Supremacy Games

1756 The Silent Library.

While they were discussing ways to travel the desert in the shortest possible time, Felix, Apollo, Commander Bia, and the rest of the squad were seen sitting on a dark cloud ascending an ethereal, infinite staircase that spiraled upwards into a void. Each step was illuminated, shining brightly in the darkness.

The vast emptiness around them was disorienting, the only sense of direction was provided by the stairs.

This was the 96th floor, The Staircase of Solitude.

It was a staircase that went on forever and ever within a dimensional void, making it impossible to find a different path than going up or down the staircase.

Fortunately, with the map at hand, everyone knew the hidden exit's location.

As they climbed, Felix suddenly broke the silence, his voice echoing slightly in the vast expanse. "The Predator has failed to slow them down. They've already reached the desert floor."

Apollo, his expression darkening, cursed under his breath.

"Damn it, that's just two floors above us. At this rate, they will catch up in no time. With Eris' overpowered laws in the tower, they can move through these levels like they're nothing."

Their conversation left Dankin and the rest of the squadmates utterly confused. They gazed at Commander Bia and noticed the color in her face drain a bit.

"We have wasted too much time on the desert floor." Commander Bia remarked with a hopeful tone, "They might take as long as us."

"Doubtful." Felix replied sternly, "The floor makes it impossible to use anything that affects the speed of the travelers. However, with Eris' intelligence and unique set of abilities, I am certain she will succeed in what we failed to achieve."

"You mean pulling the exit to them?"

"Yes, I am watching them do it as we speak."

He shared while spying on Eris, Uranus, and Demeter in the desert from high above.

He was smart enough to bring a few demonized creatures with him and leave them along the way to keep him updated on their movements.

on each floor through his evil energy connection without any risks...If he left his wisp of consciousness behind and it got caught,

"Let me show you."

showed their enemies' movements. As expected, they were working together to bring the exit to them instead of walking to

the rest of the squadmates were shocked to see Demeter use her quantum sand laws to split the desert

in a straight line for thousands of kilometers until it reached the buried exit. It was

you up."

it from the middle while pointing her finger at the portal. Immediately after, the portal's location was switched with a small

onto the next

right

down her spine at the notion of being caught by Uranus. She knew that her fate would be much worse than what she had gone through

do? What

and glancing nervously behind her, feeling like Uranus was

is going on?!" Dankin uttered distressedly after noticing the fear

was no way

others' search for answers and

'Simply climbing down isn't going to

agree.' Apollo nodded, stepping beside Felix and peering into the seemingly endless void

on

if they couldn't outpace them, then, their best option was to hide on a floor

their journey. This strategy had a chance of success

a traveler straight twenty floors down or even more. In other words, there was a chance of taking one of those shortcuts and arriving nearer to the 20th floor while their enemies were still searching

a viable strategy, making him think about the characteristics of the floors they were about

what he was

shared, 'There isn't any guarantee it will succeed, but it

do you have in

Floor.' Felix

chin, 'It is quite risky, but, we will be caught sooner or later either way...Might as well

would be confident to put a great distance between him and their chasers. But, based on the map's details, the next ten floors were going

'It's decided then.'

***