>>6308176“The break is now over.” Kosmas announces. “Please follow me into the next room so that we may begin preparations for the third stage.”
One by one, each of the competitors rises from their seat to follow the Yasha into the next room of the Tower. You and Butch fall in line with the rest of them as you are led to the so-called ‘warp panels’ that Kosmas had spoken of. Embedded on the floor were a variety of strange patterns. Staring into them elicited an odd sensation. It was almost as if you were staring into a deep pool, of which there was no bottom. Off each panel, you were able to sense a slight pulse of magic. Kosmas walks over to one of the tiles and peers down, before looking back towards the group.
“Would those with a perfect score please step forward?”
Gyles, Leonora, Arios and Mystletainn do as instructed. The four of them crowd around the panel where Kosmas hovers, their eyes darting from it and back to their fellow rivals.
“Would any volunteer like to go first?” Kosmas asks.
Without hesitation, Arios charges in. The paladin places one foot on the strangely patterned floor, only to disappear in an instant, spirited away to who knows where. His sudden vanishing prompts startled murmurs from the rest of the competitors.
“See, it’s simple, no?” Kosmas says, smiling. He turns towards the rest of the perfect scorers. “Now, the rest of you.
Leonora steps in next, followed by Gyles. It is then Mystletainn’s turn. He turns back at the last second to give you a smug look and a wink, before stepping in and vanishing after the others.
“And now, would those who scored a 9 please step forward?” Kosmas asks, moving over to the panel next to the one he was just at.
The process continues as such, and you watch as one by one, every single competitor vanishes in the same flash of light, until there are none left standing in the room but yourself, Butch and Kosmas.
“This tower does not contain a Floor Zero.” Kosmas informs you. “As such…you’ll be starting at Floor 1. Isn’t that great?.”
>“Yeah, I’m really feeling lucky right now.” You scoff at the Yasha as you and Butch stare down at the final panel in the room. Up close, this thing really was freaky. What if this was a trick by the Sages, and stepping on this thing actually vaporized you? Maybe all the other contestants were already dead.“What do you think’s on the other side?” Butch asks you.
>“Hell if I know.” You mutter. “Let’s just get this over with. I’m pissed, and I only know one way to relieve that. Let’s get this hunt started.”You step on the warp panel. Instantly, your vision is blinded by a sudden flash, and your body becomes weightless. As you travel through space, you feel:
A): Intense heat
B): Intense cold
C): A disgusting stench
D): Dark and gloomy
