After regaining their strength, the team moved toward a massive gate adorned with mysterious symbols. When Malik touched the gate, it opened slowly, revealing an elderly man wearing a long gray robe and holding a staff inscribed with strange runes.
Guide: "Welcome to the fourth floor. I am Oris, the Keeper of Knowledge. But don't expect me to give you answers easily."
Kinta (mocking): "Let me guess, we have to solve riddles or fight new monsters, right?"
Oris (with a sly smile): "Not that simple. The fourth floor is no place for the thoughtless."
Oris opened an ancient book, and as he turned a page, glowing words appeared on the wall behind him:
"On this floor, cooperation is the key, but trust may lead to betrayal. Every decision comes at a cost, and every answer is not as it seems. Any mistake could be your last."
While the team tried to decipher the symbols, a new group of people emerged. Three individuals who looked entirely different from the previous rivals:
1. Arias: A tall young man with silver hair wielding a glowing blue magical staff.
2. Letha: A woman with sharp features carrying twin daggers that gleamed in the dark.
3. Evan: A massive man in black armor wielding a giant axe.
Arias: "Looks like we're not the only ones here. Are you ready for your first defeat?"
Malik (defiantly): "We don't lose. That's our first rule."
Letha: "Let's see if your confidence saves you."
Oris led everyone into a strange chamber containing five platforms connected by a fragmented bridge.
Oris: "Each group has one chance to select a leader. The leader will decide who crosses the bridge first. But remember, those who cross may not return."
The groups began discussing their strategy:
Malik: "I'll be the leader."
Kinta: "No objections from me, but be cautious. Don't trust the bridge or the guide too much."
Walid (joking): "Does this mean you trust us? Such progress!"
Arias: "I'll be the leader. I have experience with puzzles like this."
When Walid crossed first, the platforms began to shift unpredictably. Suddenly, a small creature appeared, attacking anyone on the bridge. Walid used his lightning arrow to fend it off.
Kinta (from afar): "Try not to fall! I don't want to look for a replacement."
Walid: "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kinta!"
Meanwhile, Arias was trying to figure out the bridge's trick. He sent Evan forward, but the bridge collapsed beneath him, revealing that the bridge moved based on the leader's "intent."
After crossing the bridge, everyone gathered in a new room where they were asked one question by Oris:
Oris: "What truly connects you?"
Each person answered individually. Malik said, "Trust," Letha chose "Strength," and Kinta replied, "Intelligence."
Oris (enigmatically): "Your answers will determine your future. But beware… not all answers are honest."
Chaos Begins
Before leaving the room, the walls lit up with secret messages hinting at a "hidden treasure" on the floor. The competition quickly turned into internal strife, with each team beginning to question the other's intentions.
Kinta (to Malik): "I think someone knows more than they're letting on."
Malik: "Let's save the answers for later. We need to focus on getting through this floor first."
….