They stood on a giant circular stone floor. Intricately carved patterns shimmered faintly, as if ancient energy flowed from within. All around, there were no walls, no proper sky—just an endless expanse of black. Cracks of golden light stretched across their heads, forming an unstable, broken sky.
Lyra swallowed. "What is this place…?"
Orion crouched down, examining the carved floor. "This is an arena. And look at the patterns—they look like mechanisms. Not just decoration."
Ares stepped into the center of the circle. As soon as his soles touched the triangular symbol, the pattern glowed brighter. Suddenly, the system's voice echoed.
[Harmony Test Begins.]
[Instructions: Four souls must move in unison, according to the pattern.]
[Failure three times means elimination.]
Ryn raised her hand. "By elimination does… do you mean death? Or do we return to the main menu?"
No answer.
Ares held his breath, staring at the other patterns scattered across the floor: circles, squares, and stars. "We have to stand on each symbol. One at a time."
They immediately split up. Orion took the circle, Lyra took the star, Ryn took the square. The light from the symbols converged, forming a glowing line toward the center of the arena.
[The first step was successful.]
The next pattern appeared, a rapidly branching line. This time they had to move to different points—and in an instant, the floor shook, signaling their time limit.
"Quick!" Ares shouted. He ran to a new triangle symbol, while Orion shifted to another circle. Lyra almost missed the star, but Ryn lost her position.
[First mistake. Two chances left.]
Ryn raised her hands. "Okay, okay! It was my fault! The pattern is similar, I swear! I thought it was a square, but it's a rhombus!"
Orion took a deep breath. "Focus. We can't fail again."
—
The second step began. This time the symbols appeared further away, on the sides of the arena. They had to move quickly, but also in sync.
Ares took the lead, giving a quick command. "Three… two… one… now!"
The four of them moved in unison. Their steps landed on their respective symbols at the exact same time. Light shot into the air, forming a golden pillar.
[The second step was successful.]
But the next pattern was more complicated: the symbols spun, moving across the floor like living chess pieces.
"This is crazy," Lyra hissed. "How are we supposed to catch up if the symbols aren't still?"
"With timing," Ares replied curtly. He stared at his triangular symbol floating across the arena. "Follow the signal. Don't move until I say so."
They waited. The seconds felt long. The symbols moved, approaching.
"Now!" Ares shouted.
The four of them ran in unison, jumping onto their symbols just as they shifted. As soon as their feet touched, the floor shook violently.
[The third step was successful.]
Ryn laughed with relief. "Okay, that was really cool. Seriously, we look like a boy band in sync!"
Lyra sighed. "Don't joke around now…"
—
Before they could catch their breath, the floor shook again. From the edge of the arena, shadows seeped out, forming the shapes of black wolves with glowing red eyes. Five tails, sharp teeth gleaming, their fur like solid smoke.
[Intruder detected.]
[Maintain synchronization while repelling the threat.]
Ares tensed. "So we don't just have to follow the pattern… but also fight them."
The first wolf leaped, and Orion cut it in half. But the shadows coalesced again.
"Seriously? They can't die?!" Ryn shouted.
Lyra fired blue magic, pushing the other wolves back. "We just need to hold them off, not finish them off!"
Ares growled. "Okay, focus on the pattern. The wolves are just a distraction."
A new symbol flashed, shifting again. Ares ran first. "Follow the signal!"
The other three moved, even though they had to fend off the wolves along the way.
[The fourth move was successful.]
But the number of wolves increased, now there were ten, surrounding them.
The arena was becoming increasingly chaotic. One more mistake could mean elimination.
The last symbol lit up, moving swiftly to the side of the arena. Ares glanced at his three friends, who were beginning to struggle under the onslaught of shadow wolves.
"Focus! This is the decisive move!" he shouted.
A wolf leaped straight at Ryn, its mouth wide open. Orion swiftly slashed at it, but the shadows regrouped, sneaking up to attack again.
"We can't keep doing this!" Ryn shouted, her face pale. "If I move toward the symbol, the wolf will hit me first!"
Lyra fired a blast of blue magic, creating a thin wall of ice blocking the wolf's path. "Don't mind them! Follow Ares's command!"
Ares drew his sword, his eyes sweeping the arena. His triangle symbol moved across, while Orion's circle slid to the left, Ryn's square back, and Lyra's star moved directly toward the wolf-infested area.
Time was short. Ares's heartbeat echoed in his ears. He knew one more mistake could mean the end.
"Three… two… one—NOW!"
They ran in unison.
The wolf charged, fangs aimed at Lyra. But Orion leaped aside, slashing at the shadow, though his body nearly fell out of the arena. Ryn was forced to slide and roll, barely reaching the symbol.
Ares struck the wolf that tried to block him with a glowing sword. The shadow's body dispersed momentarily, giving him enough space to step onto the final symbol.
As soon as all four stepped together—
[Final step successful. Harmony Test complete.]
The arena shook violently. Golden light exploded from the symbols, engulfing the shadow wolf and obliterating it instantly. All four were gasping for breath, sweat pouring down their faces, but their bodies remained standing.
Ryn fell to her knees. "Oh my God… I thought I really died. I swear, if this is a game, why does it feel more real than reality?"
Lyra wiped the sweat from her temples. "Because this isn't just a game anymore."
Orion stared at the center of the arena. From the remaining light, a golden path appeared, stretching straight ahead like a luminous bridge piercing the darkness.
Ares stared at the path for a long moment, his chest still heaving. "Looks like that's our next destination."
Their steps felt heavy, but the aura of the path was different—calm yet oppressive, as if something far greater awaited at the end.
[Trial Reward: The Golden Path opens.]
[Warning: Only those who step in unison can proceed.]
Ryn struggled to her feet. "So… we still have to be in sync? How long will it last? I can't even keep up with my own breathing."
Ares smiled faintly, though his face was weary. "If we can't walk together, we'll never get out of here."
The four of them stared at the golden path gleaming in the darkness, then exchanged glances.
One more step, towards a more difficult stage.