Ava's pulse raced as she stared at Kara, her fingers trembling at the edge of her sword hilt. The tension in the air felt thick enough to cut, and each second that passed with Kara holding that vial made it harder for Ava to keep her cool.
"Kara," Luke said through gritted teeth, clearly struggling to keep his balance. "Whatever game you're playing, now's not the time. I need that vial."
Kara's eyes danced with mischief, the glowing liquid still twirling between her fingers. "Oh, I understand that perfectly, Luke. But you see, this is a game—our game. And right now, I hold all the cards."
Ava clenched her jaw. She could feel Luke's pain intensifying through the Soul Link. It was becoming unbearable, like her own body was being torn apart. If Luke didn't get that vial soon, they would both collapse.
"What do you want, Kara?" Ava demanded, her voice barely steady.
Kara grinned, clearly enjoying the control she had over the situation. "I want to renegotiate our terms, as I said. From now on, I lead this little group. We follow my plan, not Luke's. And I want full control over any rewards we find."
Ava's heart sank. She knew Kara was dangerous, but this level of manipulation was worse than she'd expected. Still, she didn't see any other choice. If they didn't give in, Luke's injury would be the end of both of them.
Luke shot Ava a look, his face pale from blood loss. "Don't… don't do it, Ava. We'll find another way."
But Ava could feel the strain through their connection. Luke was on the brink of collapse, and she could barely stay upright herself from the weight of his suffering.
"Kara," Ava said carefully, trying to keep her voice level. "You know Luke won't survive much longer without that vial. If he dies, you'll lose the best chance you have of surviving this world. You need him."
Kara's smile faltered for a brief moment, her eyes narrowing as she considered Ava's words. Ava could tell she was weighing her options, trying to decide if she could afford to push them any further.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kara sighed dramatically and tossed the vial toward Luke. "Fine. But don't think for a second that I'm doing this out of kindness. I expect full cooperation from both of you from now on."
Luke barely caught the vial before it hit the ground. He uncorked it quickly and downed the liquid in one swift motion. Instantly, his color began to return, and Ava felt the agonizing pain in her chest ease as the healing effects took hold.
She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her muscles relaxing as the weight of the Soul Link's burden lifted. Luke stood up straighter, his strength returning, but his expression remained guarded as he glared at Kara.
"This isn't over," Luke said, his voice cold. "You pulled a stunt like that again, and I won't be so forgiving."
Kara just shrugged, completely unfazed by the threat. "We'll see about that. Now, can we please move on? This place is getting rather dull."
Ava bit her lip, her mind racing. They were still in danger. They had to stay ahead of the game's challenges, but now, there was an even greater threat within their own group. Kara wasn't just unpredictable—she was ruthless, and she had no problem using their lives as leverage.
As they continued deeper into the ruins, the fog began to thicken again, making it harder to see. The towering marble structures around them loomed like silent guardians, their shadows stretching endlessly in the mist.
Ava's thoughts were interrupted by the system chime once more.
New Quest Unlocked: The Tower of Echoes
Description: A mysterious tower lies hidden within the ruins. It is said to hold the power to reshape the game itself. Only those who pass the trials within can claim its secrets.
Reward: ???
Luke read the notification aloud, frowning. "The Tower of Echoes… Sounds like another trap."
Kara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Or an opportunity."
Ava felt a knot form in her stomach. The idea of a tower that could reshape the game was both intriguing and terrifying. What kind of power did it hold? And more importantly, how far would Kara go to claim it for herself?
"We don't have much of a choice," Ava said quietly. "If this tower really can change the game, it might be our best shot at surviving."
Luke nodded, but his eyes remained wary. "We'll have to be careful. If the game is sending us here, it's not going to be easy."
Kara was already walking ahead, her enthusiasm palpable. "Come on, then. Let's see what this tower has in store."
As they followed Kara, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than any challenge they'd faced so far. The fog seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy, and every step they took toward the tower felt heavier, like the world itself was warning them to turn back.
But there was no turning back. Not now.
Finally, the mist parted, revealing a massive structure in the distance. The Tower of Echoes stood tall and ominous, its dark stone walls glistening in the dim light. Strange runes lined its surface, glowing faintly with an otherworldly energy.
Ava felt her heart quicken as they approached the entrance. The air around the tower was thick with power, and a low hum resonated from deep within its walls, as if the tower was alive, waiting for them.
"We should be cautious," Luke said, his voice barely a whisper. "Whatever's inside… it's not going to let us in without a fight."
Kara grinned, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Good. I've been looking forward to a real challenge."
Ava exchanged a glance with Luke, both of them feeling the weight of what was to come. Kara's recklessness might get them killed, but they had no other option. The tower held the key to something—whether it was their survival or their doom remained to be seen.
As they stepped through the towering stone archway, a wave of cold washed over them, and the air seemed to vibrate with energy. The door slammed shut behind them with a thunderous boom, sealing them inside.
The Tower of Echoes had claimed its newest challengers.