I Can See Evolution Paths

The ground suddenly shifted beneath their feet.

Arthur barely had time to realize what was happening before the entire cavern floor tilted downward. The flat stone they had been standing on became a steep slope, sending everyone sliding toward the darkness below.

"Whoa!" Sun shouted as he lost his footing.

Luna slipped almost immediately. Arthur reacted without thinking, reaching out and catching her wrist before she could tumble past him.

"I’ve got you," Arthur said, tightening his grip.

Luna grabbed his arm with both hands. "Arthur!"

"I’m not letting you fall."

Eden clung tightly to Arthur’s shoulder while Mithra reached for Melo, pulling the fox close as the entire group began sliding faster.

Arthur tried digging his boots into the stone, but the surface was too smooth. His spear scraped against the ground, throwing sparks as he searched for anything he could use to slow them down.

Then a loud crack came from above.

Arthur looked up.

A chunk of rock had broken loose and was sliding toward them. "Everyone, watch out!"

The rock bounced once, then again, gathering speed as it came down the slope.

Arthur twisted his body, keeping Luna and Eden behind him as he raised Dusk. "Stay behind me."

The rock was almost upon them.

Arthur thrust his spear forward.

[Armor Piercing]

Golden energy exploded from the weapon. The incoming stone shattered into dozens of fragments, scattering harmlessly across the slope.

Arthur barely had time to breathe before another cluster of jagged rocks appeared farther down.

His expression hardened. "This place really doesn’t want us here."

Vedas, still sliding beside him, glanced toward the next obstacle. "You sound like you’re enjoying this."

Arthur smiled. "Maybe a little."

Vedas sighed. "Of course."

They continued sliding.

Another cluster of jagged rocks emerged from the wall ahead.

Before Arthur could move, Athy suddenly spread her wings.

Her long white feathers, marked with black patterns, caught the golden light surrounding her body. The golden armor covering her chest and wings glimmered as she pushed herself upward against the force of the falling slope.

"Athy!" Arthur called.

"I’m handling it!"

She shot above them.

For a moment, the owl disappeared into the darkness above.

Then she folded her wings and plunged downward.

Golden light gathered along the edges of her wings.

[Brave Light]

A concentrated blade of light swept through the cavern.

The entire cluster of rocks split apart before it could reach the group.

Arthur looked up in surprise.

"Nice!"

Athy pulled out of the dive with a proud smile.

"I told you I could handle it."

Before Arthur could answer, the light around Athy suddenly separated.

One became three.

Then five.

Then eight identical figures spread throughout the cavern.

Sun stared upward. "She can make that many now?"

Athena smiled despite the danger around them. "She’s been practicing."

The light clones immediately moved.

Each one targeted a different section of the cavern, cutting apart the jagged rocks before they could fall toward the group. The real Athy remained at the center, constantly adjusting her position and watching for the next obstacle.

Mithra laughed as she continued sliding. "She’s getting really good at this."

Athy heard her.

"Of course I am!"

Athena immediately called upward, "Just don’t get too far ahead!"

Athy glanced back. "I won’t!"

A moment later, another massive formation of rocks appeared. Athy eyes narrowed as golden light surged through her before she turned into a blur and crushed into the rocks. The entire formation shattered beneath the force of his attack.

Sun stared at the destruction as they continued sliding. "You know, I think we’re getting pretty good at this."

Vedas looked at him. "We’re sliding down a hole."

Sun shrugged. "Exactly. And we’re still alive."

Melo’s tails swayed beside Mithra. "That’s a surprisingly low standard."

Sun looked offended. "We’re in a cave."

Melo nodded calmly. "That doesn’t improve your argument."

Mithra burst out laughing.

The slope suddenly became steeper.

Arthur tightened his hold around Luna and Eden as the cavern twisted sharply beneath them.

"Hold on!"

The group was thrown around another bend.

For several seconds, all Arthur could hear was the scraping of boots, wings, weapons, and bodies against stone.

Then the slope finally leveled out.

Everyone landed on a wide stone platform.

Arthur rolled once before catching himself and immediately looked around.

"Luna?"

"I’m okay," she said, pushing herself upright.

Arthur checked her arms and shoulders anyway. "You’re sure?"

Luna nodded. "I’m fine."

Before Arthur could respond, Eden landed nearby and quickly flew over.

"I’m okay too!"

Arthur smiled. "I know."

Eden puffed out her cheeks. "You didn’t even ask me."

Arthur laughed. "You’re already complaining. That means you’re fine."

"I’m not complaining!"

Vedas walked past them and calmly said, "You are."

Eden turned toward him in disbelief. "Vedas!"

Vedas’s mouth twitched into a small smile.

Arthur laughed again. "See? We’re all fine."

And then he began looking around before pausing.

Ahead of them stretched a massive chamber filled with steam. It rolled across the ceiling in thick clouds, while narrow cracks in the stone released streams of boiling vapor.

Arthur could feel the heat against his face even from several dozen meters away.

Luna slowly raised her hand toward the passage. "That way."

Arthur followed her gaze.

The path continued through the chamber, but the ground was anything but stable. Geysers erupted from different sections of the floor, some shooting straight upward while others burst sideways across the path.

Sun stared at it for several seconds.

"I think the cavern is trying to kill us."

Vedas glanced at Arthur.

"Don’t smile."

Arthur looked at him innocently. "I’m not."

"You are."

Arthur’s eyes remained fixed on the steaming chamber. "We just have to cross it."

Vedas sighed. "Of course."

Arthur stepped closer to the edge of the chamber and watched the geysers.

One erupted near the left wall.

A few seconds later, another burst from the center.

Then one farther ahead.

He watched the pattern for several moments.

"They’re not random."

Athena moved beside him and began observing the eruptions as well. "You’re right."

Arthur pointed toward the next section. "That one always erupts after the one on the left."

Athena nodded slowly. "And the pressure seems to be traveling through the underground channels."

Mithra looked between them. "So we can predict them?"

"Probably."

Arthur smiled. "Which means we can cross."

Luna looked uncertain. "There’s something else."

She pointed toward the floor.

Several sections of stone were covered in thin cracks.

Arthur crouched and carefully touched one with the end of Dusk.

The stone immediately crumbled.

A piece broke away and fell into the darkness below.

Everyone heard the splash.

Arthur’s expression changed.

He leaned forward.

Far below them was a pool of violently boiling water.

Steam rushed upward through the opening.

Eden’s eyes widened. "That’s not good."

"No," Arthur agreed.

Athy flew closer to the gap and looked down.

"There’s water everywhere."

Luna swallowed. "My grandfather told me the cavern could swallow people."

Arthur looked across the chamber. "Now I understand why."

A geyser suddenly erupted beside them.

FWOOOOSH!

Everyone instinctively stepped away.

Sun stared at the boiling opening. "Okay. I officially hate this place."

Melo’s tails curled around Mithra. "I agree."

Mithra smiled. "You’ve barely been here."

"That’s enough."

Arthur looked toward the opposite side of the chamber.

The compass was still pointing forward.

Somewhere beyond the steam was the Fire Mirror.

He took a slow breath. "We’re going through."

Everyone looked at him.

Arthur turned toward Eden. "You stay with me."

Eden nodded.

Luna stepped closer as well.

Arthur glanced at her. "And you stay between us. Don’t try to run ahead."

Luna nodded.

Mithra raised Kusa and looked across the chamber. "We’ll watch the sides."

Vedas moved toward the rear. "I’ll stay behind everyone."

Kong cracked his knuckles.

"I’ll deal with anything that falls in our way."

Sun glanced at him. "Try not to break the entire cavern."

Kong snorted.

"No promises."

Melo’s tails swayed.

"I suppose I’ll be helping everyone who gets burned."

Mithra looked at her. "You’re very confident."

"I’m a Dream Guardian Fox."

Mithra smiled. "Fair enough."

Arthur looked across the chamber again. "Everyone ready?"

Athy raised one wing. "Ready."

Athena nodded. "Ready."

Vedas tightened his grip. "Let’s go."

Arthur waited for the next eruption.

One geyser burst.

Then another.

The steam briefly cleared.

Arthur raised his hand. "Now."

The group sprinted.

They rushed across the first section.

Arthur kept one hand around Luna’s wrist while Eden stayed close to his side. A geyser erupted behind them, its boiling vapor roaring across the stone.

Arthur glanced over his shoulder.

"Keep moving!"

Another burst appeared ahead.

Vedas immediately raised his spear. Golden light spread outward, forming a translucent dome around the group. The next eruption slammed directly into it.

BOOM!

The barrier trembled, but held. Steam rolled around the golden dome, temporarily hiding the group from view.

Eden looked upward.

"Vedas!"

"I’m here. Keep going."

The barrier moved with them as Vedas guided everyone through the chamber. Luna stepped toward a narrow section of stone.

Arthur immediately caught her arm. "Wait."

The floor cracked beneath her foot.

Arthur pulled her backward just as the stone collapsed. A column of boiling steam erupted from the opening.

Luna gasped.

Arthur held her steady. "Careful."

"Thank you."

Mithra immediately approached. "Are you hurt?"

Luna shook her head. "I’m okay."

Mithra still placed a hand against her arm, golden healing energy spreading across the small burn on her skin.

"Just a minor burn."

Luna looked relieved.

Arthur nodded. "Good. Stay close."

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