Kaelen knelt beside Eldric, his hands pressing against his battered chest, trying to circulate whatever little mana he had left into his friend's body.
"Come on, Eldric... Wake up."
Lila was beside him, her ice magic forming a protective layer around Eldric's wounds to slow his deterioration. Kelvin and Magnus stood nearby, alert but silent, their expressions grim.
Eldric's eyelids twitched. A faint, weak breath escaped him.
Then—
A deep rumbling echoed through the area.
Everyone's heads snapped up.
Not far from them, a glowing passage materialized out of thin air. A massive archway of ancient stone rose from the cracked earth, shimmering with a golden hue that seemed almost... inviting.
It was unmistakable.
"That must be the entrance to the next trial," Magnus muttered.
"So it really isn't over yet..." Lila whispered.
Kaelen clenched his fists. Of course, it wasn't over.
But just as they were about to decide their next move—
"G-Go..."
