Beth, Kyo, Subaru, and Kaname were climbing the pillar, with great difficulty. Mandy made it clear that the tests would not be so easy. Kyo was climbing upwards, ahead of the others. He held on, with his fingers, and moaned, "Damn… No one ever said that we'd have to climb this!"

He thought, "This is bad… Even if somehow manage to fail, we may doom the world… But using my fingers, that is completely on Expert Level. How the hell can you hold on? I'm barely using my strength for this!"

Kyo was climbing upward, for about 2 meters, while Subaru was climbing at 1.4 meters. Kaname was lagging behind with 1 meter, while Beth has yet to climb. She was still at the first few feet, since she's very small.

Subaru whimpered, "If I were to fall, and die here, I would have no regrets. But if I don't do something, we're all going to starve to death, down here!"

Beth made it to ten feet, and then slid back down into the oil. She grumbled, "Ooooooooooooh!"

Kyo said, "She's trying her best, but I can't be distracted. I know what she's capable of, and that she's not only doing this for her father, Kagura's sworn enemy… She has to pass-, NO! WE have to pass, or Kagura will have won! That is something I cannot let it happen!"

He called out, "BETH! Will you focus?"

Beth roared, as she was irate, "THIS IS BULLSHIT! I JUST GOT HERE! THAT SMUG WITCH KNOWS I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO CLIMB THAT STUPID, STUPID, STUPID-STUPID THING! IT'S NOT FAIR! JUST WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE IS, TOSSING US DOWN THERE, LIKE THAT? THERE'S NO WAY I COULD POSSIBLY RESPECT THAT WOMAN, AFTER THIS!"

She snarled, "I know she's a beautiful woman, like Mother and Sis, BUT SHE BETTER BE PRAYING FOR MERCY, WHEN I MAKE IT OUT OF HERE, ALIVE! MY PATIENCE IS GROWING THIN!"

Episode XV – Chapter 2: Climb the Hell Pillar!
The Choujin Ascension to Glory!

Beth uses a makeshift rope, made of cloth, and wrapped it around the pillar. She then said, "So, two survived the pillar, whereas dozens of victims were killed, climbing this thing? Maybe they were dimwitted to come up with a creative solution."

She started climbing up, using the rope as support. But then, a sword appears from the walls, and destroyed the rope. Beth fell to the oil, again, as she lost her grip.

Mandy called, as she instructed from above, "Nice try, Bethany Nevins! The pillar only accepts Ty Ko Ky, and nothing else! I advise to any of you to NOT cheat your way up! Even if you did use the ropes, it won't help you, anyway!"

She walked off, as Beth cried, "WAIT! Miss Mandy!"

She stopped, as Beth called, "You just can't leave me here! I know it's my first day, but… I don't want to die down there, after our first try! You can't just let me rot, do you? If I fail, you'll let me out, right?"

Mandy walks off, without answer, letting out an icy glare. Beth gasped, as she whispered, "She… She means it… Her eyes are like ice. The only way I have to survive is to use my powers on this pillar, to climb up… But how? That woman's going to let me die, at a young age! CURSES! The fact that she's so damn beautiful, makes me angrier about this whole thing!"

(28 days before poison is released)

Twenty-eight hours later, Kyo has reached 15 meters, while Subaru and Kaname are struggling, at about 15 meters. Beth, unfortunately, remains at zero meters. The gems inside her will now dissolve in exactly four weeks.

Beth thought, "Those three… I'm sure that they're learning how to climb up well… It's been overnight, and they're almost halfway there! I could assist them, but I can tell that their really struggling."

Subaru slips, and holds on with her fingertips, emitting a yellowish wave of electricity. Beth gasped, "Whoa! How did Subaru do it? If she loses that grip, she's going to be sliding down! Her power is running out! SUBARU! FOCUS!"

Subaru regained her footing, and resumed climbing. Beth said, "PHEW! That was close…"

Her fingers continued to spark, as Beth realized, "Wait a minute… Is that how she's climbing? She's using her Ty Ko Ky for leverage, and her footing for assistance. Then, that means…"

She inhaled and said, "Consider this Hamon Mystery SOLVED!"

Her hands glowed and landed on the pillar, with her fingers stuck on the pillar. "I did it! It's sticking to the pillar! All I was using is my hands, to support weight, when, in fact, it's the opposite that works! Focused Ty Ko Ky deep within the fingertips is where the true strength lies!"

She then giggled, "All I have to do it use my strength and speed to climb the pillar with ease, now! And then… plot my revenge on that so-called Ty Ko Ky Coach! Hahahahaha!"

Kaname smiled, as she looked down, "She's getting the hang of it, now!"

Kyo said, "Yeah. Beth's got it! Good for her."

(27 days before poison is released)

Twenty-four hours passed, as Beth finally caught up to Subaru and Kaname, who's about 17 meters up. Beth's at 16 meters, while Kyo is falling to 19 meters.

Beth moaned, "Oh, boy. Who knew you can't take breaks on this pillar?"

She also notices that the pillar, going upward, was curved on top. Kyo was climbing with great difficulty, as Subaru was still moaning in pain, climbing the pillar, behind Kaname, who's ahead of her.

Beth barked, "I take it that this is where the challenging part comes in. That pillar is unforgiving as that damned Mandy!"

They continued to climb up, as three hours passed. Kyo's now at 21 meters, Kaname's at 20 meters, Subaru's at 17, and Beth's at 18. Beth gasped, as she saw a crack on the pillar. She whispered, "OH! Is that a crack? My word! And it's big enough to fit my hand! Time for a well-earned break, here… Thank goodness…"

Just then, Beth's ESP Perk acts up, and views that Beth will be plummeting 20 meters back down to the oil. She gasped, as she remembered, "No… What if this is a trap? I can't be so sure… But I have to keep climbing… Damn that woman! Must be my lucky day, until my ESP Perk came to my guidance. I wonder if this pillar will accept it. She said nothing else than Ty Ko Ky or Hamon."

She resumed climbing, as Subaru spotted the crack. She reached in her hand and moaned, "Thank goodness… Subaru's tired…"

She placed her hand in, touching a small black button, as Beth noticed her. She cried, "NO, YOU IDIOT!"

She pressed the switch, as the pillar started to shake. Kyo gasped, "WHAT WAS THAT? SOMETHING'S HAPPENING!"

Kaname gasped, seeing the pillar open up. Beth is trembling, "So, it was some sort of lever that Subaru pressed. But what disasters should is confirm?"

The pillar split open, horizontally, letting out a huge gusher of fluid. Beth growled, "Not good. So, this is the booby trap…"

Kyo cried, "BETH, YOU STUPID BRAT!"

Subaru moaned, "Actually, that was Subaru's fault, you know~."

Kaname cried, "Wait, how did you trigger it?"

Beth said, "I saw it first, but I didn't want to reach it! Somehow my ESP Perk also increases my awareness."

Kaname cried, "THAT'S CHEATING! But also, that's clever!"

Kyo said, "This thing has become Master Level to IMPOSSIBLE LEVEL! How are we supposed to climb this thing, now?"

An impenetrable sheet of oil shoots out of the pillar, in a deadly speed, near the 20-meter mark. Kyo and Kaname fell off, landing on the 19-meter mark, just before the oil stream shot out. Kyo moaned, realizing he should've gone for broke. Kaname reached for a pen, and placed it in the stream of oil. The pen cap snapped off, as she cried, "This oil is highly pressurized! It can snap a twig, clean off!"

Beth asked, "What? It's not my fault that I was aware!"

Subaru whined, "Don't be mad at me! Subaru's sorry for ruining your concentration!"

Kyo scoffed and turned away, thinking Beth did. But Beth said to him, "Look, I'm sorry. I was going to rest for a minute. But my ESP Perk suddenly had a hint of future sight, and I didn't want to risk it. I would've done the same thing, for a sane person… Whatever madman created this diabolical thing, set that up as a trap. And I did what any expert fighter did, and ignored it."

Kyo thought, "I wasn't giving you a look of blame, Beth… It was out of concern. Yes, I know you were aware, and Subaru's just an idiot… I'm not sure if I can get through this oil in one piece."

He said to Kaname, "Can you climb it? I risked my lead, worried over what you guys were doing… When I saw the line, I dropped down and pushed you to the 19-meter mark, avoiding death. I thought for sure it was a blade trap… but…"

Kaname said, "I would've pulled you down, if it were the same thing… But then again, Beth's right to be aware."

She growled, "BUT THERE IS ONE WAY OUT! AND YOU CAN'T LEARN IT, FROM ME!"

She landed her feet onto the pillar and stood on it. The feet were emitting her electrical waves from down below. She was using her powers to maintain balance. And then clapped her hands together, shouting, "Spirit of the Crane, empower me! Make me swift and steady!"

She dove in, coated in a huge barrier of Ty Ko Ky, and dove right through the oil in a Crane Dive, emerging to the other side, unscathed.

"PAGYU?!" Subaru cried, "Miss Kaname did it!"

Kyo cried, "What? How did she?"

Kaname was now at 21 meters, as she said, "Well, Kyo, looks like your lead has ended! Or have you forgotten that I'm the more agile member of the Choujin Brigade?"

Kyo growled, as he was on his feet, inhaling, "Attract and repel! She must have been using her Ty Ko Ky to maintain composure! Her powers were focused on the feet, to remain focused on the pillar, and in her hands to protect her, as she breaks through the oil! That's it! I have to concentrate!"

Kaname said, "It's easy for me, but hard for you! FOCUS, YOU GUYS, OR YOU'RE STUCK HERE!"

Kyo dove his hands into the oil. Beth cried, "KYOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Kyo got through the oil stream, slowly and on the other side. He panted, "I did it… I know it's wrong of me to be that compassionate for Kaname, but Beth and Subaru couldn't even control two types of Ty Ko Ky at once."

Beth said, "I'm amazed. I'm glad Kyo and Kaname made it through, somehow… but there's no way, in this state, I can perform a stunt like that…"

Subaru and Beth thought, as Kyo and Kaname raced to the top of the pillar.

XXXXX

Nine hours later, Kaname and Kyo both reached the top of the pillar, first. Both of them clocked in at 58 hours (three hours passed the late Caesar Zeppeli's time of 61 hours).

They panted, as Mandy approached them. Kyo pleaded, "Please, Coach! Turn off the oil, and let Beth and Subaru pass! The oil's too strong for them! And I bet Beth would pull off some ridiculous do-or-die stunt to escape!"

Mandy said, "No. I'm sorry, Kyo. But for this one, Beth and Subaru must climb the pillar, and go through the obstacle, alone."

Back below, at twenty meters, Beth said, "I know that hanging around like this isn't getting me nowhere…"

Subaru whispered, "I have to meet with them… but… I have to wash into it!"

She prayed, using one hand, as the other was hanging on the pillar, "Spirit of the Cobra, guide me…"

Beth asked, "Now I know Father's got crazy people… How can their Choujin abilities get them up there? Kyo and Kaname are already up there!"

Subaru's powers increased, as Beth's ESP Perk activated. Beth shouted, "AH, SCREW THIS! I can use MY ESP Perk and Ty Ko Ky, combined! Then I'll dive into the oil, myself!"

She leapt off, as Subaru leapt with her, "PAGYUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Kaname shrieked, "BETH! SUBARU! NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Beth grabbed the stream with her hands, and using her psychic abilities, she was able to ride the stream, clasping it like it was a freshly-wrapped Christmas present.

Kyo gasped, "I don't believe it! Beth is grabbing the oil stream, like it was a surfboard!"

Beth said, "If I can judge the speed of its stream… Yes! The oil loses its speed, the farther is shoots out!"

Subaru slides alongside the oil, using her technique. Beth leapt upwards and cried out and reached for the top. She succeeded, but only to make it nearly at the top, by five feet. Subaru makes it to the pillar, above the oil, and makes it to the 22-meter mark.

"She actually used the oil to whip herself on top of it!" Kyo said, "And Beth's almost there! She made it up a whole three meters!"

Mandy said, "Impressive. I've never seen anyone perform such a feat. She used her weaknesses and made it into strengths. That was clever."

Beth said, as she was on the wall, "I made it. But… This overhang is rather difficulty, than the pillar. I'm… losing my… grip…"

Beth was getting tired, as she was about to fall. But then, Kyo grabbed her arm, the moment she let go. He called out, "Let me set the record straight, kid! I was NOT mad at you, earlier. I'm sorry…"

He said to Mandy, "Forgive me, coach… I couldn't stand to see her tire out, any longer…"

Mandy said, "I understand. I'm surprised that you have any strength left, at all."

Kyo gasped, "WHAT? Oh, crap!"

He was slipping, as Subaru cried, "HEY, HURRY UP, KYO! PULL HER IN!"

Beth cried, "I could really use that other arm, Kyo! Don't let me go! HELP!"

After the climb, and ten seconds of recovery and after Beth screamed out "Don't let me go!" 13 more times, Beth reaches the top, at 58 hours and 12 minutes. Subaru made it to the top, as well, but by twenty seconds behind Beth.

Kyo Sohma & Kaname Chidori's time: 58 hours
Beth Nevins' time: 58 hours, 12 minutes
Subaru Mikage's time: 58 hours, 13 minutes

XXXXX

Beth was at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as she met with Mandy. She grinned evilly, "Hello, Coach Mandy… While I was climbing the pillar, I have time to think for myself… not for what I did, but for this… HOW SHOULD I EXACT MY REVENGE ON THAT WITCH?"

She was roaring at Mandy, as she was infuriated. The others watched on, in amusement, as Beth was yelling at Mandy. But Mandy threw a cup of water at Beth, but she caught it, while holding it, upside-down. The water didn't spill out. In fact, Beth's Ty Ko Ky was finally kicking in, after three days.

"I don't believe it!" Beth calmed down, and then became astonished.

Kyo said, "Amazing! And it took her three days to improve her control of her powers. Her inherited powers are amazing, but Mandy's skills are far off powerful!"

Beth pleaded to Mandy, on her knees, "Please, forgive me, coach! I'm sorry! I beg of you, give me more training! I do anything as you say! I promise I won't be that lax of your rules! You'll see what I can do! I overcome any obstacles!"

Mandy said, "Oh, don't worry, Bethany. I have plenty more for you. I will train you into the ground."

Beth nodded, "Thank you, coach!"

Kyo said, "Wow, I never thought she'd hold a grudge for so long… but it amazes me why she's been able to calm down, so quickly."

Mandy said, "Your next three weeks are going to make the Hell Climb Pillar look more like a jungle gym."

And so, the Choujin Brigade and Beth Nevins continued their training, learning from their many trials and tribulations, all throughout Italy, from balancing on one finger, off the tip of the rooftop, to swimming in 10 laps, in the Mediterranean Sea. And even so, they even resort to fighting underwater, holding their breaths, for a full ten minutes.

Beth roared, as the training continued onwards, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! THIS IS INSANE! WHY DO I HAVE TO TRAIN LIKE THIIIIIIIIIIIIIS?"

(7 days until the poison is released)

One week remaining, until the gems dissolve, as the training continues.

Be sure to tune in to the next chapter, as time is running out for Beth Nevins!

To be continued…