---
Kaelen took a deep breath, his senses sharpened now that the veil of the dream had lifted. The labyrinth had thrown everything it could at him, twisting his emotions, manipulating his desires, and making him question reality itself. But it hadn't broken him. Not this time.
Seraphine stood beside him, her expression unreadable. The labyrinth was no longer just a maze of stone and traps—it was an entity, a living, breathing force that fed on their fears and weaknesses. And Kaelen had learned something crucial: the labyrinth couldn't control him unless he let it.
He wasn't the same person who had wandered into this nightmare. He was stronger now. Sharper. More determined.
"We need to move forward," Kaelen said, his voice steady as he turned his gaze to the dark, winding corridor ahead of them.
Seraphine gave him a sharp nod. "You're right. The labyrinth will keep testing us, but we can't let it take control. Not again."
Ariella stepped forward, her face set with a determination that Kaelen hadn't seen before. "We've come this far. We're not turning back now."
The group nodded in agreement, and Kaelen felt a surge of confidence. Together, they were stronger. Together, they would finish what they started.
---
**Wrath Points: 50 / 20.**
---
Kaelen could feel the familiar burn of Wrath Points stirring within him again. His anger was his strength, but now, it was a tool—nothing more, nothing less. The power surged through him, a constant reminder of the fire that burned at his core, but he wouldn't let it consume him. He had learned to control it, to use it strategically.
As they moved through the labyrinth's twisting corridors, the air grew colder, the walls darker. The labyrinth seemed to respond to their defiance, as if it were actively trying to push them back. But Kaelen wasn't deterred.
They encountered more traps, more illusions, each one designed to wear them down, to make them doubt their path. But each time, they fought through it, stronger than before.
And then, after what felt like an eternity of navigating the labyrinth's shifting halls, they came to an open chamber.
This room was different from the others. It wasn't filled with traps or illusions. It was quiet. Peaceful, almost. The only sound was the faint hum of something vibrating in the air.
At the center of the chamber stood another pedestal, much like the one from the dream. But this time, there was no crystal. Instead, there was a small, dark orb sitting on the pedestal, pulsing with an ominous energy.
Kaelen's eyes narrowed as he studied it. The orb radiated power—raw, untamed power. But it felt different. It wasn't the same as the crystal. There was something more sinister about it, something darker.
"I don't like the look of this," Seraphine said, her hand instinctively going to her staff.
Ariella glanced around warily, her sword drawn and ready. "What is it?"
Kaelen stepped closer, his instincts telling him that this orb was important. He could feel the energy radiating off it, pulling at his own Wrath Points, as if the orb itself were feeding on his anger.
"I don't know," Kaelen muttered, studying the orb. "But I think it's linked to the heart of the labyrinth. We need to destroy it, whatever it is."
Seraphine nodded, her eyes hard. "We don't have a choice. The labyrinth won't stop until we do."
Kaelen reached out, his fingers brushing against the surface of the orb. The moment he touched it, a jolt of electricity shot through his arm, and he staggered back with a sharp gasp.
---
**Wrath Points: 60 / 20.**
---
The orb pulsed again, stronger this time, and Kaelen felt the surge of Wrath Points increase, as if the orb was feeding directly off his emotions. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to regain control.
"This thing is feeding on us," Kaelen said, his voice tight with effort. "It's trying to manipulate our anger."
"We have to destroy it before it gets any stronger," Seraphine warned, stepping forward with her staff raised.
Before Kaelen could respond, the orb began to tremble violently, its dark energy surging outward in waves. The chamber shook, the walls cracking as the power from the orb intensified.
"We don't have much time," Ariella shouted, her sword glowing with energy as she prepared to strike.
Kaelen's eyes burned with determination. He could feel his anger flaring again, but this time, it wasn't something to be afraid of. It was something to wield. His Wrath Points surged higher as the orb's power clashed with his own.
With a yell, Kaelen unleashed a burst of energy from within, channeling his anger into a powerful strike aimed directly at the orb. The moment his energy collided with the orb, there was a blinding flash of light.
And then… nothing.
For a long moment, the world around them was quiet, the air still. The orb was gone, shattered into a thousand pieces that scattered across the floor, dissolving into dust.
Kaelen stood there, panting, his body trembling from the effort. He felt a deep exhaustion wash over him, as though the entire labyrinth was finally beginning to lose its grip.
"We did it," Seraphine said, her voice steady, though there was a trace of awe in it. "The heart of the labyrinth is destroyed."
But Kaelen's victory felt hollow. The labyrinth had been defeated, but the feeling that something was still wrong gnawed at him.
This wasn't the end. Not yet.
Kaelen turned to the others. "We've made it this far, but there's still one more thing we need to do."
Ariella's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
Kaelen's gaze hardened. "We need to find the true heart of this place. The one that controls everything."
Seraphine's eyes glinted with understanding. "Then let's finish it. Once and for all."
---