A staff member led James down to the basement training room where Team Zero had prepared for every major floor attempt since the team formed.
The table was still there with scratches from where gear had been laid out before climbs. The gear racks were still lined against the wall with empty hooks where weapons used to hang between tower runs. The return platform still sat at the center of the room with faint scorch marks from System transfers that brought them back after each floor.
James remembered standing in this room before Floor 5 with the full party around the table. He remembered the pre-Floor 10 meeting when Finn pushed for momentum and everyone agreed to enter Hell-difficulty.
But Elliot's chair was empty now.
Aria was not pacing near the weapons rack with her spear like she used to before every climb.
And no one was preparing for a floor because there was no floor to prepare for and no full team to prepare with.
