The group, back to being six, stuck to each other as they walked towards a distant light. Ari cast an orb of faint light to see where their footsteps. Vermin hid at the sight of the group between the remains of bones and rusted armor lingering about.

  "What do you think awaits ahead?" Radich walked at the rear, head searching everywhere.

  "Whatever it is, we have to go through it quickly." Izik replied, walking at the front.

  The distant light became closer and brighter, but the air felt sticky and humid.

  "Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?" Azeri flapped her blouse, sweat forming on her forehead.

  "It's not just you…" Radich groaned. "What is this heat?!"

  "Look ahead…" Borgis pointed, sweat dripping to his beard.

  "No way…" Izik gasped.

  The group stopped as they closed in on the source of orange light. A room that felt like a sauna with a pool of boiling water spanning the length of quarter of a mile. It bubbled violently as the group stood at the edge of the platform, dripping with sweat.

  "What do we do?" Ari stepped back and wiped the sweat from her face. "How do we cross it?"

  "Can you create a bridge for us, Borgis?" Pin asked.

  "It is too risky…" Borgis puffed. "I would use too much esper to create a strong enough bridge, and the humidity might make the stone vulnerable to crumble as we walk."

  "My ice would just melt." Azeri squatted. "Damn, this heat!" She groaned.

  Ari squinted at the other side of the bubbling pool. "I can see a lever!" She exclaimed. "That could be the key to make us all cross.

  "So, we only need one of us to cross." Borgis pondered.

  "I would try to use air to float to the other side," Izik scratched the back of his head. "But the steam makes it too risky…"

  "If it is only to take one person," Borgis stroked his blonde beard. "I can create steps from the wall, but the steam will make them crumble quick, so we need someone who is quick on his feet to cross."

  "If that's the case," Radich stepped up with his nose high to the ceiling. "I am the man for the job!"

  "Are you sure about that?" Izik glared at Radich with dismay. "This isn't the time to act tough, you know."

  "Are you doubting me?!" Radich snapped.

  "Calm down, you two." Azeri stepped in. "If there is one thing Radich is capable of, then it's running fast."

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  "Hmph!" Radich stretched his legs and ran at his place. "Alright, Borgis, lay the ground for me, and I'll reach the lever in no time."

  "Excellent!" Borgis exclaimed. "But be careful, young Radich. Once you step on one of the steps, they will most likely crumble from the weight and force along with the steam. In other words, once you start running, you cannot stop."

  Radich simpered, "Don't worry," He pointed at the boots that looked covered in a rune when looked at closely. "They don't call me Rushing Radich for nothing."

  "No one calls you that…" Pin, Ari, and Azeri said in a disappointing unison.

  "Then we will see you on the other side, Rushing Radich!" Borgis placed his right hand on the wall on the right while giving Radich a thumb's up with his left hand. Borgis hand glowed ashen grey as five steps emerged from the wall. They were neither too close nor too far from each other. "Do not worry, I will create more as you run. Get ready.

  Radich set himself up, as if he was readying himself up for a race. Hands placed firmly on the ground, hips extended upwards, and eyes set on the goal.

  "We're counting on you!" Ari cheered with the nodding in agreement.

  "Get set,"

  Sweat trickled down Radich's expressionless face. His boots engulfed bright yellow aura.

  "Go!"

  Radich dashed into the platforms hanging on the edge and leaped to the first one. Pieces fell from the erected ground fell as soon as his feet landed on it and collapsed as soon as his foot pushed from it. His speed took Borgis by surprise, and he started creating more steps as Radich zipped through them.

  "So fast." Izik said, taken aback.

  "Don't stop!" Ari shouted as if he was racing someone neck-and-neck.

  The steps broke down as fast as other were being erected. Radich saw the other side being closer and closer. "Almost there!" He reassured himself.

  Borgis was struggling to keep up the pace of the steps emerging. The farther he was, the harder it was to create a platform as quickly and sturdy, The steps became smaller and thinner as they formed farther away from him.

  "Radich!" Borgis roared. "Jump!"

  Radich barely heard Borgis between the sound of boiling water and crumbling stone behind him, yet he knew from the steps becoming smaller ahead of him. There was some distance between the last step and the other side, and Radich knew he had to take a leap. Last step, and he jumped as hard as he could, but the step was too fragile for such a force. The step broke, and the leap was not high enough.

  "Radich!" Everyone shouted in distress. They held their breath as if they were falling with Radich.

  Radich was falling, but the speed kept on. He flailed his arms as he ran through the air helplessly. His lower half slammed into the edge as he felt the heat of the steam rushing through his legs. Before he slid down, he latched onto the ground with all the might his body could muster. He groaned as he slowly crept up until he was safe on the platform on the other side.

  Everyone finally exhaled and cheered for Radich, who was lying as if he was dead, which is what he believed he was.

  After a while after he processed his brush with death and being boiled alive, he stood and jumped from joy. "I did it!" He grinned as he pulled the lever. The ground shook as a bridge emerged from Radich's side all the way to the Izik and the rest.

  Everyone quickly ran to the other side to avoid the steam from the ground.

  "Beautifully done, Rushing Radich." Borgis patted Radich on the back.

  "You did good, Radich. "Izik said with a smile.

  "Rushing Radich would be better." Radich said with smugness enveloping his face.

  "I'm not going to call you that."

  The rest cheered and applauded him, and quickly walked out of the steaming room.

  "Where did you get those boots, by the way?" Izik asked.

  "My uncle gave it to me." He rubbed his nose with a smile. "He is a traveler and brings me things when he visits. He gave me these cause he knew I love to run." He got them from Olumpia, where they have all sorts of competitions! My goal is to go there and be the fastest one there is."

  "I am sure you will reign supreme, young Radich." Borgis gave him a smile and a thumb's up.

  Pin nodded with a smile.

  "Mm-hmm!" Ari nodded.

  "I'll help you get there once I become an adventurer." Azeri added.

  And, so, the group of six headed into the next trial in the Road of Hell with energy and confidence.