The glowing path twisted and turned, leading the group deeper into the shadowy forest. The blood-red sky above was obscured by gnarled branches, and the oppressive silence of the Maze returned, broken only by their cautious footsteps.
Emi's bracelet displayed 00:13:30. Each step felt like a race against time, yet every minute stretched endlessly, as though the Maze itself was toying with them.
"Keep moving," Emi urged, gripping the iron rod she'd scavenged earlier. "We don't know what's next, and we can't afford to stop."
Mika clung tightly to Emi's side, her small hand trembling in Emi's. The others followed closely, their expressions grim.
The scarred man muttered under his breath, his distrustful gaze darting toward the others. "I don't like this. It's too quiet. It's never quiet for long in this damn place."
"Maybe it's giving us a break," the boy said, though his shaky voice betrayed his hopefulness.
Rika scoffed. "This is the Maze. There's no such thing as a break."
"Enough," the older man interjected. "Focus on moving forward. Arguing will only waste time."
Emi glanced at her bracelet again. The seconds ticked away relentlessly. She felt the weight of leadership pressing down on her shoulders, heavier with each decision she made.
The path abruptly ended at the mouth of a massive cavern. Jagged rocks jutted out like teeth, and a cold wind howled from within, carrying faint whispers that sent shivers down their spines.
"Of course," the scarred man muttered. "Because walking through a haunted forest wasn't bad enough."
Emi stepped forward cautiously, peering into the darkness. A faint glow emanated from deep within, flickering like a distant flame.
"The path continues inside," Emi said. "We don't have a choice."
Mika tightened her grip on Emi's hand. "Do we have to go in there?"
"Yes," Emi said gently. "But we'll stick together. I won't let anything happen to you."
As they entered the cavern, the air grew colder, and the whispers grew louder. The walls were lined with strange symbols that glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows.
"What are those?" the boy asked, pointing to the symbols.
Rika studied them closely. "They look like runes. Maybe they're part of some ancient magic."
"Magic or not, I don't like it," the scarred man said.
The older man ran his fingers over one of the symbols, and a sudden pulse of light shot through the cavern. The ground beneath them trembled, and a deep rumbling echoed around them.
"What did you do?" Rika snapped.
"I didn't mean to!" the older man said, stepping back.
The ground split open, and a chasm appeared before them. A series of floating platforms stretched across the gap, each one glowing faintly. On the other side of the chasm was a massive stone door, covered in intricate carvings.
A distorted voice filled the cavern, echoing ominously.
"The path forward lies across the Divide of Trust. Step wisely, for only those with unwavering faith in their bonds will reach the other side. Doubt will lead to your fall."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"Divide of Trust?" the boy whispered. "What does that mean?"
"It means we have to cross," Emi said. "And we can't hesitate."
The scarred man snorted. "Easy for you to say. What happens if the platforms disappear under us?"
"Then we fall," Rika said bluntly. "But standing here won't solve anything. Let's move."
"I'll go first," Emi said, stepping onto the nearest platform. It wobbled slightly but held her weight. She took a deep breath and stepped onto the next one.
"See? It's fine as long as we stay calm," she called back.
Mika was the next to step forward, holding tightly to Emi's hand. The platform wobbled again, but Mika's small frame barely affected its balance.
"Come on," Emi urged the others.
The boy followed hesitantly, his legs shaking with each step. "I-I don't like this," he muttered.
"You're doing fine," Emi said, offering him a reassuring smile.
The older man went next, his movements steady and deliberate. "The platforms seem to respond to our confidence," he observed.
"That explains the 'trust' part," Rika said, stepping onto the first platform.
The scarred man lingered at the edge, his face twisted in frustration. "This is ridiculous."
"You're wasting time," Emi called out. "The timer's still running!"
Growling under his breath, the scarred man finally stepped onto the platform. It wobbled violently, as though rejecting him.
"Stay calm," Emi said. "You have to believe it'll hold."
"Believe?" he snapped. "This is just a stupid game!"
The platform beneath him cracked slightly, and the scarred man froze. The others watched in horror as the cracks began to spread.
"Jump to the next one!" Emi shouted.
With a grunt, he leaped to the next platform, which stabilized under his weight.
The group continued their cautious journey across the chasm. Each step felt like an eternity, the tension in the air palpable.
When they finally reached the other side, the stone door loomed before them. It was covered in carvings of interlocking hands, and in the center was a circular indentation.
"What now?" Rika asked.
Emi studied the door. "It looks like it needs something to open. A key, maybe?"
"The stones!" the boy exclaimed. "The ones we picked earlier!"
The group retrieved their stones and placed them in the indentation, one by one. When the final stone clicked into place, the door rumbled and began to open.
Beyond it was a narrow corridor bathed in a faint golden light. At the end of the corridor stood another gate, this one marked with the words: Trial Complete.
"We made it," the boy said, his voice filled with relief.
"Not yet," Emi said, her bracelet catching her attention. 00:02:45.
"We have to reach the gate before the timer runs out."
The group sprinted down the corridor, their footsteps echoing loudly. The golden light grew brighter as they approached the gate, but so did the oppressive weight of the Maze's presence.
When they finally reached the gate, it swung open with a blinding flash of light.
They stumbled through, collapsing onto the ground as the timer hit 00:00:00.
The light faded, and the group found themselves in another white room, identical to the one they'd started in.
A soft chime rang out, and a voice announced, "Trial of Bonds complete. Reward distributed."
Emi's bracelet vibrated, and a notification appeared: +300 Coins.
She glanced around at the others, who were checking their own bracelets. Relief was written across their faces, but it was tempered by exhaustion and wariness.
"We survived," the older man said, his voice filled with quiet gratitude.
"For now," Rika said. "But the next trial will be worse."
Emi nodded. She knew the Maze wasn't finished with them yet. This was just the beginning.
As the walls of the room began to shift again, Emi braced herself. The Maze had tested their bonds, but she couldn't shake the feeling that their unity was fragile.
The next trial would push them even further—and the price of failure would only grow steeper.