As the group prepared to advance toward the next path, Sophie turned to Keeper. "Wait… what about the villagers? They're still with us, and they've barely recovered."
Keeper's expression darkened. "The villagers are a part of this trial now. If they lose hope, they'll be consumed by the core's influence again. We must keep them safe."
Ricky glanced back at the frightened villagers, many of whom looked weak and confused. "How are they supposed to survive this? They don't even know what's coming."
"They don't have to know," Sophie said softly. "We'll protect them. That's what matters."
Kieran grunted in agreement. "Fine, but if things get too dangerous, they need to stay behind. We can't risk losing everything because they can't keep up."
With the path ahead looming ominously, they pressed on, guiding the villagers through the barren landscape. The air grew colder, and an unnatural fog began to settle around them. The terrain shifted, becoming more unstable with every step.
"Stay close," Keeper warned, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "The third trial will force us to confront the future one that hasn't yet been written but can change based on our choices."
"Great," Kieran muttered. "So we're walking into a trial where we don't even know what we're up against."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a glowing archway appeared ahead. Strange symbols flickered across its surface, pulsing with an ominous light.
"This must be the entrance to the third trial," Sophie said, feeling a chill run down her spine.
Keeper stepped forward, placing his hand on the archway. "Once we cross, the future will reveal itself. Stay together, no matter what happens."
The moment they stepped through, everything around them changed. They were no longer in the barren wasteland. Instead, they stood in a city that appeared eerily familiar yet vastly different. Towering spires of advanced technology rose into the sky, but many of them were crumbling, as if a great disaster had struck.
"This… looks like the future of our world," Ricky said, his voice filled with dread.
"But why is it in ruins?" Sophie asked, her heart sinking. "Is this what's going to happen if we fail?"
Before Keeper could answer, a loud rumble echoed through the air. The group turned to see a massive wave of dark energy sweeping toward them, destroying everything in its path. The villagers screamed in terror.
"Move!" Kieran shouted. "We need to find shelter!"
They ran through the ruined streets, dodging falling debris and bursts of energy. The dark wave was gaining on them, its power threatening to consume everything in its path.
"Over here!" Keeper called out, leading them into a half-collapsed building. They huddled together, breathless and shaken.
"What was that?" Ricky asked, panting heavily.
Keeper's expression was grim. "That wave represents the collapse of time itself. If we can't stabilize the core, this is the future that awaits us complete annihilation."
"Then how do we stop it?" Sophie demanded, her eyes filled with determination.
"We have to reach the core of time," Keeper said. "But to do that, we need to overcome this trial. It's not just about facing a physical threat it's about proving that we have the will to shape a better future."
As the dark wave loomed closer, the group realized that they couldn't outrun it forever. They had to face it head-on, find a way to break through, and reach the core before it was too late. Would they have the strength to defy a future already set in motion or would they become just another echo of a world lost to time?