---
Kaelen's pulse was still racing from the illusions, the feeling of the woman's whispers lingering in the back of his mind. He had never been one to doubt his own judgment, but the labyrinth was pushing him to the limits of his sanity. Still, he refused to let it get the best of him. The more the maze tried to break him, the more it made him realize something: he was growing stronger, both mentally and physically. Each illusion, each trial, only served to fuel his wrath—and that wrath made him more dangerous than anything this maze could throw at him.
With a deep breath, Kaelen straightened his back, cracking his knuckles as he moved forward. The walls of the labyrinth seemed to whisper around him, but he wasn't listening. He was too focused on his goal—to make it out, to defeat whatever challenge was next, and to gain more Wrath Points.
He barely registered the sound of footsteps behind him at first.
---
**Wrath Points: 45 / 20.**
---
He spun around, expecting to see an enemy, but instead, he was met with the familiar sight of Ariella and Seraphine emerging from the shadows, their expressions as unreadable as ever. Ariella's hand was on her sword hilt, eyes narrowed, while Seraphine was standing slightly behind her, her expression calm but wary.
"Where did you go?" Ariella demanded, her voice tight. "One second you were there, and the next… poof! You disappeared."
"I got pulled into some *mental* trap," Kaelen said with a shrug, grinning widely despite the seriousness of the situation. "Typical labyrinth stuff. Almost had me there for a second, but, you know, I'm kind of a pro at this whole 'illusion' thing."
Ariella didn't look impressed, but Seraphine raised an eyebrow. "You've become more aware of your surroundings," she said, her voice thoughtful. "Good. That's a sign that you're starting to understand the true nature of this place."
"Right," Kaelen said, nodding enthusiastically. "And now that I'm back with you guys, let's break this place. We'll take whatever challenge it throws at us."
Ariella shot him a skeptical glance. "Don't get cocky. This maze won't let us go easily."
Kaelen just smirked. "Bring it on."
---
The trio continued through the dark passageways, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The walls were covered with strange, cryptic markings, ancient runes that glowed faintly in the darkness. Kaelen couldn't help but admire the labyrinth's design; whoever had created this place clearly had a flair for the dramatic.
After a while, they arrived at a massive stone door, its surface etched with the same runes that decorated the walls. There was no handle, no obvious way to open it. But as they approached, the door began to creak open on its own, revealing a long hallway beyond.
"This is it," Seraphine said quietly. "We've reached the Hall of Echoes."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "Hall of Echoes? Sounds like a tourist trap."
Ariella shot him an exasperated look, but Seraphine nodded. "It's not a trap. The Hall of Echoes is where the labyrinth reveals your deepest fears and regrets. It plays on your emotions, making you relive the moments you wish you could forget."
Kaelen's grin faltered for a moment, but only for a split second. "Well, that's… comforting," he said with a fake chuckle. "But if I'm being honest, I'm not exactly afraid of reliving anything. I'm more worried about the next thing I'm going to have to *punch*."
Seraphine's expression darkened slightly. "It's not that simple. The Hall will make you face your inner demons. And if you fail to overcome them… it will break you."
---
**Wrath Points: 47 / 20.**
---
Kaelen's mind flashed with memories of his past—the years spent wandering from one place to another, the friends he had lost, the choices he regretted. For a brief moment, a seed of doubt planted itself in his chest. But just as quickly, it was consumed by the surge of power that followed.
"No, I'm not doing this," Kaelen muttered under his breath. "I'm not letting some maze mess with my head."
Ariella stepped forward, unsheathing her sword. "Stay focused. We're in this together. Whatever happens, don't let the Hall get into your head."
Kaelen nodded, feeling a little more grounded with her words. "Right. Let's *kick* this labyrinth's ass."
With a steadying breath, the trio stepped into the Hall of Echoes. The moment they crossed the threshold, the temperature seemed to drop, and the faint sound of whispers filled the air. The hallway stretched out before them, lined with towering stone pillars. Each pillar was etched with faces—distorted, anguished faces that seemed to shift and change as they walked.
The whispers grew louder, now indistinct, as if speaking directly into Kaelen's mind. He could feel his heartbeat quicken, but he refused to let it overwhelm him. He had faced too many illusions, too many trials to be intimidated now. The labyrinth wanted to make him feel fear, but fear wasn't something he could afford.
And then, the first echo came.
It was faint at first, just a ripple of sound in the air, but it grew louder with each step. Kaelen's breath caught in his throat as the echo became clearer, louder.
"Kaelen…" the voice whispered. "You've failed them."
He froze, his heart hammering in his chest. His hands clenched into fists.
"Who's there?" Kaelen demanded, his voice a low growl. The echo of his name was like a weight on his chest, pulling him back into memories he had buried long ago.
The air around him shifted, and suddenly, the hallway was filled with dark, twisted figures. They were faceless at first, but as they drew closer, their faces became clear: the faces of people he had once known. Friends, family, allies—each one staring at him with disappointment, with regret.
"You couldn't save them," one of the figures said, its voice hollow and cold. "You couldn't protect them."
Kaelen's fists trembled, but his resolve didn't waver. "No," he said through gritted teeth. "I didn't fail them. I'm not failing anyone."
The figures laughed, their voices merging into a chorus of mockery.
"You're just a failure, Kaelen. Always running, never facing the consequences."
Kaelen's breath came faster now, his heart racing. The doubts, the guilt, they all began to surge within him. But he could feel the heat of his Wrath Points flaring up inside him. He wasn't going to let the labyrinth win. He wasn't going to be consumed by his past.
---
**Wrath Points: 50 / 20.**
---
A surge of fiery energy filled him, and Kaelen's eyes burned with rage. His Wrath Points had reached their peak, and the power surged through him like a storm. The dark figures around him began to falter, their mocking faces warping and distorting as Kaelen's anger burned through them.
"No," he said, his voice stronger now. "I'm not a failure. I'm not running anymore."
With a roar, Kaelen pushed through the illusions, shattering the faces around him with a burst of energy. The dark figures screamed as they dissolved into smoke, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as the Hall of Echoes began to crumble.
The whispers faded, and the hallway returned to silence. The faces on the pillars disappeared, leaving nothing but stone.
Ariella and Seraphine were standing behind him, watching in silence.
"You did it," Ariella said, her voice a mix of awe and something else—respect? "You faced the illusions and came out stronger."
Kaelen wiped his brow, his energy still pulsing through him. "Yeah. And I think I'm starting to enjoy this whole 'facing my demons' thing."
---
**Wrath Points: 55 / 20.**
---
"Let's keep going," Kaelen said, grinning. "We've got a maze to break."
---