Tower of Heaven

The first platform was made of red boards that went forward for 10 board lengths and then curved into a staircase facing east. The start of the second platform perfectly aligned with the highest point of the staircase, but it was nowhere near it.

"If this platform is turned clockwise three times, they will align."

Atlas was able to quickly understand "how" the platforms aligned. The other two were the same.

However, what was the mechanic that allowed them to move the platforms themselves?

"Do we walk and hope we find it, or do we wait here and figure it out?" Artemia asked.

"I am in favor of moving. We can never be certain that there isn't a time limit on each step," Horus responded.

He was right. This wasn't the same mechanism as the one they followed last time. They couldn't assume that it functioned the same way.

Both young geniuses turned to Atlas for a final opinion. After some observation, he already knew what to say.

"Let's move."

In the end, they had to interact with the platform if they wanted to understand its mechanisms. Staying in one place wouldn't take them anywhere.

The three of them nodded at each other and stepped forward in unison. The moment their feet left the board, it dropped, melting into the lava.

"Well, that part is the same."

With synchronized movements, they stepped forward one board at a time, taking a small period to observe the changes in their environment before continuing each time. There was nothing special until they reached the tenth board, but immediately in front of the staircase, they found their clue.

"A pressure plate?"

Artemia approached it carefully and tapped it with her foot before backing off.

For just a moment, the platform moved before returning to its original position.

"I see, so as long as the pressure plate is active, the platform will move. When you step off of it, the platform will revert to its previous position."

Atlas looked at his two companions.

"Who is the fastest here?"

He knew his own speed, but he couldn't gauge theirs perfectly. They could keep up with him when moving in regular circumstances, but this kind of challenge required a bit more precision.

"Not me," Horus responded without missing a beat.

"I am proudly a brute. Fine movements are not my strong point."

Atlas shifted his gaze to Artemia, who shrugged.

"I've been training my speed, but I don't know if it's enough to beat you yet. If it's just for something like this, though, I think I can do it."

"Perfect."

Atlas nodded in satisfaction.

"This time, you take care of it. This is a good training opportunity."

Artemia agreed easily. He was correct. While Atlas could easily get through this on his own, Artemia couldn't say the same about herself. In order to test the speed and dexterity she'd been training, wasn't this the best place?

Atlas and Horus walked up the steps and waited at the top. In the meantime, Artemia stood on the pressure plate and waited.

The only remaining piece of the platform was the staircase and the small area where the pressure plate was. It turned quite fast, almost throwing Atlas and Horus off the side.

Still, as they held on, Artemia's eyes locked onto the connection point. When that moment came…

"Now!"

Atlas and Horus immediately stepped off and reached the second platform. Artemia pushed off of the pressure plate and planted her foot on the first stair.

Qi gathered in her legs and circulated powerfully through her body. Her eyes glowed a hazy blue color as her energy was mobilized.

[Flow Like Silk]

After all, Veradon was her uncle. She knew the technique as well.

Her body turned into a streak of blue light that shot up the stairs. The platform had already started turning and the connection was gone, but she had enough speed. The moment she arrived at the top of the steps, she jumped.

Her world slowed down as she saw the boiling lava below and her two companions in front. She had enough speed to reach the platform, but if she stumbled across multiple steps and they disappeared…

Thud!

Before she could do what she feared, she found herself in Atlas' arms.

He stumbled back three steps, which Horus took alongside him, before coming to a stop.

When he put her down, all three of them were safely on the second platform.

"Nice!"

Artemia grinned excitedly.

"Good maneuver! I was scared there for a second," she continued, patting Atlas on the back.

"Never mind that," he responded, shrugging her off.

"Are you ready to continue?"

Nobody said otherwise. So far, the challenge was only slightly nerve-wracking.

They crossed the second platform in the same way they crossed the first, but the staircase at the end was different. It contained three large steps, each the size of an average man. The trio was forced to jump up each step to even see where the next connection point was.

"This will be more difficult," Atlas said.

Rather than connecting on a flat plane, this point was in the middle of a staircase. The third platform began with three similar large steps that would meet the second platform's staircase halfway.

"I will–"

"I'll take this one."

Atlas was going to do it himself, but he didn't expect Horus to jump at the chance.

Seeing the clear surprise in Atlas' eyes, Horus shrugged.

"In this case, we just need to jump. I'm confident in that skill."

Atlas frowned slightly, but nodded in the end. As he and Artemia waited at the top of the staircase, Horus descended back to the pressure plate and stepped on it.

Once again, the platform swung around. It reached the connection point, and Atlas and Artemia jumped onto the lowest step of the third platform, safely reaching it.

At the same time, Horus put power into his legs. Golden energy surrounded his body, and he activated his own martial skill.

[Great Sun's Stomp]

He slammed his foot into the ground with a great burst of golden qi, flying into the air. When he was already high above the third platform, he took a step forward.
Explore stories on empire

[Golden Path]

Like he was an immortal descending from the heavens, his every step through the air was supported by a golden stair. Rather than the expected harsh landing, he touched down on the third platform with relative grace.

But, he didn't draw attention to his performance. Rather…

"Did you both see what I just saw?"

"I definitely saw it, and if I saw it, then he saw it too," Artemia responded.

Both of their eyes were trained on the wall behind them. Atlas looked at it as well for a moment before sighing.

"Haa…there's no way I can convince you to leave it, is there?"

"Nope!"

"Unfortunately, there is not."

"Youth, I say. What a tiresome thing."

His sighs went ignored. Artemia and Horus weren't willing to give up something so interesting.

After all, hidden within that wall directly parallel to them was a tunnel that led to a place unknown. It was a tunnel intentionally hidden yet filled with mechanisms to make it visible if it needed to be.

In other words, it was a tunnel intentionally created by sentient beings, which meant that it was very likely to be hiding treasure.

"We are almost at the top…" Atlas muttered.

"But that just means we can make it back here at any time, right?"

Indeed, they were not going to be convinced.

With another sigh, Atlas finally gave in.

"Okay, but we are going to go in and come out quickly. No wasting time."

Artemia and Horus were already beaming. Together, they jumped off of the third platform and used their own methods to slam through the wall and enter the hidden corridor.

Atlas could only follow them.

It was supposed to be an adventure, wasn't it?

From the start, he never had a place to object.