princess Camila also sighed in relief.
"See? I knew it. Our Holy Son Rudra will overtake him."
Rudra also assumed Vahn had reached his limit. So he gritted his teeth and used his deep reserves of energy to continue. He took another step, then another, closing the gap to just three steps.
The relief was intoxicating; he was about to prove that the earlier setback was nothing more than a momentary lapse.
However, just as Rudra stabilized his footing on the 32nd step, panting heavily, Vahn suddenly accelerated.
