The dim corridor stretched before them, the air thick with the scent of dust and the lingering heat from their battle. Their steps echoed in the silence, each footfall a reminder of the fight they had just endured. Despite their victory, fatigue weighed heavily on their shoulders.
Zara broke the silence, her voice lighter than her expression. "You know, for a trial of strength, that felt a lot like endurance. They should really rename it." She gave a half-hearted laugh, though her eyes flicked warily toward the shadows ahead.
Leon glanced at her but didn't respond immediately. His mind was still replaying the battle, dissecting every move, every mistake. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. "It wasn't just about strength. It was about teamwork. They wanted to see if we could endure together."
Darius nodded, his shield resting heavily against his side. "If we hadn't worked as one, we'd be buried under all that rubble. Strength isn't just muscle—it's trust, coordination, and resilience."
Elara walked a few steps behind, her staff clinking softly with each step. She looked drained, the glow of her Insight of the Ancients dim. "The labyrinth isn't just testing us—it's learning. Every trial will adapt to push us further. We need to be ready for anything."
Cain moved silently, his shadowy presence blending with the dim light. His gaze was distant, as though he were listening to something beyond their reality. "We're being watched more closely now. The Will of the Universe isn't just testing us—it's observing how we rise or fall."
Leon stopped, turning to face the group. "Then we don't give them a reason to doubt us. We rest, we recover, and we keep moving. We've come too far to falter now." His voice was firm, but there was a quiet determination behind his words that resonated with the others.
They found a small alcove, sheltered from the corridor's open expanse. It wasn't much, but it offered a moment of respite. Zara dropped onto a slab of stone with a groan. "Five minutes. Just give me five minutes."
Darius chuckled softly, though his exhaustion was evident. He slid down next to her, his shield propped against the wall. "You earned it."
Elara sat cross-legged, her staff resting across her knees. She closed her eyes, her breathing steadying as she began a quiet meditation. The faint glow of her talent pulsed rhythmically, a calming presence amidst the tension.
Leon remained standing, his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond their makeshift camp. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Not immediately, but soon.
Cain's voice broke through his thoughts. "You sense it too."
Leon nodded. "Something's waiting for us. And it's not going to be as straightforward as the golems."
Cain's eyes narrowed. "The labyrinth isn't just a series of tests. It's alive. And it's studying us, calculating our weaknesses."
"Let it watch," Leon said, his voice steely. "We'll show it we're stronger than it thinks."
Zara stretched, shaking off her fatigue. "Well, when it comes, we'll be ready. We've made it this far, haven't we?" She grinned, though there was an edge of defiance in her expression.
Elara opened her eyes, her calm demeanor replaced by quiet resolve. "Ready or not, the labyrinth won't stop. Neither can we."
Leon looked around at his team, their determination rekindled despite their exhaustion. "We've proven our strength today. Now, we prove our endurance. Let's move."
They rose together, their rest brief but enough. As they stepped back into the corridor, the glow from the distant door pulsed faintly, guiding them forward into whatever lay ahead.