Overview
The Loop of Life is the fifth Abyss sky island in the Sleet Isles chain. It comes after the Sanctorum of Darkness and leads to the Tree of Slumber, where Flame Strike is unlocked. The puzzle involves activating three large rings by inserting power chips into sockets on each ring. As each ring activates, it begins rotating, which makes placing the next chip progressively harder.
Location
Access the Loop of Life by completing the Sanctorum of Darkness. After claiming your reward there, activate the mechanism and follow the platform path. Use targeted jumps across the platforms, then take the teleporter to arrive at the Loop of Life. Grab the fast travel point immediately upon arrival.
Puzzle Walkthrough
Step 1: Activate the First Ring (Tutorial)
The first ring is a tutorial that teaches the core mechanic. You will see a power chip socket right next to where you arrive. Drag the chip over and slot it in. When you see the leaf effect, do a jump punch to lock it in place. The orb in the center of the ring glows, confirming it is activated. The ring then begins to rotate counterclockwise.
Step 2: Move the Chip to the Doorway
Look to the left. There is a second socket on the adjacent ring. Use the Axiom grapple to pick up the available chip near the second ring and push it to the left as far as you can onto that ring. Then triple jump and glide across to the ring, grab the chip, and float it up to the doorway above you. Leave it near the door platform.
Step 3: Open the Barrier
Jump up to the door platform, turn around, and grab the chip. Slot it into the socket near the door to open the barrier. Once the barrier clears, pull this chip back out. You do not need this barrier open anymore. Then also pull out the other chip you used before. You will need both chips for the final two rings.
Important: Pull both chips out now before activating the next ring. If you activate the ring first, the rotation makes it much harder to retrieve them. This step saves significant time.
Step 4: Activate the Second Ring
Carry one chip over to the second ring. Jump and parkour across to it. Find the empty socket on the northeast side and insert the chip. The orb lights up, confirming activation. The second ring begins rotating.
Step 5: Activate the Third Ring
Follow the second ring to where it connects with the third ring. Use jump punches to cross the gap. Grab the second chip that you pre-positioned earlier and carry it to the southeast side of the third ring. Insert it into the socket and jump punch to lock it in. The third and final orb lights up. The puzzle is complete.
Step 6: Claim Your Reward
Head over to the button that has appeared. Slam it with a grapple punch (or climb up while holding L2 and punch). Then triple jump and glide to collect your skill point reward.
Afterward, head left to find the next mechanism. Grapple and turn it until it glows. This opens the final set of platforms leading to the Tree of Slumber.
Traversal to the Tree of Slumber
After the Loop of Life, the path includes a tricky parkour section with slowly rotating cubes. The recommended approach is to triple jump and glide across rather than trying to navigate the cubes manually, since they turn slowly and can push you off. After the cubes, wait on the platform for a very long floating platform (it may take a couple of minutes to arrive). Ride it all the way across to the final teleporter.
Rewards
1 Abyss Artifact (skill point)
Access to the Tree of Slumber
Tips
Pre-position both chips before activating the second ring. The counterclockwise rotation makes it tedious to retrieve chips from an active ring.
If you fall off a ring, fast travel back to the checkpoint at the start of the island.
The rotating cubes section after the puzzle is best handled by gliding over them. Taking them slowly is frustrating because they rotate and can slide you off.
The floating platform to the Tree of Slumber takes a long time to arrive. Be patient and enjoy the view while waiting.
Progression
Order | Island | Reward |
|---|---|---|
1 | ||
2 | ||
3 | Frost Mantle + Frost Lv. 1 | |
4 | ||
5 | Loop of Life | |
6 | Flame Strike + Flame Lv. 1 |