As soon as they entered the next room, a thick mist rose from the ground, enveloping them in a dense, whitish shroud. Veil squinted, but this time, sight wasn't the issue. Veil (sniffing the air): "It smells weird..." He sniffed again, wrinkling his nose. Veil (internal thought): What is that? It smells like... Alynia (gritting her teeth): "Wilted flowers and... sulfur." She raised a hand to her face, her ears flattening against her head. Her nose twitched uncontrollably. Alynia (grimacing): "Damn... it's disgusting..." Veil (worried): "Can you handle it?" Alynia (tense voice): "I don't have a choice... But hurry up, this smell is driving me crazy." Her pupils were slightly constricted, a sign of her struggle against her heightened senses. Veil (looking around): "What's the trial this time? Do we have to figure out where it's coming from?" He turned in circles, arms raised, trying to feel the air, but without success. Alynia (focused gaze): "Smell. We have to identify the scent that doesn't belong." Alynia (pressing voice): "Move, Pup. Find that damn scent." Veil inhaled deeply again. This time, he closed his eyes and focused on each scent note. Veil (concentrated): "Pine... lilac... vanilla..." His nose wrinkled. Veil (frowning): "But this... No, this isn't natural." He pointed toward the direction of the metallic smell. Veil (serious): "We go that way." They moved forward cautiously, their feet sliding over the damp floor. The closer they got, the stronger and sharper the scent became, until Veil felt his throat tighten. Veil (coughing): "Damn... It reeks of burnt metal!" He covered his nose with his arm. Alynia (grimacing in pain): "I hate this... It's unbearable." Her breathing quickened, and every breath seemed to sting. A slow, steady scraping sound echoed, like claws dragging against stone. Veil (freezing): "Did you hear that?" Alynia (ears perked): "Yeah. Up ahead." She shook her head, trying to focus despite the overwhelming scent. Alynia (low voice): "Don't move, and above all... be quick." A ragged breath escaped from the mist. Two red points pierced the fog a few meters away. Alynia (whispering): "Pup... slowly... step back." Her muscles tensed like a drawn bowstring. He obeyed carefully, but his foot slipped on the damp floor, producing a sharp scraping noise. The growl intensified, and a creature lunged out of the mist. The beast resembled a feline, but its black, glossy skin looked as if it were coated in tar. Its claws were long and razor-sharp, and its red eyes gleamed with a predatory intelligence. Veil (shielding himself): "Shit!" Alynia reacted in a flash. She dashed forward, rolled, and struck the creature with her dagger. Alynia (grimacing): "Its skin is too tough!" The creature turned its head toward her, jaws open, revealing fangs dripping with a viscous fluid. Veil (panicked, eyes wide): "That thing's armored! What do we do?!" "Focus on the smell!" Alynia shouted, her pupils contracted from pain and instinct. It's the source of the metallic scent! Her voice was rougher now, almost animalistic—her wolf instincts taking over in the face of danger. Veil (fixing his gaze on the creature, eyebrows furrowed): "The smell is the key, huh? Then we need to..." He grabbed a stone from the ground, his eyes sharp and calculating, and hurled it with all his strength towards the creature. The rock cut through the mist and crashed onto the ground further away. The noise caught the beast's attention, and it whipped around abruptly, its glowing red eyes locking onto the source of the sound. Veil (exhaling in surprise): "It works! It reacts to sound!" Alynia (her eyes squinting from pain and focus): "Perfect!" She pulled a small vial from her belt and hurled it to the ground with a sharp motion. The vial shattered with the sound of breaking glass, and a thick white smoke spread around them. Alynia (yelling through the haze): "Find that scent, Pup! I can't stay here forever!" She lunged at the creature again, dodging its claw strikes with feline agility. Her movements were precise and controlled, but every strike she made was only to keep it at bay. Meanwhile, Veil focused. He blocked out the chaos of the battle and closed his eyes, his senses fully heightened. Veil (internal thought, breathing slowly): Lilac, pine... vanilla... but there... there's something else. His eyes snapped open, sharp and determined. Veil (decisively): "There!" He sprang to his feet and followed the trail of gunpowder-like scent he had just detected. His movements were swift yet calculated. His eyes scanned the walls until he spotted a small alcove. Inside, he found an intricately carved stone mechanism. Veil (shouting): "It's here! There's a lever!" Alynia (gritting her teeth): "Pull it!" She dodged another swipe from the beast, bending just in time to evade the attack. Alynia (yelling): "Move it, Pup!" Veil grabbed the lever with both hands and pulled with all his might. His muscles strained, teeth clenched, and after a moment of resistance, the lever shifted with a grinding mechanical noise. A deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The mist gradually dissipated, carried away by a draft coming from the walls. The creature let out a piercing shriek, its body convulsing as if struck by an invisible force. It staggered back, visibly weakened, before dissolving into a cloud of black smoke. A heavy silence filled the room. Alynia fell to her knees, panting but alive. Alynia (wiping her forehead): "Damn… That was too close." Veil approached her, extending his hand. Veil (still catching his breath): "Yeah… but we did it." Alynia looked up at him and, after a moment, gave a faint smile. She took his hand and stood up slowly. Alynia (patting his shoulder): "We're done with the smell, Pup." She cast her gaze toward the far end of the room, where a large stone door was slowly opening, revealing a dark corridor beyond. Alynia (looking toward the door, eyes resolute): "Let's move on to the next one."