Max and the other geniuses from Acaris landed with a sudden heaviness on a cold, white platform that stretched beneath their feet like polished stone. The surface gleamed faintly in the dim light, and the chill that rose from it bit into their boots, making the air itself feel sharper.
Max lifted his gaze and scanned his surroundings. To his astonishment, countless other platforms floated in the vast expanse, suspended in the void like islands adrift on an endless sea. Atop each platform stood figures, their silhouettes distinct even at a distance. The air was silent, yet the weight of their presence pressed down like invisible chains.
"Are they geniuses from the other worlds?" Max muttered, his voice low but clear enough for those nearby to hear.
