Kaios survived. But the move that he used was not without consequences.
Inside his body, everything was screaming in agony. His organs were ruptured, bleeding due to the shock. His bones were in tatter because of that violent amplification and repulsion.
Every single breath took so much from him, as he felt like one sudden breath and his lungs might be potruded by the broken ribs of his.
He crashed onto the one of higher platform, the ones in the 1400s, with a thunderous sound. The armor of Gravistone alloy barely protected him, before crumbling apart.
For the first fifteen minutes, he lay there motionless—half-conscious, his body was in tatter. He didn't even have enough strength to lift a finger.
Nor could he even twitch his lips to curse himself for the jinx he had brought upon himself. His body was refusing to obey, frozen due to pain and exhaustion.
But for all things considered— he survived. That fact alone was enough for him.
As this some more minutes passed, his body became better. Thus he forced himself to check the surroundings of his, then he realized he was standing on the 1503rd platform.
Far more than he had estimated earlier. That reckless move of his, had been flung him for nearly two hundred floors, far higher than his usual fifty floor leaps.
And now, after two more hours, Kaios's body had finally begun to take shape again. His wounds closed, bones were almost healed, and the ruptured internal organs were restored.
This is the drastic healing Kaios, all thanks to the higher IR of his Psion.
Psion was known to grant stronger healing capabilities than most Tier-1 energies. But even then, his this fast recovery was not something ordinary Resonants could achieve.
For those, at the same stage as Kaios, such injuries would have required at least a full day of rest, even then they would require some type of stimulant. Yet Kaios had returned to his standard form in mere hours.
Kaios's panting gradually came to an end, his breathing turning into that of a steady rhythm.
He then closed his eyes, and activated another technique he created before Echo Capture—a small, internalized version of his Echo Location of bats.
As this he released a faint pulse of stored vibrations, which rippled through his body, went through the bones and organs before being caught by this technique.
Each of its reflection painted a deatiled structure of his insides in his mind, giving him their situations.
Hmm..it seems the inside was not critical anymore, Well… time to move again. Kaios thought, pushing himself up.
After it he took his stance, before leaping towards the horizon.
Five hours later....
Kaios was now standing before the gateway of fourth island.
He took five hours to climb the three thousand platforms as well as the third island.
That island was called the Isle of Reflecting Steps by that voice. And it was a island full of mirage and illusions.
A island, where most of its steps were lies—seemingly solid enough in sight, but lead to the abyss collapsing when the weights pressed on them.
Then between these treacherous paths were floated mirrors, distorting the senses of him that even the illusions became too real, as if it was reacting with the reality.
Some time shifting him closer to the end of island, just before he transported to the starting point
That was not place for the brute and strength, it was there for the test of perception and the mental power.
Though, it was easy for the Kaios he used the Echo Capture ability, and capture the reflected vibrations that were emitted by him previously.
With the help of it, this island became one of the easier test for him, which he completed in just 12 minutes, instead of its timer, which being the 19 minutes.
Then again he continued the journey, but fortunately he didn't came to contact with any hazards on the hovering platforms like previous three.
As this it took him nearly five hours to reach here.
Kaios the took his first step on the fourth island, and as always the voice again echoed all around the island, congratulating him.
[Congratulations participant, you have now in the fourth island, Isle of Gravtide.]
[Here you will experience the irregular gravity, so please proceed accordingly within the time limit.]
As this ended the clock again started its countdown.
For this round he was provided with time limit of 25 minutes, much more than any of his previous.
Okay then, let's try to clear this within a record time, Kaios said while challenging himself.
As Kaios stepped deeper into the Isle of Gravtide, the ground beneath him shook. His body flung forward, as if someone invisible yanked him, but that's not it.
He felt like this was applying on his whole body, not any specific part. This was the gravity changing attraction to the front him.
Then in the next instant, he was nearly launched to sky, becoming weightless, his feet leaving the surface entirely.
He appeared at the starting point, took a light inhale, ready to try again, understanding the rule of this island now.
Irregular gravity— it was the rule here, an unseen tide of gravity that changed and flowed without rhythm.
As he dove deeper, sometimes one step was heavier, more than mountains, while the next next one feeling as light as air.
If he wasn't careful, the very act of a simple walk, could crush him or fling him into the horizon above.
When in Holt, do as the holtians say[1]Kaios muttered, steadying himself. He released a faint wave of attraction wave from his body, using the property of Gravistone again, to anchor himself to the surface.
Then again changing to repulsion, when the gravity increased to downwards.
With this he adjusted his movements accordingly— sinking his Gravistone alloy beneath his feet when the pull grew overwhelming, while shifting to above when it changed to upwards, and then using the stored vibrations to thrust himself forward with a controlled leap.
Like this Kaios advanced slowly and carefully, never rushing in any situation even when he failed, while conserving his Psion.
Though real dangers were not the sudden falls, but the alternating zones— one moment he was being crushed, the next weightless, even after taking many measures to it.
More than once, his ribs were groaned under the pressure, before his body being snapped to above.
With this the timer 25 minutes came to an end. He passed the island within this time limit, although it was more than fifteen tries.
As the irregularities in the tide of gravity increased, the more he approached to the other side of island.
He was now slowly approaching the gateway for the path leading to the final hurled of this round, the final and fifth island.
He then passed through the stepped on the first platform, as suddenly his body started to shimmer.
And then just like that moment, stepping on the path after second trial, time reversed for him.
Turning his clothes as new as when he started and closing all his woundds on him.
His stamina also returned to him. With it he began his climbing for the final destination.
[1] when in the rome, do as Romans say, here Holt is a kindom from old times like rome, one of first to use Psion, not as like now, but as power source.