The group stepped out of the cave and into an open expanse of rugged terrain. Towering rock formations cast long shadows across the valley floor, and the air was thick with the scent of dust and stone. The wind howled between the cliffs, creating an eerie whistling sound that sent a chill down their spines.
"We must be in the next trial area," Cedric muttered, scanning their surroundings.
Samson nodded, but his attention was drawn to Kara. Her breathing was heavier than usual, and there was a slight tremor in her stance. She had expended a great deal of mana in the illusionary cave, and though she wouldn't admit it, she was clearly running low on energy.
"We should rest here for a while," Samson said. "We don't know what's ahead, and we need to be at full strength."
Linara quickly nodded in agreement, while Cedric sighed but didn't argue. But before anyone else could voice their thoughts, Kara scoffed.
"I don't need rest," she snapped. "If you're all too weak to keep moving, then stay here. I'm going ahead."
"Kara, wait," Samson started, but she was already walking.
"Kara, don't be an idiot!" Cedric called after her. "You don't even know what we're up against!"
Kara ignored him and pressed forward. Samson clenched his jaw, exchanging a glance with Cedric. There was no reasoning with her now.
With a resigned sigh, the group followed.
---
The Golem's Wrath
As soon as they stepped further into the valley, the ground trembled. A deep, grinding sound filled the air, and from the stone formations around them, massive figures began to emerge.
Golems.
They were colossal creatures, their bodies made entirely of rock and minerals. Their eyes glowed with a faint, eerie light, and as they moved, the earth shook beneath them.
Kara didn't hesitate. She charged ahead, fire erupting from her palms as she launched an attack at the nearest golem. The flames licked at its stone surface, but the creature barely reacted.
The golems attacked. One of them swung a massive arm toward Kara, who narrowly dodged, rolling to the side before retaliating with another powerful blast of fire. She was fighting fiercely, but she wasn't coordinating with the group at all.
Meanwhile, Cedric acted quickly, slamming his hands onto the ground. A wall of earth rose in front of Linara and Samson, blocking an incoming strike from another golem.
"She's reckless!" Cedric shouted over the chaos. "She's fighting like she's the only one here!"
Samson gritted his teeth, watching as Kara continued to battle alone. She was powerful, but even she couldn't take on a swarm of golems by herself. And judging by her slower movements, the exhaustion was catching up to her.
"We need to end this fast," Samson said. He turned to Cedric. "Can you manipulate the earth beneath them?"
Cedric frowned. "You mean control them? I can try, but they're not normal rock—they're infused with magic."
"Even if you can't control them completely, maybe you can destabilize them," Samson said. "Shift the ground beneath them, make them collapse."
Cedric hesitated for only a second before nodding. "I'll give it a shot."
He placed his hands on the ground, his mana surging into the earth. The ground beneath the golems trembled violently, cracks spreading through the valley floor. The golems, heavy and unbalanced, stumbled as the terrain shifted beneath them. One of them fell forward, crashing into another, sending them both tumbling.
"It's working!" Linara exclaimed.
With renewed determination, Cedric focused, manipulating the ground even further. The golems, unable to maintain their footing, crumbled one by one.
But amidst the battle, Kara was still fighting on her own, unaware of how much she was pushing her limits. Her flames were weaker now, her breathing labored.
Then it happened.
One of the golems, still standing despite the shifting earth, raised its massive arm. Kara, exhausted and unaware of the danger, didn't react in time.
"Kara!" Samson shouted.
She turned, eyes widening as the golem's fist came crashing down toward her. There was no time to dodge.
Without thinking, Samson summoned his lightning magic. Energy crackled around him as he focused it into a single, powerful strike.
A blinding bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking the golem just before it could hit Kara. The creature's stone body shattered upon impact, the magic within it dissipating into the air.
Kara stood frozen, her body trembling from the sheer force of the lightning strike. Then, without warning, she collapsed.
"Kara!" Linara rushed forward, catching her before she hit the ground.
Samson hurried to her side, kneeling beside her. She was still breathing, but her body was unresponsive.
"She must've gone into shock from the lightning," Linara said, worry in her voice.
Samson felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't had a choice—if he hadn't acted, she would've been crushed.
Cedric exhaled sharply. "Great. Now what?"
"We rest," Samson said firmly, looking down at Kara's unconscious form. "Whether she likes it or not."