And just like that, the game of Poohsticks officially commenced. The remaining eight participants lined up at the starting point, each holding their stick tightly in anticipation. The rushing sound of the river filled the air as they awaited the signal to begin. With a loud beep, they were off.
"Alright, let's go!" the Venezuelan Changed Daily yelled out as the eight sticks went floating down the artificial river.
The participants watched intently as their sticks raced downstream, navigating the twists and turns of the river. The two bridges loomed ahead, adding an extra layer of complexity to the challenge. It quickly became apparent that strategy would play a crucial role in determining the winners.
"Oh God, we're coming up at the first bridge, guys!" the Chilean Changed Daily announced while she watched intently.
As the sticks approached the first bridge, participants frantically tried to come up with a plan. They knew that timing would be crucial - too early and their stick might get caught in the bridge's supports, too late and they risked losing valuable momentum. The tension in the air was palpable as each participant strategized their approach. Eventually, they decided to forgo strategizing and just jump into the water and "gently" nudge their sticks along. As they all swam their way through the artificial river, they pushed and shoved each other as they tried to reach the first bridge. Scheherazade simply threw her stick ahead to just before it was supposed to pass the first bridge, with Pineapple Chunks' stick and two others following closely behind. The remaining sticks weren't so lucky - some got tangled in the bridge or were swept away by the current.
A loud buzz could be heard overhead, and soon the speakers began crackling to life.
"Congratulations to the four of you who made it past the first bridge," began the voice from the speakers. "You made it to the final lap. As for the four of you who didn't, well, sorry to say, but you've been eliminated."
The participants who made it past the first bridge celebrated their success while the eliminated participants looked on with disappointment. The South Korean Changed Daily, the Nigerian Changed Daily, the Venezuelan Changed Daily, and the Togolese Changed Daily could only stay silent as the mooks charged in and dragged them out of the area to have them transmogrified into Lemurians. The voice from the speakers then continued, explaining that the final lap would be even more challenging than before.
The Chilean Changed Daily gulped. "Alright, well, guess it's just us now."
"Yeah, I guess so," the Ghanaian Changed Daily replied. "Do you think we'll all make it to the final round?"
"I can't be sure," Pineapple Chunks replied. "But we can only hope."
The remaining participants took a moment to catch their breath and gather their thoughts. They knew that the final lap would require even more determination and skill than before. Even so, they had to try their best. After all, who was to say they couldn't all make it to the final round of the competition?
Still determined to find Pineapple Chunks and save him and the other U.Z.Z. chiefs, Victor pressed on with the mission. By now, the fifth round must've already started. Even so, neither he nor his other companions were going to give up. They didn't have much of a choice in the matter anyway. Time was running out. They had to work against the clock before everyone was subjected to a terrible fate beyond the stars.
"How much longer do we have to do this, Victor?" Clearence whined. "I feel like we've been doing this for days."
"Not much longer, hopefully," Victor replied. "If we can just find where our bosses are, then we'll have a good chance of saving them."
As they continued their search, Victor and his companions came across a series of interconnected tunnels. The walls were lined with dimly lit torches, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone surfaces. The air was thick with an unsettling silence, broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing through the passageways.
"Oh my, it's really spooky in here," Clearence commented.
"I see what you mean," Tamara replied. "Where exactly are we?"
"I'm not really sure." Milou looked around for a bit. "This whole building seems to be hundreds of years old. Let's keep going."
Victor and his companions continued on their way, eventually coming to another dead end in the tunnel, which led into another nearby cavern. The space was far larger than the rest of the cave, giving it an ominous air. As they cautiously entered the cavern, they were greeted by a sight that sent shivers down their spines. The walls of the cavern were adorned with ancient symbols and markings, etched into the stone as if telling a forgotten story. The air felt heavy with an otherworldly presence, making it clear that they had stumbled upon something significant.
"Wow..." Jeremy murmured. "This cave must be where some Lemurians live. Pretty cool, huh?"
"Jeremy, focus!" Milou practically yelled at him. "We're here to find our bosses, not explore Lemurian caves."
Ignoring Jeremy's fascination with the Lemurian cave, Victor and his companions examined the walls more closely. The ancient symbols seemed to depict a series of trials or challenges. It was as if they had stumbled upon a hidden path that would lead them closer to their missing bosses. Suddenly, a dark blur zoomed by in front of them.
"Whoa, what was that?" Tamara asked.
"I don't know, but I think we'd better get out of there before-" Victor was immediately cut off by the sound of an alarm call. "Oh shit! We definitely have to get out of here now!" Just as he said this, he suddenly found himself thrown to the ground on his back. He then slowly looked up to see who had thrown him to the ground and he stared into the familiar eyes of a Lemurian staring right back at him. "Oh my gosh... Delphine, is that you?"
The Lemurian suddenly stopped what it was doing and leaned closer into Victor's face and sniffed him.
"Wait a minute... is that...?" Tamara asked. "It can't be!"
"Oh my God, I can't believe it," Behati chimed in. "That's Glodesind!"