Steve muttered to himself, “It was just a dream… just a dream.” But even as he said the words, the lingering unease refused to leave him.
He shook off the feeling, got dressed, and headed to his office. His small space, cluttered with case files and odd tools, had always been a haven of routine. But today, it felt different. Before Steve could dwell on it, the door creaked open, and a bat traveler fluttered in. The bat’s eyes gleamed with both curiosity and determination.
“Are you the Bat Detective?” the traveler asked.
“That’s me,” Steve replied, standing a little taller.
“I need your help,” the traveler said. “I want you to find the treasure hidden in the Great Tower of Traps.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “Sure, I can do that. But one question—where exactly is this tower?”
“Go north,” the traveler answered simply before leaving.
Steve wasted no time preparing for the journey. He packed water, food, and his enchanted magic bag, which could hold anything without ever filling up. He also visited the blacksmith, requesting a trap detector—a device to sense danger in the mysterious tower. With everything ready, he set off, leaving the comfort of Bat City behind.
After days of traveling, Steve finally stood before the Great Tower of Traps. It loomed high above him, surrounded by a massive wall. The humid air clung to his fur as he searched for an entrance. Eventually, he found a door hidden among the shadows. Steeling himself, Steve pushed it open and stepped inside.
The first challenge awaited him immediately: a spike maze. Long, jagged spikes jutted out from every angle, creating a labyrinth of danger. Steve carefully maneuvered through the maze, his wings curling instinctively to avoid any wrong moves. After what felt like an eternity, he reached the other side.
“Yikes, that was tough,” he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
He spotted an elevator nearby and stepped inside. There were five buttons, but only the third floor was accessible. The rest were locked. He pressed the button, and the elevator creaked and rattled as it ascended. When the doors slid open, Steve stepped into a room with a shimmering pool and a single sign.
The sign read: “To reach the next floor, perform a backflip using the jumping board.”
Steve groaned. “A backflip? Easy!” But as he spread his wings, the damp air curled them, making flight impossible. He tried again and again, falling into the pool each time. Frustration clawed at him, but Steve refused to give up. Finally, with sheer determination and persistence, he nailed the backflip.
“Yes! Let’s go!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty tower. “If that can’t stop me, nothing will.”
Back in the elevator, the fourth floor was now unlocked. Steve pressed the button and entered a room filled with pictures. The walls were lined with dozens of them, each one nearly identical. A sign stood in the center of the room: “To move forward, find the picture that’s different. Choose wrong, and you’ll be trapped here forever.”
Steve’s heart raced. He rummaged through his magic bag, pulling out the trap detector the blacksmith had made. Scanning the room, he carefully examined each picture. After minutes of tense searching, the detector beeped. One picture stood out—it was the only one without a trap.
“That trap detector was a lifesaver,” Steve muttered as he pressed the correct picture.
The elevator opened again, and this time the fifth floor awaited him. This room was the most dangerous yet. It was an obstacle course suspended over steaming lava. The air shimmered with heat, making it hard to breathe. Steve’s wings were useless in the oppressive steam, leaving him grounded.
“Not again,” he groaned.
A sign at the start of the course read: “The blocks are made of glass. Complete the invisible obstacle course to proceed.”
Steve closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He relied on his echolocation, sending out sound waves to locate the hidden blocks. Carefully, he jumped from block to block, his heart pounding with every step. When he finally reached the other side, he saw a glowing button labeled “6.”
He pressed it, and the elevator whisked him to the top floor. The treasure room awaited him, filled with trampolines of all shapes and sizes. At its center stood a golden statue of a trampoline. Steve carefully placed the treasure in his magic bag and made his way back down to the first floor.
Emerging from the tower, Steve turned south and began his journey home. When he finally reached Bat City, the familiar sights and sounds welcomed him. He returned to his office, where the bat traveler waited eagerly.
Steve handed over the treasure, and the traveler smiled in gratitude. “Thank you,” they said before disappearing into the bustling city streets.
As Steve returned home to rest, a sense of pride filled him. He had conquered the Great Tower of Traps, and though the journey had been grueling, he knew he was becoming the detective he was meant to be.