NOVEL NEXT Chapter 162: The Grip Challenge
After setting the new record on the Gaunt Climb, Veyla casually wandered over to another section of the training lounge.
Her boots clicked with authority against the tiled floors. Her presence, like a coiled beast, drew attention everywhere she went.
Victor, Danny, Amara, and Derek, along with a growing crowd of curious students, followed her movements with interest.
"Guess she's not done flexing today," Danny muttered while still massaging his sore shoulder from the Crimson Gauntlet earlier.
Amara giggled softly, and Victor smirked.
The challenge Veyla approached was a peculiar one—a test not of agility or technique, but pure grip force.
The area was simple: a shimmering boundary surrounded by a transparent holographic screen.
Inside floated small, dark balls that looked somewhat wooden but radiated dense mana resistance.
Above the entrance, the rules hovered:
> Grip Crush Challenge:
Crush each incoming ball using only hand strength.
Each successful crush advances you to the next level.
Each level, the ball density increases exponentially.
She proceeded to start crushing balls one after the other, causing them to turn to dust with each grip.
She proceeded so quickly that it made the challenge seem so easy. She was effortlessly crushing them and soon another loud chime rang out.
Highest Score: VEYLA - Level 10
She had beaten the high score of yet another challenge.
Victor whistled low. "Alright. That's pretty cool."
Danny's eyes lit up immediately. "Yo, that's definitely my thing. Berserkers are born for stuff like this."
Veyla leaned casually against the wall while chewing a stick of gum with her arms crossed under her chest.
Her gold-flecked eyes gleamed as she watched the scoreboard, clearly relishing the admiration—and the intimidation she caused.
Danny cracked his knuckles. "Alright, time to dethrone the queen."
Without hesitation, he charged forward and stepped into the shimmering zone.
---
The moment he entered, a single black sphere floated toward him.
Danny grabbed it and clamped his fingers down with explosive force.
CRUNCH!
It shattered like brittle glass.
Cheers echoed from their section of the audience.
Another ball appeared—slightly tougher and denser.
Danny crushed it too as veins bulged on his arms.
Level 1, cleared.
Then Level 2.
Level 3.
Level 4.
By the time he reached Level 5, his breathing had turned heavier. The balls were now so dense they emitted small ripples of mana when squeezed.
Danny roared while activating one of his Berserker skills. Red mana swirled around him as his muscles bulged further.
He gripped the ball with both hands while grunting under the pressure.
CRACK—!!
The ball split apart—but Danny staggered slightly after it shattered.
[ Level 5 Cleared ]
Level 6 began.
Another ball floated toward him, and he reached for it while roaring.
Clamp~
Nothing.
It didn't even dent under his strength.
Danny cursed while trying again, but his arms were trembling from the exertion.
A long beep sounded.
[ Failure — Final Score: Level 5 ]
Danny stumbled out of the zone with sweat dripping down his forehead. "Damn that was brutal…"
Veyla threw a bubble gum in her mouth without even looking properly at him and scoffed. "Weak."
A few onlookers chuckled nervously.
Danny muttered under his breath, "Whatever, you psycho."
---
One after another, other students tried.
Most didn't even pass Level 4.
One particularly confident girl from Camp 3 managed to reach Level 6 before collapsing with bloodied and trembling palms.
Even Derek decided to give it a shot. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders before stepping into the zone.
He actually did quite well, smashing through Level 6 after gritting his teeth and using his full awakened strength—but ultimately, at Level 7, the ball refused to budge no matter how he strained.
When Derek finally dropped to one knee and was ejected from the zone, he cursed loudly. "Shit! So close!"
Veyla gave him a slow, mocking clap.
---
Amara turned to Victor with sparkling eyes. "What about you? Gonna give it a shot?"
Victor shrugged lazily. "Meh. I doubt I can hit her high score. But maybe I'll stretch my fingers a little."
Danny clapped him on the back. "C'mon bro, show us something!"
Victor chuckled and headed into the zone.
As he crossed the shimmering barrier, a few spectators whispered. One or two seemed to have recognized him from his prior performances.
"Isn't that the guy who was first at the final test at the New Avalon City second screening?"
"Yeah… the one with the weird sword skills."
Veyla didn't seem impressed. She barely acknowledged him while still leaning casually and chewing gum.
---
Victor began.
The first ball floated toward him.
Victor casually reached out, squeezed—
Pop.
The ball shattered without resistance.
Another floated toward him.
Again, his fingers closed with a soft crunch, reducing it to fragments.
Level 1 was cleared in under twenty seconds.
Level 2.
Same thing.
Level 3.
Slight resistance—but he crushed it easily.
By Level 4 and 5, Victor noticed that the balls began vibrating with reinforcement which he believed was due to mana. Their density had at least quadrupled compared to the start.
But his hand strength due to cultivation enhancement, and Iron Vein Flow training, was up to the task.
He crushed them too.
---
By the time he stepped into Level 6, murmurs rose among the gathered crowd.
Even Veyla turned her head slightly. He had piqued her interest.
Victor's face remained relaxed, almost bored, as he gripped the tougher spheres. His hands flexed slightly harder now as his muscles bulged under his combat uniform, and after a few seconds of effort—
CRACK.
Another ball exploded into shards.
Level 7.
Now, Victor's brows furrowed a little.
The balls were at least ten times denser than those at the start. He had to brace himself properly while channeling every ounce of physical control into his hands, wrists, and forearms.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
He shattered three more.
His breathing picked up slightly, but he moved on.
Level 8.
The balls now floated in slowly and pulsated with a faint glow. This was an indication of just how ridiculous their durability had become.
Victor grabbed one.
The pressure bit into his bones immediately.
It took him a full ten seconds of continuous pressure before it finally shattered.
A bit of sweat trickled down his jaw.
'Hmm is this my limit without using qi?'