While Elio's group practiced, in the challenge's outer tunnel, Milo, Nessa, Kai, and Arnaud prepared for their own ascension to level 8.
With Elio's group now at level 8, a new group could advance without affecting the tunnel's construction speed too much.
Progress was unstoppable; each new day brought them closer to being ready.
Humanity's general strength increased day by day.
'But will it be enough?' Elio wondered, watching his companions prepare for another attempt.
The Artromus was still out there, and each passing day was another day closer to an inevitable encounter or barrier failure.
Although fortunately, Lucien's messages indicated that the barrier would remain stable for quite a while longer, 0 failures.
But they couldn't be complacent... Elio returned his attention to the group facing the Locus today.
"A clean cut," Mei observed as the Locus's head fell. "But the thorax..."
