The Celestial Ladder was a special thing.
It both existed and didn't exist. It opened when an Ascender needed it, and it physically manifested as if it was truly there, however, once it was closed, nobody could touch it.
Atlas leapt into the darkness confidently, not minding it at all as the winds fiercely whipped across his body.
After all, before he could truly descend into the abyss of the chasm, his body was enveloped by warmth.
He was inside that ethereal elevator. It flew out of the chasm, rising higher and higher until it was in the sky.
Atlas looked out and saw the large group of men that had been sent to catch him. He saw the Heaven's Gate Elder whom he still didn't know the name of, and that Elder saw him.
As their eyes locked, Atlas smiled.
It was a shame that it was hidden under his mask. Otherwise, the Elder's expression truly would've been a sight to witness.
It was a clean escape.
