Episode 27:
The first light of dawn painted the Sigiriya rock in fiery gold, but the jungle around it whispered secrets older than time. Alok's heart pounded as he adjusted the cracked pendant, now glowing faintly in rhythm with his pulse.
"Chains of eternity… hidden within… survive…"
He glanced at his friends Rihan, cautious but determined, and two others who had agreed to follow him into the unknown. Together, they approached the fortress.
Entering the Labyrinth
The entrance was hidden behind a thick curtain of vines. The pendant pulsed, guiding Alok's steps. As they moved deeper, the forest faded, replaced by carved stone steps and intricate mosaics etched into the walls. Symbols similar to those in his father's secret room glowed faintly, responding to the pendant's presence.
"This place… it's alive," Rihan whispered.
Alok nodded. "Stay alert. Every step could be a trap."
Suddenly, a gust of wind extinguished the torches they had lit. Shadows twisted unnaturally. The pendant's glow flared, casting chains of light along the walls.
From the darkness, a whisper:
"He comes… chains awaken… mine to claim…"
Alok froze. The Extera's presence. They had followed him here.
First Trap
A stone floor panel shifted beneath their feet. Alok instinctively raised his hands chains erupted, wrapping around his friends to shield them as the floor cracked open, revealing a pit lined with spikes.
"Thanks…" Rihan gasped. "I… don't think I'd survive that."
The pendant pulsed stronger, revealing a faint path across the room, invisible to the eye but etched in magic. They followed, careful and silent, every step echoing through the stone corridors.
The Guardian Statues
Deeper inside, the labyrinth opened into a vast chamber. Stone statues lined the walls half-human, half-beast, eyes hollow yet watching. Alok's pendant vibrated violently.
"They're not just statues," Alok muttered. "They're waiting… for intruders."
Before they could react, the statues' eyes glowed, and they moved. Claws scraped the stone floor as they lunged. Chains and fire erupted from Alok's hands, holding them back while Rihan and the others dodged.
The room shook with battle the labyrinth itself seemed to test them, pushing Alok to learn control over his powers.
--- - -
A Glimpse of the Extera
Through a shadowed corridor, Alok caught sight of the Extera eyes glowing, tendrils writhing, watching from afar. It did not attack yet. It was studying him, waiting for the perfect moment.
"It's learning… adapting… I can't let it catch us unprepared," Alok thought.
He led his friends forward, deeper into the fortress. The labyrinth was alive, each corridor twisting unnaturally, forcing them to rely on pendant guidance and instinct.
A Hidden Chamber
Finally, they reached a chamber sealed with ancient symbols. The pendant pulsed violently, projecting a holographic riddle in the air:
"Chains awaken where shadow meets flame. Only the worthy may step through."
Alok realized they were not just navigating a physical labyrinth, but a test of wit, courage, and power.
Rihan whispered nervously: "Do you… think we're ready for this?"
Alok clenched his fists, chains wrapping around him like armor:
"We don't have a choice. We survive. We fight. And we uncover the truth no matter what waits at the end."
Outside, in the shadows, the Extera's eyes glimmered. The hunt had only just begun.