The Last Hours of Comprehension

The eighteenth hour of the comprehension trial arrived, and a shift in the atmosphere became unmistakable.

The Lightning Steele loomed, its surface unchanged, but the air was thick with a slow building charge of lightning mana, caused by the infusion of the collective focus of the competitors. The inscriptions remained still, yet their presence weighed heavily on the minds of those attempting to decipher them.

The competitors had moved beyond simple meditation through the quiet hours of the night and into the current morning light. Their spirit pressure pulsed in measured waves, subtle signs of realization passing through them as they refined their understanding. 

Some now sat, eyes closed, completely motionless. Their breathing synchronized with the mental image training they were undergoing, while others began incorporating controlled gestures from their seated positions, shaping the movements their minds had grasped.