As Ethan and Aria worked on the puzzle, the air in the room began to thicken, like a dense fog that clung to their skin. The symbols on the table seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if they were alive and watching them.
The room itself began to warp and distort, like a reflection in a funhouse mirror. The walls seemed to melt and twist, forming impossible angles and shapes that defied logic.
Ethan and Aria exchanged a nervous glance. They were beginning to feel trapped, like they were being pulled into the puzzle itself.
"We need to focus," Aria whispered, her voice trembling. "We can't let it get to us."
But it was too late. The puzzle had already taken hold of their minds, drawing them in with an irresistible force.
Ethan felt his thoughts becoming muddled, as if his brain was being rewired. He saw visions of ancient civilizations and long-forgotten secrets, hidden messages and cryptic codes.
Aria's eyes glazed over, her pupils dilating as she stared at the puzzle. She was seeing things too – visions of darkness and light, of ancient battles and forgotten knowledge.
The room around them began to fade away, replaced by a world of swirling colors and patterns. Ethan and Aria were no longer in control, their minds consumed by the puzzle's hypnotic power.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, everything stopped. The room snapped back into focus, the symbols on the table frozen in place.
Ethan and Aria blinked, their eyes clearing as they looked at each other in confusion.
"What...what just happened?" Ethan stammered.
Aria shook her head, her eyes wide with wonder. "I don't know," she whispered. "But I think we're closer to solving the puzzle than we thought."
Arachne's voice whispered in their ears, her words echoing through their minds.
"You have passed the first test," she said. "But there are more challenges ahead. Are you ready to face them?"