Pressing Forward

The sudden sound caught the attention of Iris and the Grand Elder, who quickly looked back up at John with shocked expressions. However, both quickly breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing John still standing on the fifteenth step. It was not that they didn't want him to succeed, but that they were becoming weary from being shocked over and over.

Clearly the banging sound was him standing up from his seat and putting it away. The pressure of each step was immense, and even the slightest of movements caused extreme force on the steps. 

"I thought he had advanced when he made that sound, but it seems as though he was just standing up. Maybe the pressure and soulpain is becoming too much for him to lounge around like that, and now he's taking the fifteenth step seriousl-"

Bang!