Veil's breath was still shallow as he opened his eyes. The warmth of Alynia's hand on his shoulder reminded him where he was. Alynia (firm, but not harsh): "Get up, Pup. We're not done yet." He sat up slowly, his muscles heavy and aching, as if waking from an exhausting dream. His head spun, and his legs trembled with each step. He leaned against the nearest wall, taking deep breaths to steady the dizziness. Veil (hoarse voice): "What... what happened?" Alynia (scanning their surroundings): "You gave it everything you had, Pup. That much is obvious. But if you drag your feet, this dungeon will eat you alive. Move it!" He nodded, grimacing, and forced himself to follow Alynia. Every step was a struggle, every movement a battle against his weary muscles. But he kept going. Veil (thinking, with a hint of satisfaction): "She stayed by my side. She could've just left me behind." Before them lay a vast circular room bathed in dim light. Massive black marble columns, etched with ancient symbols, stretched upward to a vaulted ceiling. The air was dry and eerily still. The floor, made of grayish tiles, was marked with golden lines forming an immense circular pattern. Alynia (eyes fixed on the room's center): "The Temple of Judgment. And believe me, that name's no accident." They moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing softly. A heavy presence filled the room, as if something unseen was watching them. Veil (muttering): "I don't like this..." He kept his hands close to his sides, ready to summon mana at the first sign of danger. Alynia (scrutinizing the room): "Of course not. No one likes being judged. This place won't test your strength or speed. Here, they'll test our worth." A deep resonance rippled through the room. The golden lines on the floor began to glow with a brilliant light. The columns trembled as unfamiliar symbols illuminated along their surfaces. Alynia (shouting): "Move!" She grabbed Veil by the arm and yanked him backward. A massive blade of light materialized in the center of the room, slamming into the floor with surgical precision. Veil tumbled awkwardly to the ground, his trembling arms barely holding him up. Veil (panting): "Traps?! Now it's light blades?!" Alynia (barking): "Focus, Pup! Look at the symbols! You want to die here? Move your legs!" The blades of light struck in succession, slicing through the room with predictable movements. Alynia dodged each strike with precision, her eyes locked on the rhythm of the symbols on the floor. Alynia (yelling): "Look at the golden patterns! They show where the next blade will strike!" Veil (shouting): "I see it! Right, then left!" They danced between the blades, dodging the luminous strikes that seemed intent on trapping them. Veil stumbled twice but caught himself each time, his breath ragged, sweat dripping from his forehead. Veil (shouting): "Alynia! We can do this!" Alynia (smirking): "Don't lose focus! You're about to find out what surviving the Temple of Judgment feels like!" The strikes grew faster and more unpredictable. The floor quaked with each impact. Veil's legs burned with exhaustion, but he refused to falter. His concentration was absolute. Then, it stopped. The trembling floor stilled. The light blades vanished in a final flash. The golden light on the tiles dimmed, leaving only a faint glow. Alynia placed her hands on her knees, panting heavily. Veil (breathing hard): "Did... did we do it?" Alynia (straightening, determination in her gaze): "Yeah... but that was just the first trial." In the center of the room, a pillar of light slowly rose from the ground. Floating above it was a crystalline blue sphere, pulsing with a gentle, mysterious energy. Veil (fixing his eyes on the sphere): "Looks like the Temple is offering us a reward..."