CHAPTER 26: ON THE WAY DOWN
TOWER 2
The Underworld seemed just as dizzying and overwhelming as Deuce feared. He couldn't imagine working in a place like this; he'd likely get lost all the time. He peered down into the infinite abyss, briefly fearing what would happen if he fell…
"Hey, Jamil," Leona said. "Give me one of your hair decorations."
Jamil narrowed his eyes and reflexively touched one of his decorations. They had been recovered alongside his dorm uniform, as his hair was all but stripped bare when he was a Styx test subject. "Why?" he asked.
"Just do it. I want to see something," Leona replied.
"You just want to drop it and see if we hear any impact," Jamil deduced. "Well, I can tell from a glance that we wouldn't hear it hit the bottom, and I'd lose an expensive decoration on top of that. So no, I'll have to decline."
"Hmph, you're a shrewd one. That's good," Leona acknowledged. "C'mon, enough gawking. Let's go."
"R-Right!" Deuce finally tore his eyes away from the pit below and caught up with his teammates in a flash.
As they descended the stairs, Jamil broke the silence again. "So, Idia and Ortho plan to face us at the bottom," he said. "I wonder what tricks they'll have up their sleeve…"
"Well, there's Charon, right? With their anti-magic armor and those staffs that can knock you senseless," Deuce summed up. "And then Ortho mentioned that there would be Titans, which are like super-Phantoms. And who knows what else…"
"I don't think either of them will throw anything too hard at us at first," Leona said. "If they wanted to crush us instantly, they probably can, as much as I hate to admit it. So they'll probably throw some challenges at us as we go along, with each one harder than the last, until we reach the bottom. Right now, we'll just need to conserve our energy and stay on our toes."
"You seem to know Idia and Ortho so well," Jamil noted.
"Nah, it's just that I'm petty and I play with my food. So I'm guessing they do too," Leona said with a snort. "You heard them—they see this whole mess as a video game."
"I've heard of live-action roleplays and virtual-reality games, but… yeah, this is messed-up," Deuce said. "What could've gotten into those two to make them act this way?"
Deuce's question remained unanswered. The three stopped at a platform that cut off the stairs, with an open elevator in front of them.
"Oh, look. Ortho was nice enough to open this one for us," Leona muttered.
"You said he doesn't want to kill us right away. So this must be a hurdle," Jamil said.
"Okay then." Deuce went in first, and after a brief protest, the other two followed him in. As soon as all three were in the elevator, the doors closed in on them, and the monitor in front of them flickered.
"Greetings, gentlemen," said a holographic Idia. "Fwee hee, welcome to the Underworld!"
"Oh yeah? Well… we're not feeling welcome! So there!" Deuce snapped, unable to think of a good comeback right away.
"Got 'im," Leona said dryly.
"Let me guess, this is the first trial you set up for us?" Jamil asked.
"Yep, this elevator is the only way down the tower," Idia said. "But first, you have to play a little game. And you should clear this easily, since you played it before!"
The screen changed to a familiar picture: The Hydra Strikes Back.
"Just tap the Hydra heads on the monitor to push them back," Idia's voice said. "It's even easier than using a controller!"
"I don't recognize this game. When did you guys play this?" Deuce asked.
"It was during a break from our tests," Jamil answered. "It was a bit cramped being with everyone, but… it wasn't too terrible in the end."
"I'll play this one," Leona said. "Like Ortho said, my reflexes will make this a breeze."
He started the game, but as soon as he did, nine Hydra heads all appeared at the same time from every one of the holes. Leona reacted immediately and tried to tap as many Hydra heads as he could, but before he knew it, he lost all three lives in one go.
"How are you supposed to win that?!" Deuce cried.
"That's not even possible," Jamil said. "Idia, did you make this game unwinnable?"
"What a cheap shot," Leona grumbled.
"Geez, aren't you guys sore losers," Idia chided. "I guess I can dial it down for you… if you let the newbie play."
"Newbie… you mean me, right?" Deuce asked.
"Yeah, you haven't played yet, so it's your turn now!" Idia said. "The other two can talk to you, but they can't bop any Hydras for you. Deal?"
"Deal! Let me try!" Deuce said. He stepped up and restarted the game without a second thought, and Leona and Jamil flanked him at once.
"Don't hit the doll! Wait until the heads appear!" Leona ordered.
"Watch every hole! Glance from left to right!" Jamil instructed.
"Alright, alright! I got this!" Deuce cried.
With his allies' advice, Deuce was able to make it to the end with only one life lost. "How about that? We won!" he said victoriously.
"Beginner's luck," Idia chuckled. "But whatevs, you win. Enjoy the elevator ride… and say hi to the Phantoms for me when you get out."
"Phantoms…?" Leona asked quietly. "I knew it…"
The hologram dissolved, and the elevator lurched as it began to descend. As if Idia's smug attitude wasn't tiring enough, now it seemed like the Night Ravens would be facing all the Phantoms of the Underworld. And maybe even Grim, if all the residual blot caused him to go insane again.
Poor Jill… she might have to fight Grim all over again, Deuce thought. Hang in there…