I am no longer human!

Chapter 19 Run without hesitation!

The Climbers' Abyss.

"Hey, really...?"

"That posture... could it be that the Arrogant Seat is about to...?"

run?!

Just as this utterly unbelievable idea popped into the minds of the new demons, and was about to be shattered by reason, Damian on the Heavenly Ladder began to move.

Step, step, step.

The pure black staircase emitted a rapid yet rhythmic sound, like the keys being plucked by a pianist.

The black-haired boy on the piano keys seemed to run as lightly as the wind.

The hem of his pure white tuxedo fluttered behind him like a pair of folded white wings, rustling in the air.

Below the Heavenly Ladder, the new demon students who looked up at this scene were all dumbfounded.

"What a joke! How could anyone possibly be running on the Ladder of Willpower?!"

"He's already past the fourth level and is about to head to the fifth! My God, are we about to witness history?"

"I'm actually in the same year as such a formidable devil. Looks like my rainbow-colored youth plan is doomed to fail..."

Some of the demons were utterly shocked, some were filled with worship, and some were so devastated that they were disheartened.

Meanwhile, at the top of the valley.

Three high-ranking demons watched with great interest the boy running up the heavenly ladder.

The person in the middle is Sean, the magician and director of admissions. To his left is a dignified man in a black robe, and to his right is a gentle and graceful woman.

The man on the left was tall and wore a pure black robe that covered him from head to toe without any decoration.

His face was thin and stern, with a high nose like an eagle's beak, and his silver-white hair was meticulously styled, giving him a reliable and dignified appearance.

The woman on the right is wearing a light blue long dress with no complicated decorations, except for a few delicate white flowers embroidered on the collar and cuffs. She is also holding a book in her arms.

She had delicate features, long green hair, and a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth. A faint smile graced her pretty face, and her jewel-like emerald eyes seemed to be gentle and tender no matter who she looked at, making people want to get closer to her.

"Professor Sean, where did you recruit this new student? He's truly an extraordinary genius!"

Seeing that the black-haired boy running on the ladder of will was about to step onto the fifth floor, the green-haired woman finally couldn't help but speak.

"Teacher Caroline, I agree with your assessment. This young man is indeed a true genius. Not only is his will exceptional, allowing him to face the pressure of a fifth-tier baron lord while still a mortal demon, but most importantly..." The silver-haired man paused before continuing:

"Just by looking at his near-perfect human form, one can tell that the demonic blood flowing through his veins is incredibly strong!"

"Director Sean, could you tell me which family he comes from?"

"I'm sorry, Professor Melchior, I promised the headmaster that I would keep Damian's identity a secret." Sean smiled mysteriously. Although he was looking forward to seeing Melchior's expression when he found out that Damian was human, he was also worried that the headmaster would tear him apart if he did.

The order was personally issued by the headmistress, who is Lucifer's daughter...

Upon hearing this, Melchior was immediately filled with respect, his gaze towards the black-haired boy below filled with admiration.

"How many floors do you think this child can reach?" Caroline suddenly asked.

"I think he should stop at the fifth level. After all, there has only been one person in history who has reached the sixth level of the Ladder of Will as a mortal demon, and you all know that person," Melchior said.

Although he believed that Damian had unlimited potential and noble blood, he could never compare to that person... After all, although he did not agree with that person's will at all, that person did indeed have the noblest bloodline in Hell flowing through their veins.

"Ninth floor. If you guess wrong, I'll twist my head off and let you kick it around like a ball," Sean said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Caroline and Melchior exchanged bewildered glances, completely baffled.

Meanwhile, Damian on the Ladder of Will finally reached the fifth floor and let out a long sigh of relief.

It wasn't the pressure that caused it, but rather the exhaustion. After all, running up hundreds of steps in one go is incredibly strenuous for a normal human being.

Seeing that the ladder to heaven was still halfway up ahead, Damian decided to turn back.

After all, his goal was simply to defeat Raphael and retain his arrogant position, not to show off in front of all the demons.

As a human being, he knew that in a hell full of demons, the more he stood out, the faster he would die.

However, just as he turned around, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"Is this all your desires, Damian?"

It was Sean's voice.

"I have seen your ugly body before, and I have witnessed your parents' greed and cruelty towards you."

Damian's body stiffened.

"To be able to win first place in a competition involving millions of people when you have nothing is not just about willpower and talent; there is something deeper involved."

"Because the will of a living being is often related to his desires."

"Damian, have you... forgotten your desires?"

The black-haired boy lowered his head deeply, countless memories of his past on Earth flooding his mind.

"Xia Yaozu, you're already in second grade and you can't even get first place in the class. I could raise a dog and it would be better than you!"

"You need to study hard and don't make friends. Mom is waiting for you to grow up and become a high-ranking official so that Mom can hold her head high."

"Did you hear? Hao Hao got a scolding from his mother just because he let him play video games for a while."

"That's terrifying. Let's stay away from him from now on."

...

Is living only painful as a child, or is it always this painful?

It seems to be the latter... So what exactly am I striving for, and why am I persisting?

"Once you get into Tsinghua University, you'll have everything."

Is it for getting into Tsinghua University? Is it for the good job, high-ranking official position, and social contribution that parents and teachers talk about?

No, that's not it.

"An annual scholarship of two million, plus a three-bedroom apartment in the city center."

"Oh dear, my son was born for the Babylonian Academy!"

Bullshit, even they don't believe it themselves!

So, what exactly has driven him to get to where he is now...?

Another image flashed through Damian's mind.

That was when he was very young. He had gotten second place in his grade and was holding the test paper outside for a long time, too afraid to go home.

A family of three passed by; the daughter was adorable, wearing braces, yet still eating ice cream bite by bite.

Her parents gently stroked her head and said:

"Yaoyao, don't get last place on the test again next time."

"If you get last place again, Mom will only be able to reward you with an ice cream every two days, instead of every day."

That was the first time Xia Yaozu realized that it wasn't only those who ranked first in their grade who could be rewarded with a trip home.

"Honoring ancestors, honoring ancestors..." is such a heavy word.

Another scene.

"Mom, my tooth hurts, can you take me to the hospital?"

"It's all your fault for not brushing your teeth carefully. Be more careful next time."

"..."

Another scene.

"Hide and seek, one person needed, come quick!"

"Can I?"

"Get lost, do you want me to get beaten by my parents again?!"

...

My desire is simply to be loved.

If I can keep moving forward and become better, will someone love me? Will I have my own friends, lovers... or even real family?

So no matter how painful or agonizing it may be, I will move forward and upward without hesitation.

The black-haired boy suddenly raised his head, and the next moment, to the astonishment of all the demons, he started running again!