
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
Consider a diagram shaped like a triangular grid, with each side of the triangle consisting of letters from the word "CONTESTS" arranged from the base upwards. The word, including an extra "S" at the apex, forms three symmetrically arranged sides:
$\begin{tabular}{cccccccc}
& & & & S & & & \\
& & & T & E & T & & \\
& & S & E & S & E & S & \\
& T & E & T & N & T & E & T \\
C & O & N & T & E & S & T & S & C \\
\end{tabular}$

Determine the total number of paths that spell "CONTESTS" starting from any "C" at the base and moving along the sides towards the apex "S" using diagonal, horizontal, and vertical moves?
A) 128  
B) 192  
C) 256  
D) 320  
E) 384

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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