The light from the new doorway spilled into the chamber, casting long shadows behind them. Leon stepped forward cautiously, his sword raised, scanning for any remaining threats. The air felt lighter, less oppressive, but none of them were ready to let their guard down just yet.
"We did it," Zara breathed, wiping sweat from her brow. "I can't believe we made it through that."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Cain muttered, his eyes narrowing at the open door. "Something about this feels... too easy."
Elara steadied herself, leaning on Darius's shield for support. "Easy? You call that easy?" she said with a tired laugh.
Cain shrugged. "Just saying. Every time we think it's over, there's always one more surprise."
Leon nodded, stepping fully into the next chamber. "Stay alert. Let's make sure this isn't another trap."
They followed him into the new room, and as they crossed the threshold, the heavy stone door behind them slammed shut with a finality that sent a chill through the group. The room ahead was vastly different from anything they'd encountered in the labyrinth.
The oppressive darkness was gone, replaced by a serene, almost tranquil glow. The chamber was vast, its ceiling stretching into the distance, with crystalline formations lining the walls. In the center stood a tall pedestal, and atop it, a glowing orb pulsed with an ethereal light.
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Is that… our reward?"
Elara stepped closer, her eyes locked on the orb. "It's not just a reward. It's the core of the labyrinth's magic. Destroying it will dismantle this entire trial."
"Destroy it?" Zara frowned. "But what if it's a trap? What if we're not supposed to touch it?"
Darius adjusted his shield, his gaze fixed on the orb. "Then we find out the hard way. Standing here won't give us answers."
Leon exchanged a glance with Elara. "You're sure about this?"
Elara nodded. "Yes. The labyrinth was built around this core. Without it, the labyrinth ceases to exist."
Cain scoffed. "And here I thought we'd get some treasure."
Leon approached the pedestal, his steps slow and measured. He reached out, his fingers hovering just above the orb. The glowing light pulsed faster, as if responding to his presence.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered and grasped the orb firmly.
The moment his fingers closed around it, a blinding light erupted from the orb, engulfing the entire chamber. The crystalline formations shattered, and the ground beneath their feet trembled violently.
"Leon!" Elara shouted, shielding her eyes from the intense light.
"I've got it!" Leon yelled back, struggling to hold on as the energy from the orb surged through him. He felt a rush of power, like the labyrinth itself was resisting its own destruction.
The room began to collapse, stone walls crumbling as the labyrinth's structure gave way.
"Get out of here!" Leon shouted. "Now!"
Darius grabbed Elara, pulling her toward the exit. Zara and Cain followed, their footsteps pounding against the shaking ground. Leon remained behind, his grip on the orb tightening as he poured his strength into controlling the wild energy.
"Come on, Leon!" Zara shouted from the doorway. "We're not leaving without you!"
Leon gritted his teeth, feeling the orb's resistance lessen. With one final surge of willpower, he crushed the core in his hands. The light exploded outward, a deafening roar filling the chamber as the labyrinth began to disintegrate completely.
He turned, sprinting toward his friends, the collapsing world behind him. Just as the ground gave way beneath him, Darius reached out, grabbing Leon's arm and pulling him through the doorway.
They tumbled onto solid ground as the labyrinth collapsed entirely behind them. The deafening roar faded into silence, leaving them in the open air under a clear sky.
Zara sat up, breathing heavily. "We… we did it. The labyrinth is gone."
Elara nodded, still catching her breath. "It's over. The first trial is over."
Leon stood, brushing dust off his armor. His hand still tingled from the orb's energy. "That's one down," he said grimly, "but it's only the beginning."
Cain surveyed the landscape around them. "Where are we?"
They looked around, realizing they were on a vast plain, stretching endlessly in all directions. A large pillar stood in the distance, a glowing beacon marking their next destination.
Darius sighed. "Looks like we've got our answer. The next trial awaits."
Leon sheathed his sword, determination hardening his features. "Let's move. We've proven ourselves once, and we'll do it again."
As they set off toward the pillar, the weight of their accomplishment settled in. They had survived the labyrinth, but the journey ahead promised even greater challenges. Each step forward brought them closer to the heart of the Origin Trials, and none of them intended to stop until they reached the very end.