The Black Crown floated above the platform, its dark aura now filling the entire chamber. The team stepped forward, knowing this would be the most dangerous trial yet. The platform itself began to shift and rotate, each segment glowing with pulsating runes and emitting sharp beams of light.
> Neros: Everyone, this is it… one wrong step, and the crown's defense will strike. Stay focused.
> Lantos (studying the glowing patterns): The sequences are complex. Each beam and rune corresponds to a precise movement. One misstep, and the platform will punish us immediately.
> Ranor (nervously): Great… it's like a giant, deadly puzzle.
> Silver: Focus. Step by step. Eyes sharp.
> Petros (grinning): Ha! Finally, a real test. Let's see who falters first.
The team carefully analyzed the platform. Pulsing beams of light shifted rhythmically, and pressure plates activated in patterns.
> Neros: I'll lead the front. Ranor, mirror my movements exactly. Lantos, guide the timing. Silver, guard the edges. Petros, watch our rear.
> Lantos: Follow the crown's pulse. Each beam is a signal. Synchronize or we fail.
They began advancing:
Neros stepped confidently, timing each movement with the glowing runes.
Ranor followed, adjusting with every subtle shift in the platform.
Silver moved fluidly along the edges, deflecting minor hazards.
Lantos shouted corrections, anticipating the next dangerous pulse.
Petros reacted instantly to falling debris and sudden spikes.
> Ranor: Left! Now!
> Neros: Perfect! Keep moving!
> Lantos: Adjust! The beams are shifting faster—stay in sync!
Suddenly, a section of the platform began to tilt violently, sending a wave of light beams towards the team. Quick thinking and perfect timing were required to avoid being struck.
> Silver: Move as one! Step together!
> Petros: I've got this! Watch your backs!
Step by step, with nerves of steel and flawless coordination, the team crossed the treacherous platform. The beams dimmed, the runes stabilized, and the platform aligned perfectly with the crown, revealing a solid path forward.
> Neros (breathing heavily): That was… too close. But we made it.
> Ranor: The crown… it's almost within reach. I can feel its power.
> Lantos: This was the ultimate test of precision and teamwork. One trial closer to the crown itself.
> Silver: The platform bends to those who can think and act as one. That's what we just proved.
> Petros: Good. I was hoping for a real challenge, and this didn't disappoint.
The team paused at the edge of the platform, the Black Crown hovering just above them, its dark aura vibrating with energy. They were closer than ever—but they all knew that the most decisive trial, the one that would determine who truly deserved the crown, awaited them.