Now on each step, he would take a break after successfully clearing it. Complete his workout, and then attempt the next step. Step after step he took, falling into a daze of routine. His body felt excellent, and soon a familiar bell tolled, this time twice. Pulled from his reverie of action, Joe savoured the ringing in his ears. ‘Another milestone, and this one is, hmm, let me think, step 120. Does that mean that there’s another milestone at step 180? What’s significant about these numbers I wonder?’ A box blinked into existence on the step distracting him from his thoughts. This one was slightly larger than the previous one but just as ornate. In fact there were faint squiggles and peculiar shapes arrayed on what he assumed to be the top of the box. The images pulled him and it was a long moment until he could withdraw his gaze. Gripping the box with both hands he once again squeezed and pulled. This one too failed to open under his exertions so was promptly shunted into his bag.

‘Ignoring the fact that the boxes magically appear’ Joe raised a singular eyebrow ‘but why does it feel like those squiggles mean something very important to my brain? I feel drawn to them like a man starving. They must be linked to how I am to open them.’ Knowing he had to learn more he bit into one of his few remaining energy bars and contemplated the next step. ‘Milestone at 60 and 120. Plateaus at 48 and 96. So I should be looking for a plateau presumably at step 144. 12 squared hmm? And 60 and 120 are multiples of 12 too. Is 12 the magic number here?’ He carried on until he reached step 131 which took him a few hours. ‘If my theory is correct then it’s likely the next step will increase in difficulty significantly…’ he looked around. ‘Better rest up before proceeding then’.

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He lay down on the step on his back, once again with the pack behind his head. ‘When I wake, I’ll take on every step and then hopefully they’ll be a fountain at 144.’ His belly rumbled as he pondered. I’ve run out of food too so I need to make it snappy. He drifted off with hunger on his mind and his dreams were plagued with images of burgers doing press ups whilst laughing maniacally.

—---

Step 132 was true to form and the pressure instantly winded Joe. Wheezing as he started his workout, Joe considered the implication of the number 12. He found himself thinking about the bursts of euphoria he had had and counted them backwards. ‘Hmm only 7 on the steps so far and then 8 if you include the one I had after drinking from the amphora. However, considering what I had to go through in that cleanse maybe it counts for more. Of course I could be grasping at straws here.’ He shook his head and then finished off his workout. He still felt heavy on this step so he decided to add in a one legged pistol squat. It worked so well at improving his resistance and balance he decided to add it to his regime. ‘12 more steps to go then’. He looked up the flight in front of him but could only see gloom beyond the next 4 steps. ‘I’ll know by step 140 then’.