Lisa
Having ascended the staircase with her trusty defender, Tabby, too, reads over the tablet; thinking of the choice before her as she reads, trying to transcribe what word could be missing — of course, none comes to mind. The defender is a robot, and can only comprehend certain languages, so it doesn't make an attempt to see whatever word is underneath — common is easy enough, but it cannot transcribe lost text.

The cat looks over her shoulder to Mae, not saying a word — then back to the door.

She then chooses to walk *Up the next set of stairs*, her defender following her as she goes. This cat won't just quit. In fact, she's so against quitting that she activates her *Feline Agility* Trait, dashing up the stairs at a similar pace to that of Gaige. Her defender is sorta left hanging, too slow to keep up, but too fast to be left in the dust. It clunks and clamors up the steps, a bit clumsy it seems — or perhaps just untuned, due to how rushed its construction looks.
Margaret
Seeing as there was no need to further inspect the  -room, the bandit paid it no mind as he zipped by it, making a beeline for the next room up the stairs. Seeing the empty, cylindrical room, he skids on his paws. The flurry of embers behind him quietly fell, the bandit breaking in order to make his next decision.

```fix
"Okay... Coin flip kinda fucked me in the progression of explorin' this place... Well kinda, considerin' I got this cool gold piece."```

Kuouo glanced forward at the door, back towards the staircase, and the door again. He scratched the base of his bloodied right horn, still unsure as to which route he should take.

```fix
"Okay, how's this.. Go ahead and take a gander out the green glow-y door and if there's nothin' of interest... Jus' go back inside and climb up the stairs. Yeah, that sounds good, daheh!```

He took his method of traversal down a couple of notches, now walking up to the glowing door and squinting at the sign beside it. More nonsense to him, really... Though he wondered if the scribbled out name had to do with the last words of both his and Gaige's opponents.

```fix
"Aazkue?... Wonder what kinda bs is happenin' in this super-structure. It's like a different world in this place - Wait. If I go out this door, will I still be able to see Balfour?"```

He raised an eyebrow, reaching out and pulling the door open.
Lance
The hero's speed drops, before whispering, "_Okaarum, return._" The massive bone pillar manifested just behind him as he shifted into a full stop. With inhuman force, the chunk of bone slammed into the ceiling above the staircase, the shockwave of the impact stretching all the way to the room that Tabby and the rest had appeared in. _Okaarum_ was then recalled, the ceiling beginning to collapse from the singular strike of the prodigious bone pillar. Rubble fell from the ceiling, the stairs collapsing as well under the immense weight that laid upon it. This was no attack however, the rubble not reaching Tabby. Instead, the way forward was now blockaded by massive piles of debris. Not only that, but even if one could move the rubble, the portion of stairs beneath had been annihilated. Gaige turned to face the creature that had attempted to follow him, looking down from the upper portion of the stairs.

"As I told your friend down there, _do not follow me._ If I'm forced to cross any of you, I will show no sympathy or mercy. I could care less if you explore whatever lies beyond the door below, but trailing me will only result in your death. I have no trust in any of you damn hired guns." With even greater speed than before, the man climbed the rest of the stairs, reaching the room that awaited him at the top.
Tracy
The old door of a faded green light creaks open, and reveals... An entire world beyond the tower, itself.
Margaret
```fix
"Thaaaat's not Balfour."```

Tbc in
Lisa
"Oh, so that's how it'll be..." The cat retorts, "Fine, guess you'll have it your way.." Although knowing that Gaige had reached the top by now, Tabby takes a moment to examine her gauntlet, just making sure that everything was in order, before first extending her gauntlet to the stairwell she came from, calling her defender to her side and grabbing hold of its arm, turning it into ethereal light.

In a flash, the defender appears on the other side of the rubble. Obviously, since Gaige had been able to stand there seconds prior, the floor was solid. All Tabby had to do was see where he stood in order to cast *Vortex Warp* On her companion, who abruptly turns around and uses a *Force-Empowered Rend* On the rubble, attempting to blast it away for the cat to give chase. *Ahhhh, spell limitations.. If only I took the time to learn Misty Step instead..* She quietly curses herself under her breath, before clearing ahead.

Should the rubble cave in, Tabby would use her *Climbing speed* Of 20ft/6 seconds, clinging to the edges of the wall and totally just... Breath of the Wild'ing it.

Of course, there *Is* An alternative solution to this dilemma, but... "No, that would be *Way* Too destructive.. And a waste of time.." She mumbles to herself, sidling up to her defender and climbing aboard, ready for what may lie ahead. "Better to just use it on the man himself, hmm.."
Rene
He ascended the rest of the stairs without issue, having managed to "Repair" The cut strap of the VARET and free up his hands, knowing the bandit had his own way out certainly put an ease on his conscience, one less person to worry about, all he had to do now was locate a gate.
```diff
- "MOVE IT DRONE" -
```
He shouted down the stairwell to his floating companion as he reached the first floor and was met with the destroyed staircase, having not been present before it was turned to rubble he had no reason to suspect it hadn't always looked like that, and continued through the doorway.
Juan
Moments later the drone followed behind, making a few beeping sounds and scanning the structure as it went.