Tower of Heaven

It started back then when they first walked into this chamber. Atlas originally planned to fight with them, but [Intrinsic Foresight] told him that the golem was fake far before the others realized.

He decided to stay back and observe the level of the three geniuses, but who knew there would be such a turn of events in the middle?

Atlas knew that Akia had killing intent towards the other two, but he didn't expect him to act so soon. As the Dusk genius went through the second gate, Atlas stopped to check on the other two.

'That man, Arslan, is already dead.'

It was too late to save him. No, it was too late to save either of them. Atlas never considered that he'd need resources to save others. He had some healing pills on him, but only weak ones that were meant to supplement his [Regeneration].

The most he could do for them was close their eyes.

What he didn't expect was for Selia to still have a breath of life in her.

"You…"

She squeezed the word out. It was laced with hostile tones, but at its core, it was a word begging him to acknowledge her existence.

Atlas looked into the deeper corridor and saw Akia fighting the true guardian. There was still time before he needed to go and interrupt.

Kneeling down, he came eye to eye with the dying genius.

"What can I do for you?"

If there wasn't a request, then she didn't need to call him.

"You…survive. Go to Sky Garden. Give them…"

She only had the life force for that much. Her body went limp as she succumbed to her wounds.

Still, it was enough.

'You were a smart one. It is a shame that you fell to such a simple plot.'

What Selia had for Atlas and what she wanted him to deliver was a recording crystal. Everything that happened during Selia's tomb expedition was recorded on it. If it was delivered successfully to her people, they would be sure to get revenge for her.

Selia wasn't yet at the point where Sky Garden would drop everything for her sake. If she were, then they would have left her with methods that posthumously tracked her killer.

'However, she is aware of the political importance of what has taken place.'

Akia was targeting the geniuses of Sky Garden and Euryale. With his position, his actions were no different from declaring war against the two societies.

Atlas took the crystal into his inventory.

'I will use it well.'

There were no downsides to his involvement in her wish. Instead, though it would antagonize Dusk, he had the potential to gain two great allies in the process.

'Nevertheless, that is a plan for a later time.'

Since the crystal was in his inventory, it was safe until he needed it. After all, unlike spatial storages, the items in one's inventory couldn't be stolen. Upon death, they would disappear instead of falling into enemy hands.

In return for these conveniences, the space within inventories was small and could only be used for select items. Spatial rings were still viable and were practically required to exist in tandem with inventories.

"Quest Items," like the keys they had to collect earlier, could also not be stored in inventories.

Atlas was only finding out about the conveniences of the new system as he went. So he took a moment to confirm that the Memory Crystal was truly still there before continuing on.

The rest didn't need to be mentioned. He patiently waited for the right moment and stole the Miracle Stone from Akia.

'I really am fated to be a thief in this life.'

He had stolen more than he'd done anything else in the Tower, but he had his circumstances, right?

As the floor gave out and became some sort of obstacle course, Atlas felt a rush through his body.

He sprinted to the edge of the corridor and leapt onto the first platform. From there, he had to dash against the wall to the second and then make another insane jump for the third.

Below him, there was nothing but darkness. There was definitely a bottom to the abyss, but it was certain that the only thing waiting there was death.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

There were several explosions behind him, always one platform behind as Akia chased him through the course.

"Do you understand what you're doing?!" the other man shouted.

"You will never get away with this! I swear it!"

The threats didn't enter Atlas' ears at all. He focused on the path ahead and the breeze on his face as he sped through the course. His body was like a leaf, following the winds across the platforms and riding the walls and ceilings to scale massive jumps and gaps leading further.

The explosions only served to heighten his adrenaline, and as the jumps became longer and longer and the platforms became few and far between, Akia's time approached.

"DAMMIT!" Akia roared.

He was too far behind. If he kept going like this, he would never catch up to his enemy.

'I have no choice.'

He could only catch Atlas if he kept conserving qi.

[Flash Step]

Akia directed most of his qi into his legs and abruptly sped up by several degrees. He crossed the platform between him and Atlas and jumped into the air, taking out his spear.

[Revolving Dragons]

The same skill manifested itself, but it was different when Akia used it in the air. His body became a swirling torpedo and the energy propelled him forward almost like he was flying. He shot through the air like a comet and–

Boom!

Atlas barely jumped out of the way in time. The platform they stood on took great damage and shook as if it was going to fall into the abyss, but neither of them openly paid it any mind.

Rather, Akia immediately continued his attack.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Atlas brandished his sickles and engaged in combat. He had no plans to attack back, but he at least needed to counterattack to create an opening to get away.

He brought the sickles together and pushed the spear away, but Akia was able to bring it back in front of him and prepared another attack before Atlas could do anything.

Two thrusts and a sweep came next. The first was deflected downward, the second was thrown to the side, and when the sweep came, Atlas took the opportunity to dash away again.

Akia was in the midst of a large movement and couldn't immediately chase him. To catch up, he needed to use an extraneous amount of qi once more.

Would he make that decision?

Atlas was sure he would.

The Miracle Stone meant too much for him. It was a material that specifically catered to cultivators who practiced Daos like Akia's.

More importantly, if he was aiming for the best rewards possible from the tomb, then he needed this stone. If he was mediocre and disappointed the expectations of his elders, he knew what would happen.

Obviously, Atlas didn't know Akia's specific circumstances, but the expression in his eyes was clear enough.

That was a man who desperately needed to succeed.

And such a man would never give up in a moment this important.