If Nine Flames on Aquamarinus were the only thing keeping Desolated Lands from spreading, then wouldn't taking them mean total destruction for the planet?

How many people would die if Felix really went through with that?

However, if he didn't do it, he'd fail the elimination round. He wouldn't advance further and would lose all chance of winning. Once that happened, the second wave from the Orion family would arrive, and Earth would be the next to fall. That was guaranteed.

For a moment, Felix's thoughts were a complete mess. Was this what Donna meant when she said that once one entered the Rank-Ascending Competition, one had to let go of everything and think only of yourself?

"Felix, are you okay?" Lincoln asked.

They'd gotten a little familiar along the way, so when Lincoln saw Felix stop in his tracks with a dark expression, he hesitated but still spoke up.

Felix's train of thought was broken. He let out a bitter laugh. "It's nothing. Just remembered something. Let's keep goin