The chamber's suffocating air grew lighter, but Ling Li, Shan Mei, and Elder Yun barely had time to recover before the room began to shift again. The stone walls trembled, and the intricate carvings that adorned the surfaces rearranged themselves into strange patterns.
"Brace yourselves!" Elder Yun called out, steadying his footing as the ground began to shake violently.
Ling Li gripped the black book tightly, its faint glow now pulsing like a heartbeat. "The trial isn't over. The spire won't let us rest."
The carvings on the walls began to glow, forming a web of interconnecting pathways that lit up the chamber with an eerie golden light. Slowly, the floor beneath them split into segments, each piece rotating and descending like a puzzle rearranging itself. Within moments, the room had transformed into a massive labyrinth, its passages stretching out into infinity.
"A maze?" Shan Mei muttered, her tone incredulous. "I thought the spire's trials were supposed to test our will, not our sense of direction."
Elder Yun frowned. "Don't underestimate it. This isn't an ordinary maze. Every step we take will likely be part of the trial. And I doubt the spire will allow us to wander aimlessly."
Ling Li scanned their surroundings, noting how the pathways shimmered faintly. Some glowed brighter than others, while others seemed to flicker as if unstable. "The paths aren't random," he observed. "There's a pattern here. The spire is testing something… but I can't tell what yet."
He opened the book again, hoping for guidance. The pages shifted once more, their symbols rearranging into a new diagram. This time, it was a map of the labyrinth, but it was incomplete—parts of it were blurred, while others glowed with faint outlines.
"This might help," Ling Li said, showing the book to the others.
Elder Yun studied it carefully. "It's showing us part of the maze, but it's fragmented. We'll have to uncover the rest ourselves."
"Great," Shan Mei said with a sigh, drawing her blade. "And let me guess—this place is probably crawling with traps and who knows what else."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed from one of the passages. The sound was deep and guttural, vibrating through the walls. Shadows shifted at the far end of the corridor, revealing several glowing eyes staring back at them.
"Wonderful," Shan Mei muttered, raising her sword.
The creatures emerged from the darkness—hulking beasts with twisted, sinewy bodies and claws that scraped against the stone. Their faces were featureless, save for their glowing eyes and mouths full of jagged teeth.
"Shadow Wretches," Elder Yun said grimly. "Creatures born from the spire's essence. They're relentless and almost impossible to kill."
"Almost?" Shan Mei asked, already stepping into a defensive stance.
Elder Yun nodded. "Destroy their cores. They're the source of their power. But finding them…"
"...is the hard part," Ling Li finished, already preparing for battle.
The Shadow Wretches charged, their movements unnaturally fast for creatures of their size. Shan Mei was the first to react, her blade slicing through the air in a precise arc. She aimed for the closest wretch, her blade biting into its flesh. The creature screeched but didn't fall; instead, it retaliated with a swipe of its massive claws, forcing her to leap back.
"They're tougher than they look!" she called out.
Ling Li focused his energy, channeling the faint power he had gained from the first trial. The book in his hands reacted, glowing brighter as it fed him fragments of knowledge. He reached out with his mind, searching for the creatures' weaknesses.
"There!" he shouted, pointing at the center of one wretch's chest. A faint glow pulsed beneath its shadowy skin—the core.
Shan Mei didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her blade piercing the glowing spot. The wretch let out a deafening scream before disintegrating into black smoke.
"One down!" she said, a faint grin on her face.
But the victory was short-lived. More growls echoed through the labyrinth, and new shadows began to form along the walls.
"We can't stay here," Elder Yun said urgently. "They'll keep coming. We need to move."
Ling Li studied the map in the book again, his mind racing. "This way," he said, leading them down one of the glowing paths.
The labyrinth seemed alive, its walls shifting and closing behind them as they ran. The wretches pursued them relentlessly, their growls growing louder with each passing moment.
"Ling Li, are you sure this is the right way?" Shan Mei called out, slashing at another wretch that had gotten too close.
"It's the only way!" he shouted back, though doubt crept into his voice. The map in the book was changing as they moved, new paths appearing while others vanished. It was as if the spire itself was testing his ability to adapt and think under pressure.
Elder Yun suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing as he pointed to an archway ahead. "That's not part of the maze."
The archway shimmered with a golden light, its intricate carvings similar to those on the book. Beyond it was a small chamber, its center occupied by a pedestal holding a glowing crystal.
"It's a waypoint," Elder Yun said. "A safe zone. If we can reach it, we'll be able to regroup."
"Then let's move!" Shan Mei urged, cutting down another wretch as they sprinted toward the archway.
As they crossed into the chamber, the wretches stopped at the threshold, their glowing eyes watching but not stepping forward. It was as if an invisible barrier protected the room.
Ling Li collapsed against the wall, catching his breath. "Safe… for now," he panted.
Shan Mei leaned on her blade, her expression grim. "That was too close. And we're not even halfway through this trial."
Elder Yun approached the pedestal, examining the glowing crystal. "This is more than just a safe zone," he said. "The spire is giving us something."
Ling Li stood and joined him, studying the crystal. As he reached out to touch it, a voice echoed in his mind—the same voice from before.
"The second truth lies ahead. But the path you take will determine what you gain… and what you lose."
The crystal dissolved into light, its energy flowing into Ling Li. He felt a surge of clarity, as if his mind had expanded. New symbols appeared in the book, revealing more of the labyrinth's map. But alongside the knowledge came a warning:
The next trial will demand more than strength or sacrifice. It will test the very bonds that hold you together.
Ling Li glanced at Shan Mei and Elder Yun. The three of them were united in their goal, but he couldn't ignore the shadow of doubt creeping into his mind. What price would the spire demand next?
And would they be willing to pay it?