The icy hall seemed to pulse with the crown's energy. After surviving their personal illusions, the team now faced the next trial—a challenge that would test their cooperation and coordination. The Black Crown hovered on its platform, its dark aura casting long shadows across the walls.
> Neros: Everyone, focus. This isn't just about individual skill anymore. This trial will test us as a team.
> Lantos (pointing at the symbols on the walls): The patterns indicate simultaneous actions. Every step, every motion must be synchronized, or the mechanism will reset—or worse.
> Ranor: Synchronized actions? Like… a dance?
> Silver: Exactly. One misstep, and we all pay the price. Keep your eyes open.
> Petros (grinning): Ha! Now we see who can keep up. Let's move.
The platform beneath the crown began to split into several rotating segments, each with a combination of pressure plates and glowing runes. Any wrong step could trigger spikes, falling ice, or swinging blades.
> Neros: Alright, here's the plan. I'll lead the front path. Ranor, follow my sequence and signal the next move. Lantos, guide the timings. Silver, cover our flanks. Petros, protect the rear.
> Lantos: Everyone, watch the rhythm of the rotating segments. Each pulse of the crown corresponds to a safe window. Step outside the rhythm, and the traps activate.
> Ranor: Got it… rhythm and coordination.
> Silver: Eyes sharp. Everyone ready?
> Petros: Always ready. Let's do this.
They advanced slowly, carefully stepping on the pressure plates and timing each move with the pulsing glow of the crown. Segments rotated unpredictably, and the air was filled with the sound of grinding stone and shifting ice.
> Ranor: Step left! Now!
> Neros: Perfect! Keep moving!
> Lantos: The timing is off by a fraction! Adjust your step now!
> Silver: Watch the flank! A spike's coming!
> Petros (charging to block a falling blade): Not today! Keep going!
Step by step, they navigated the rotating platform. Each successful synchronization made the segments shift more smoothly, almost as if the crown acknowledged their teamwork.
> Neros (breathing heavily): This is it… one more sequence and we're through.
> Ranor: I can feel it… the crown is responding to us!
> Lantos: Focus on the rhythm, not the danger. Move as one.
Finally, with a last coordinated step, the platform stabilized completely. The segments aligned perfectly, forming a solid path directly to the crown. Its dark energy pulsed, stronger than ever, as if nodding in approval.
> Silver: We did it. Together. That's what it takes.
> Petros: Hah! And I loved every second of it.
> Ranor (smiling, exhausted): We're actually… ready. I can feel it.
> Neros: The path to the crown is open, but remember—we've only passed one trial of many. The hardest challenges are still ahead.
The team stood at the edge of the stable platform, hearts pounding, fully aware that the Black Crown had begun to respect their unity, but the ultimate trial—the one that would determine who was worthy—was still to come.