Chapter 79: The Final Trial

As Luke, Ava, Lila, and Jake stepped through the glowing doorway, they entered a vast chamber unlike anything they'd seen in the labyrinth. The space was circular, surrounded by towering walls of shimmering crystal. At the center of the room stood a large stone pedestal, and atop it sat a radiant gem, pulsing with light and energy that filled the room with a low, resonant hum.

The four friends felt the power radiating from the gem; it was overwhelming yet strangely inviting, as if it called to something deep within each of them. They shared a glance, each understanding that this was it—the final challenge, the heart of the labyrinth they'd been seeking.