The Last Stage of the Maze

Back with the knights in the maze...

The final stage of the maze stretched before them like a grand arena.

Sunlight speared through cracks in the ancient stone maze, casting jagged patterns across the knights' battered armor.

Sweat gleamed on Kael's face as he raised a fist, halting the group at the mouth of the final chamber.

Before them stretched a vast arena of weathered stone, its walls pocked with shadowy alcoves.

Combat dummies—crude iron constructs shaped like armored warriors—stood motionless in rows, their hollow eyes staring.

Above, magically reinforced beams creaked, hinting at the falling wall traps embedded in the ceiling.

Kael was the first to speak. "This will be our most difficult trial yet, but it's also our final one. We know how these dummies operate, but the wolves… they're unpredictable. We'll need precision, adaptability, and above all, unity."