A sudden gust of wind swept through the grand hall, sending Mei Lin's hair flying as the floating orbs of light began to swirl around them. The Guardian stood at the far end, his golden eyes glowing with an eerie light.
"The Trial of the Vault will test your wisdom, strength, and resolve," he announced. "Only those who prove worthy may step forward."
Mei Lin steadied herself, gripping her pouch of medicinal powders. Li Sheng stood beside her, his sword drawn, eyes scanning for any sudden threats.
Without warning, the first challenge appeared. From the shadows, three stone guardians emerged—towering humanoid figures with glowing runes carved into their rocky bodies. They moved with surprising agility, their massive fists slamming into the ground, sending shockwaves toward Mei Lin and Li Sheng.
"Go left!" Mei Lin shouted, dodging a falling pillar.
Li Sheng leaped forward, his sword slicing through the air as he targeted the closest guardian. But as his blade struck, sparks flew—his weapon barely left a scratch.
"These things are enchanted!" he cursed.
Mei Lin quickly analyzed the glowing runes. If these creatures were moving, there had to be an energy source. The runes—those were the key!
"Li Sheng, aim for the runes on their chests!" she called out.
Nodding, Li Sheng adjusted his stance. The next time a guardian lunged at him, he dodged at the last second and drove his sword straight into the glowing mark on its chest. The guardian let out a deep, echoing groan before crumbling into dust.
"It worked!"
Mei Lin wasted no time. She pulled out a handful of explosive powder from her spatial pocket and flung it toward the remaining two guardians. The mixture ignited on contact, sending one of them stumbling backward, its rune flickering weakly.
"Now!" she yelled.
Li Sheng charged, delivering a precise strike to the second guardian's rune. It shattered instantly, dissolving into nothing. The third guardian, weakened by Mei Lin's explosion, collapsed under its own weight.
Silence fell over the hall.
The Guardian, still standing at the far end, nodded approvingly. "You have passed the Trial of Strength. But that was only the beginning."
Before Mei Lin could catch her breath, the walls of the vault shimmered again. Suddenly, they were no longer in the hall, but in a massive labyrinth of mirrors, each reflecting infinite versions of themselves.
"The Trial of Wisdom begins now," the Guardian's voice echoed.
Mei Lin swallowed. A physical fight was one thing—but now they were trapped in a test of wits and illusion.
And something told her the real danger had only just begun.