Kaia and his weary group pressed forward, trudging through the corridor until another massive door loomed before them. "Here we go again," Emily said, her head drooping. "Enter, the Second Trial begins," the mysterious voice echoed through the hallway. The door creaked open, and the group had no choice but to comply. Once everyone was inside, the door slammed shut. Unsure of what new monsters awaited, they gripped their weapons tightly, on high alert. "Everyone, stay together!" Kaia shouted. Suddenly, a spiraling staircase appeared, stretching toward the ceiling. Then, the floor began to ooze scorching lava. Realizing the danger, the group bolted for the stairs. "What kind of trap is this now?" Feigo grumbled as he ran. "Quit complaining and move!" Nohua urged. The group scrambled up the staircase, thinking the trap was manageable—until a swarm of giant venomous bees swooped in from all directions, attacking the climbers. Some were knocked off the stairs, plummeting into the lava below with fleeting screams before vanishing into the molten sea. "Damn it, we need to take these things out!" Kaia muttered, slashing at the bees with his holy sword as he ran, sending a few spiraling into the lava. But their numbers were overwhelming, and his efforts alone were like a drop in the bucket. Emily and Judo unleashed magical attacks on the swarm, and other magic-wielding warriors joined in, fighting back while climbing.Those stung by the bees turned purple, spat black blood, and died instantly. The staircase seemed endless, and the group's exhaustion slowed their pace. At this rate, they'd be whittled down. Kaia ordered Emily to cast a protective shield spell while he covered her. Emily nodded and began chanting. Soon, a massive transparent barrier enveloped the entire staircase, keeping the bees at bay as they buzzed helplessly outside. "This spell's drained half my mana. I can't hold it long—everyone, hurry!" Emily shouted. The group surged forward, sprinting toward the top. After seven or eight grueling minutes, they reached a new entrance at the summit. One by one, they escaped the lower chamber. Exhausted, Emily collapsed as she ended the spell. "Good work, Emily. Let's rest for a bit. We should be safe now," Kaia said, comforting her. "Let's check the casualties," Judo added. After a headcount, only 280 remained—dozens more comrades lost. "When will these trials end? I'm so tired I can barely stand," Feigo gasped. "Right now, all we can do is keep moving with the group. One step at a time," Naan replied, equally breathless.After resting for half an hour, the group rose to continue their journey. They explored the new corridor until they reached another massive door. The voice resounded again: "The Third Trial begins." The door opened, and after readying their gear, the group stepped inside.Deep within the Demon Palace, Emperor Ba and Mino watched the heroes' grim struggle. "Just a bunch of rookies. They're already crumbling under His Majesty's little side show. No wonder they were wiped out by Lady Enis," Mino said with a laugh. Emperor Ba remained silent, his eyes fixed on the magical screen.
