The newly revealed passage stretched into the dark, its walls lined with faintly glowing crystals that pulsed in time with the shard. Ryan led the way, his halberd resting on his shoulder, while Mia and Lily followed closely behind. The air grew warmer as they descended, a stark contrast to the chill of the crypt above.
"Anyone else getting the feeling we're walking into a trap?" Mia asked, her voice breaking the silence.
Ryan smirked. "It wouldn't be fun if we weren't."
Lily clutched her pendant tightly, her gaze focused ahead. "The light from these crystals feels... different. Almost alive."
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling lost in shadows. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings depicting radiant figures locked in battle against shadowy foes. At the center of the room stood a raised platform, surrounded by six towering statues. Each statue held a different weapon: a sword, a bow, a staff, a shield, a dagger, and a halberd.
A notification appeared:
[New Objective: Activate the Statues to Unseal the Hall]
Ryan approached the platform cautiously, the shard pulsing faster in his hand. "Looks like we need to activate these statues," he said. "But I'm guessing it's not as simple as flipping a switch."
As if in response, the room rumbled, and shadows began to coalesce at the edges of the chamber. Figures emerged, their glowing eyes fixed on the group.
[Enemies Spawned: Echo Wraiths – HP: 300/300 each]
"Guess we're doing this the hard way," Mia said, already nocking an arrow.
The wraiths surged forward, their movements fluid and erratic. Ryan swung his halberd in a wide arc, activating [Radiant Sweep]. The burst of light energy cut through the first wave, dispersing several wraiths instantly.
[Damage Dealt: 200 HP to all enemies](Wraiths Defeated: 5)
Lily cast [Sanctuary], creating a protective zone around the platform. "Stay close!" she called, her magic bolstering the group's defenses.
Mia loosed a flurry of arrows, each one glowing as it struck its target. "These things are fast," she muttered, her movements precise despite the chaos.
The shard pulsed brightly, and a notification appeared:
[Statue Activation: Radiant Halberd – Complete]
One of the statues began to glow, its weapon radiating light that spread across the chamber. The wraiths recoiled, their forms flickering as the light touched them.
"Looks like taking these things out powers the statues," Ryan said, charging at the nearest group of wraiths. He activated [Courage Strike (Enhanced)], his halberd glowing as it cleaved through multiple enemies.
[Damage Dealt: 150 HP to each enemy]
(Wraiths Defeated: 3)
The second statue, holding a sword, began to glow, its light merging with the first. The combined radiance pushed the shadows further back, but more wraiths emerged from the darkness.
"They're not giving up," Lily said, her hands glowing as she cast [Radiant Barrier] around Mia. "Stay covered!"
Mia nodded, firing a radiant arrow at a wraith approaching Lily. The projectile struck true, dispersing the shadowy figure.
[Damage Dealt: 300 HP]
(Wraith Defeated)
As the battle continued, the remaining statues began to activate one by one. Each time a statue lit up, the chamber grew brighter, and the wraiths became more frantic in their attacks. Ryan activated [Lightforged Strike (Enhanced)], cutting through a particularly large wraith and clearing a path to the final statue.
[Damage Dealt: 400 HP]
(Wraith Defeated)
When the last statue activated, the room was bathed in blinding light. The wraiths let out a collective shriek before dissolving into the air. A notification appeared:
[Trial Complete: Hall of Echoes Cleared]
[Rewards: +3 Skill Points, Echo Pendant Unlocked]
Ryan leaned on his halberd, catching his breath. "That wasn't so bad," he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Mia raised an eyebrow. "Speak for yourself."
Lily approached the now-glowing platform, where a small pedestal had risen from the center. On it rested a shimmering pendant.
[Echo Pendant Stats and Abilities]
Passive Effect: Echo Resonance – Enhances the effectiveness of teamwork-based skills, increasing their potency by 10%.
Active Skill: Echo Strike – Channels the energy of nearby allies to deliver a powerful attack, with damage scaling based on the number of allies present.
Ryan picked up the pendant, inspecting its intricate design. "Looks like this is meant to keep us working together," he said, slipping it into his inventory.
He opened his skill menu, allocating his newly earned points:
[Skill Upgrade: Resonant Blade (Enhanced)] – Increases damage output and adds a lingering damage-over-time effect.
[New Skill Unlocked: Blinding Radiance] – Creates a burst of light that stuns all enemies within a 10-meter radius.
As the skills locked into place, the shard pulsed again, brighter than before. A doorway appeared at the far end of the chamber, its frame glowing with a soft, inviting light.
"Guess we keep moving," Ryan said, gripping his halberd tightly.
Mia sighed but followed. "Hopefully, the next room doesn't involve more wraiths."
Lily smiled faintly. "If it does, at least we're ready."
The trio stepped through the doorway, the light enveloping them as they moved deeper into the unknown.