Chapter 227: Floating Islands

After flying across the floor of floating islands, Kaelen could tell it was more of a puzzle challenge rather than a fight to the death.

Each island held a different kind of beast. Some were weak, while others were ferocious and could easily be considered mob bosses.

The candidates were meant to start on an island and, according to Kaelen’s speculation, find the exit. To find the exit, they’d have to sail to nearby islands, where they’d be forced to fight the beasts on them, only to discover that the exit wasn’t there.

Some lobbies might get lucky and find the exit earlier than others, who’d spend most of their time making poor judgements and fighting beasts on all the islands. And judging by the scale of the floor, if the candidates weren’t capable enough, they might be spending a while sailing across the sky with little to no idea where the exit was located.

The challenge proved to be harder than Kaelen had imagined, so he began sending his dragons down to each island to clear the beasts there and inspect the area. Even then, there was no progress because, aside from the fact that the exit could be anywhere, he had no idea what it looked like. Worse, it was possible that his speculation was wrong and that the requirements to clear the floor were more than met the eye.

Was it clearing all the islands?

Or finding an item?

He sat cross-legged on the Supreme Elder Dragon’s back and fell into deep thought. It had already been seven minutes since he entered the floor. He also felt like he was missing something but couldn’t quite wrap his head around it.

[Lobby #111 has become the First Party to clear the Fifth Floor]

Kaelen’s eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.

"What? So fast?" he blurted out.

But, on second thought, back on the first floor’s Hell Mode, the people who had discovered the hidden door had been Lucy and Jack.

Lucy was also now a candidate in Lobby #111, so the odds of her having a skill related to finding hidden things weren’t low. Alternatively, she might just be naturally good at it.

[Lobby #111 has gone live on the Sixth Floor]

"W-What the hell?! Is she not going to let them take a damn break?"

"Tch." Kaelen gritted his teeth and forced himself to calm down.

At this rate, Emir was going to beat him to it.

Turns out Lysandra had been right all along. Lobby #111 had a better chance of making it to the tenth floor.

"..."

Wait...

The thought of Lysandra gave Kaelen an incredible idea.

When he first entered the Third Floor, Kaelen had his shadow clone teach Melissa a lesson. During that time, he had also communicated with Kelsey from inside the floor.

His shadow was still back at Lysandra’s domain after Kaelen had left that morning. If Lysandra wasn’t in the race to the top, she should’ve cleared the Third Floor by now and should be back at her lobby.

Without wasting any more time, Kaelen closed his eyes and transformed his shadow into his clone.

Lysandra was sitting on her bed, still in her red combat outfit, which told him she had just stepped out of the Third Floor. She seemed to have been distracted by her system panel, but when she felt Kaelen’s presence, she turned her eyes towards him in surprise.

"Kaelen? I’m actually watching you right now," she said in surprise.

"Yeah, I need a little help," Kaelen asked immediately.

"What’s that? Is it to find the exit?" she asked knowingly.

Her question confirmed something for Kaelen. His speculation about the hidden exit was right.

"That’s right. I need you to check Lobby #111’s stream and tell me how—"

"It’s in a tree," Lysandra replied almost immediately, cutting him off.

"What?"

"The hidden exit is in the hollow root of a tree on one of the islands. There are no doors or anything; you just have to step into the darkness, and you’re out. Lobby #111 found it so fast because of their tiny puppets. And while I was checking out your map, I think I found the location of yours. It’s a large tree with a wide hole near its root that leads underground," she said, swiping her hands across her exclusive system panel, which Kaelen couldn’t see. "From your position, fly straight south, where you’ll find a slime field on one of the islands. That’s where I think the exit is located," she said sharply.

Kaelen was stunned by her deduction but didn’t waste a single second relaying the information to SKD and all the dragon summons as he sailed straight south.

Before he even got there, one of his shadow summons, which was closer, had arrived and found the large tree Lysandra was talking about.

It was exactly as she had described, and Kaelen leaped down from his dragon mount. After inspecting the hole for a moment, he crouched and stepped into the darkness.

[You have cleared the Fifth Floor]

He found himself back at the elevator, except he was all alone. The two girls who should’ve been in the elevator were not there, and the angel’s gate was closed, leaving only Kaelen inside.

He didn’t need a guide to know what had happened.

Even though the girls had come to the floor with him, they’d still have to go through the exit to leave the floor, and they’d remain on the elevator forever. The moment they stepped out, it’d disappear behind them, trapping them on the floor until they found the exit.

Kaelen was tempted to leave them behind and keep ascending alone. But, luckily for them, he had yet to recall his shadow army, which would’ve sealed their fate.

He swiftly ordered one of his shadow dragons to return to the elevator and take them to the exit.

In less than a minute, the ladies materialised beside him.

Elsa turned to look at him.

"I thought you’d ditch us for a second."

"I would," Kaelen replied flatly. "But who’d man the elevator if you’re not here?" He tilted his head to look at her. "Do your job."

Elsa smiled and moved towards the gate, placing her hand on it.

"Next floor."

The elevator shook once and began ascending to the Sixth Floor.

[Lobby #001 has gone live on the Sixth Floor]

Kaelen didn’t care.

His only competition was Lobby #111, and if it hadn’t been for the nature of the Fifth Floor, he would’ve definitely had the first clear.

Instead of standing around as the elevator ascended, he decided to return to Lysandra.

"Congratulations," she said as she stood up from the bed and approached him.

"All thanks to you..." He trailed off when she wrapped her hands around his neck.

"What are you doing?" he asked and tried to take a step back, only to realise his back was already against the wall.

"I helped you, didn’t I? Don’t you think I deserve a reward, Master?" she asked teasingly.

Kaelen placed his hand over her face and gently shoved her away. "This is a clone, and I can’t feel anything unless I switch. So, if you have no problem with licking a brick wall, then be my guest. By the way, why aren’t you ascending when you know you have the strength to take on the challenge?"

Lysandra smiled and let go of him before walking back to her bed.

"What’s the point in racing to the top? I already told you I’ll come third, right after you, so you don’t have to worry," she said as she sat at the edge of the bed and turned to face him.

Kaelen’s brows furrowed. "You still think Lobby #111 will beat me?"

"Maybe," she said and rested her chin on her propped-up hands, staring at him silently for a moment. "I heard there are inns on the Ninth Floor."

"Okay...?"

"When I get to the Ninth Floor... that’s where I want my rewards."

"W-What?"

(A/N: I changed the short guy—Lucy’s partner—name from Felix to Jack, to not confuse you guys with him and Governor Felix of Stronghold 3. Thank you.)