Accelerator

Chapter 41: Going Up

One hour later...

Everyone has finally managed to arrive at the second flight of stairs and are currently trying to get their strength back before going up another 25 floors.

Lisa: "(exhausted) And we are barely 25% of the way there?"

Julie: "(exhausted) Sadly, yes."

Hammerhead plants his face into the floor.

Hammerhead: "(muffled) Fuck this shit."

Chase: "(exhausted) But we've got another set to go up."

Chase stumbles onto his feet.

Chase: "Come on. I know our legs can handle this."

The others grumble as they get onto their feet.

Kyoya: "(groaning) Yeah, but the rest of us can't."

Chase and Julie take the first step.

Julie: "Stop complaining. We can do that by floor 75."

After one final grumble, they get on their feet and start the second phase of their trek to the top.

However...

The body is being hooked up to a large terminal, where MONO's waiting.

MONO: "Initiate uploading procedure."

The cables start to glow green at the eyes on the body light up with 0.1%.

MONO: "The uploading process has begun. Now all I can do is wait."

A short while later...

Everyone has wheezed their way to the 50th floor, all feeling like they're about to lose their lunch.

Kyoya: "(nauseous) I don't feel so good."

Lisa: "(nauseous) I think I'm gonna be sick."

Kyoya and Lisa drop to their knees, clenching their stomachs.

Hammerhead: "(groaning) Not just you two, so stop complaining."

Chase and Julie are shaking at the knees.

Chase: "(shakily) C-Come on guys... at the next set we can sit and wait until we're done vomiting."

They gaze out towards the vast floor ahead of them.

Julie: "(shakily) A-As much as I'd love to continue ASAP, we need to at least not feel like we'll lose our lunch with a single step."

Chase looks towards his comrades, understanding where Julie is coming from.

Chase: "(shakily) Yeah, we'll wait."

He takes a seat and plops his back against the wall.

Chase: "(in head) For better or worse."