I Can See Evolution Paths

The group stood before the enormous waterfall of boiling steam. It didn’t simply fall continuously. It came down in powerful surges, disappearing for several seconds before suddenly returning with enough force to cover the entire passage.

Athena studied the pattern carefully. Arthur watched the other side, trying to see through the churning white haze. Luna looked nervous, glancing down at the narrow, already cracked stone beneath their feet.

Arthur asked, "Is this the only way forward?"

Athena checked the compass. "The Fire Mirror lies somewhere beyond the waterfall," she said.

Arthur smiled. "Then we just need to get through."

Vedas looked at the waterfall. "You say that like it’s easy."

Arthur glanced at him. "I didn’t say it was easy."

Vedas sighed. "That’s somehow worse."

Athy flew slightly upward to get a better view. "I can see the other side."

Arthur looked at her. "How long does the steam stay down?"

Athy watched carefully. "Only a few seconds."

Athena added that the timing wasn’t perfectly consistent. That became the first problem. They couldn’t simply wait for one predictable opening.

Before they even attempted the waterfall, the path leading toward it grew dangerous on its own. The ground was cracked and uneven, forcing them to cross several sections of broken stone while steam burst from small holes beneath their feet.

Arthur stepped forward first. A small crack suddenly glowed red.

Athy immediately shouted, "Arthur, move!"

Arthur jumped aside. A column of steam erupted where he had been standing, hissing violently against the cavern wall. Arthur landed safely and looked down. "That was close," he said.

Athy flew closer. "You almost got cooked."

Arthur smiled. "Almost."

Athy folded her wings. "Don’t smile."

Arthur laughed. "I’m okay."

Vedas shook his head. "You’re enjoying this."

Arthur looked at him. "Maybe a little."

Kong snorted. "Crazy."

Sun looked at Kong. "Finally, someone said it."

Arthur looked offended. "Why is everyone against me today?"

Mithra laughed. "Because you keep looking excited whenever something tries to kill us."

Arthur shrugged. "It means we’re going somewhere interesting."

They picked their way across the remaining cracked stone, dodging two more bursts of steam, before finally reaching the massive waterfall. The difference was immediate. The previous geysers had been dangerous. This was something else entirely. An enormous sheet of boiling vapor crashed downward from the cavern ceiling, completely swallowing the path beyond it. Arthur couldn’t even see the other side.

Luna stared. "That’s the path?"

Athena checked the compass. The needle pointed straight through the waterfall. "Yes."

Luna swallowed. "We have to walk through that?"

Arthur nodded. "Apparently."

Melo’s tails curled around herself. "That looks unpleasant."

Kong nodded. "Very."

Sun looked at Kong. "You’re getting better at describing things."

Kong grunted. "Thanks."

Mithra looked toward the waterfall. "How long between the surges?"

Athena watched closely. The waterfall suddenly weakened, and for several seconds the path became visible before the steam crashed down again. She began counting under her breath. "Six seconds," she finally said.

Arthur looked at her. "Six?"

"That’s how long the opening lasted."

Vedas studied the distance across. "That’s not enough."

Arthur looked at the path. "We’ll have to make it enough."

Arthur didn’t rush in immediately. He watched the waterfall several more times, and the others slowly began noticing something. It didn’t fall at random. There was a rhythm to it. The pressure built, the steam weakened, then it crashed down again. Arthur realized the opening was predictable enough to exploit.

He turned toward everyone. "When it drops, we run."

Luna looked nervous. "What if it comes back?"

Arthur smiled. "Then we run faster."

Luna stared at him. "That’s your plan?"

Arthur nodded.

Sun laughed. "Honestly, that’s exactly what I expected."

Vedas sighed. "Why am I not surprised?"

Melo looked toward Mithra. "Stay close."

Mithra smiled. "You too."

Athy flew above them. "I’ll watch the timing."

Arthur nodded. "Good."

The waterfall began to weaken, the roaring curtain of steam thinning enough for the path beyond it to become visible again. Athena watched the opening carefully before beginning the countdown.

"Five."

Everyone lowered themselves into position.

"Four."

Arthur shifted his weight forward while Vedas tightened his grip on his spear.

"Three."

Athy’s golden eyes began to glow as she watched the flow of steam above them.

"Two."

Arthur glanced toward the others.

"One."

The waterfall weakened.

"Now!"

They surged forward together.

Arthur led, Vedas close behind. Mithra grabbed Luna’s hand while Melo stayed pressed against her other side. Sun and Kong moved in tandem, and Athy flew just overhead, scanning ahead.

They reached the first section before the waterfall began returning. Athy shouted, "Back!"

Arthur spun immediately, and the whole group retreated in one motion as the steam crashed down where they’d just been standing, everyone narrowly avoiding the boiling wave.

Sun exhaled hard. "That was close."

Athy nodded. "We need to wait for a longer cycle."

Arthur looked toward the waterfall, already smiling again.

Vedas noticed. "Don’t."

Arthur looked at him. "What?"

"Whatever you’re thinking."

Arthur grinned. "I’m thinking we can do it."

Vedas sighed. "That’s not what your face says."

Luna remained frozen for a moment, staring at the place where the boiling steam had crashed down only seconds earlier. Even from behind the group, she could still feel the heat against her face.

"That was..." She swallowed. "That was supposed to be our plan?"

Sun glanced at her while catching his breath. "Unfortunately."

Luna looked at Arthur.

Arthur was already studying the waterfall again.

"He’s not even scared."

Vedas heard her and gave a quiet sigh. "He is."

Luna blinked. "He is?"

"He just doesn’t let fear decide what he does."

Arthur glanced back at them. "Are you two discussing me?"

Vedas smiled. "Yes."

"Good things?"

"Of course."

Sun laughed.

Luna couldn’t help smiling despite herself.

They attempted again.

This time they made it farther, but the waterfall began crashing down before they could reach the other side. Arthur reacted instantly, throwing up [Guardian Shield], the golden dome forming around the entire group just as the boiling steam slammed against it. The barrier held, and everyone survived unscathed.

But they couldn’t move forward. Arthur pushed against the inside of the dome. It barely shifted.

Athena’s eyes narrowed as she studied the barrier. "The barrier is resisting the current," she said.

Arthur looked at her. "So Guardian Shield can protect us, but it can’t push through."

Athena nodded. "We need something outside the barrier to move it forward."

Arthur looked around. "But whoever does that would have to stand in the steam."

Everyone went quiet.

Luna looked toward the raging waterfall. "That would be impossible," she said.

Vedas suddenly looked down at his own spear, still glowing faintly from the earlier clash. His expression changed. "I have an idea," he said.

"You want to walk with your barrier? Sorry buddy but the stream seems a bit too strong." Arthur pointed out.

"I know but we won’t be walking." Vedas stepped forward.

Arthur watched him. "Oh?"

Vedas thrust the spear into the stone beneath them. The weapon sank deep into the ground, golden runes igniting along its shaft, and a second golden barrier spread outward beneath their feet, layering itself just beneath Arthur’s dome.

Vedas looked toward him. "Release yours."

Arthur didn’t hesitate.

The Guardian Shield dissolved, and the boiling steam immediately surged toward them. Luna gasped. But Vedas’s golden barrier remained solid, the scalding droplets striking it and scattering harmlessly across its surface.

Vedas drew his Golden Sword next.

Sun looked confused. "What are you doing with that?"

"Moving us."

Vedas thrust the sword backward through his own golden barrier, and it passed straight through without breaking the shield. Athena’s eyes widened at the sight.

Then Vedas activated it. [Magic Burst]. Golden energy exploded from the blade.

BOOM!

The entire barrier surged forward, carrying everyone along with it.

Luna gasped. "It moved!"

Arthur laughed. "That’s brilliant!"

Athena immediately understood. "No wonder," she said, watching the sword. "If your weapon can pass through your own barrier, then you don’t need someone outside to push it."

Vedas nodded.

Arthur gave him a thumbs up. "Excellent. With the force from the magic explosion, we can cut through it."

Vedas smiled. "Hold on."

He used Magic Burst again.

BOOM!

The barrier moved farther, sliding across the drenched stone beneath the waterfall.

Sun cheered. "Again!"

Vedas laughed. "You really like this."

Sun pointed forward. "Keep going!"

Kong raised his fist. "Again!"

Mithra laughed. "Now you’ve encouraged both of them."

Vedas looked at the two of them. "Fine." He raised his sword. "Hold on."

BOOM!

The barrier surged forward again through the steaming rain.

As they moved deeper, the group finally got a full view of the chamber beyond the waterfall. Massive geysers blasted upward from below, some shooting dozens of meters into the air, boiling water reaching the ceiling before curving downward in endless steaming rain.

Athy stared upward. "There are so many."

Athena watched the geysers carefully. "They’re connected," she said.

Arthur looked at her. "Connected?"

"Each geyser is feeding the next."

Melo’s ears rose. "So the whole chamber is creating its own storm."

Athena nodded.

Arthur looked genuinely impressed. "That’s incredible," he said.

Sun looked at him. "You’re admiring the thing trying to kill us again."

Arthur smiled. "Can you blame me?"

Sun sighed. "Yes."

Kong nodded. "Yes."

Arthur looked at both of them. "Traitors."

Vedas continued using Magic Burst, and every explosion pushed the golden barrier farther through the chamber. The steam crashed against it again and again. The barrier shook but held. Vedas’s breathing grew heavier with each activation.

Mithra noticed. "Vedas."

"I’m fine."

"You’ve been using Magic Burst repeatedly."

Vedas smiled through the strain. "I can keep going."

Arthur looked at him. "Don’t overdo it."

Vedas nodded. "Then let’s finish this."

He drew his sword back one final time, golden energy gathering along the blade.

Arthur watched him closely. "Ready?"

Everyone braced.

Vedas smiled. "Very."

BOOOOOOM!

The barrier shot across the final stretch of the chamber. The steaming rain suddenly disappeared behind them, and the barrier crashed gently onto solid ground.

Silence.

Vedas pulled the spear from the stone, and the barrier vanished entirely. Everyone stepped out onto dry rock.

Sun immediately raised both arms. "We made it!"

Kong raised a fist. "Made it."

Athy flew in a circle above them. "We did it!"

Melo smiled. "And nobody got cooked."

Mithra laughed. "That’s a surprisingly good result."

Luna looked back at the steaming chamber they’d just crossed. "I thought we were going to die," she said.

Arthur smiled. "But we didn’t."

Luna looked at him. "You’re strangely calm."

Arthur shrugged. "We’ve survived worse."

Vedas looked at him. "That’s not comforting."

Arthur laughed.

They continued deeper. For the first time in several minutes, there was no immediate obstacle. Then Arthur saw it, a slope rising upward ahead of them.

His eyes brightened. "Finally."

Sun followed his gaze. "An uphill path."

Mithra smiled. "Maybe we’re getting closer."

Athena checked the compass. The needle pointed upward. "It’s definitely the correct direction," she said.

Arthur smiled. "Then let’s go."

They took several steps forward.

Then, rumble.

Everyone stopped. Kong looked backward, his expression changing instantly. "Water," he said.

Arthur turned and saw the chamber behind them was beginning to fill. At first the water only covered the bottom of the path. Then it rose rapidly, steam rolling across the stone floor in thick waves.

Athena stared at the rapidly filling chamber, then her expression changed. "Wait."

Arthur glanced back. "What?"

"It’s not just rising."

She pointed toward the walls. The water was beginning to spill over the lower ledges and pour into the passage behind them.

"It’s filling the entire chamber."

Vedas looked toward the slope. "And once it reaches the upper level..."

Athena nodded. "It will all come here."

Arthur looked at the flood again and this time, he didn’t smile. "Then we move now." He moved directly toward Luna. "Hold on."

Before she could respond, Arthur scooped her up in a princess carry. Luna’s face turned bright red. "Arthur!"

"I know you can run," he said. "But I can carry you faster."

Luna grabbed his shoulder. "...Okay."

Everyone started running as the water surged behind them. Kong smashed through a fallen rock blocking the path, and Sun leapt over another chunk of collapsed stone.

Mithra grabbed Luna’s hand whenever Arthur needed both arms free, and Melo’s illusions flickered ahead of them, marking the safest footing through the chaos.

Athy scouted from above while Vedas used his spear to shatter obstacles in their path.

The flood kept gaining. Athy suddenly shouted, "Left!"

Arthur immediately turned, and a massive rock crashed down exactly where they would have been.

Sun looked at Athy. "Keep doing that!"

Athy nodded. "I will!"

Another section of the ceiling gave way. Kong caught Sun by the collar before he could stumble into the collapsing rubble.

Sun looked up. "Thanks."

Kong grunted. "Run."

Sun laughed breathlessly. "Right!"

Behind them, the boiling water rose higher, steam swallowing the lower path entirely. Arthur tightened his grip around Luna. "Almost there," he said.

Luna looked toward the top of the slope. "I can see it!"

Arthur smiled. "Then we’re almost out."

The entire group reached the slope and rushed upward together. The flood crashed behind them, stone breaking apart beneath the churning water. Mithra pulled Luna forward the last few steps while Vedas pushed Sun up ahead of him. Kong climbed beside them, and Melo’s illusions marked the safest final path. Athy flew ahead, calling back, "Almost!"

Arthur reached the top first and pulled Luna onto solid ground behind him. Everyone collapsed the moment their feet found stable footing.

Sun fell onto his back, chest heaving. "I’m never complaining about walking again."

Kong lay beside him. "Good."

Mithra laughed breathlessly. "We’re alive."

Vedas looked backward, counting faces. "Everyone?"

Arthur checked around the group. "Everyone."

Then the slope behind them collapsed entirely. The steaming flood tore through the path they had just climbed, a massive wave crashing downward as steam rushed through the chamber below. The group watched in silence.

They had survived.

Then, rumble.

The ground beneath them shook. Arthur slowly rose to his feet. "What now?"

The stone split apart. A massive hand made from steaming rock broke through the surface. Then another. Three enormous Steaming Golems slowly rose from the ground, their bodies glowing with cracks of orange red heat, steam pouring from their shoulders in thick columns.

Their enormous heads turned toward the exhausted group.