The Threshold of Maze
A few days after the completion of the first two preliminary tests, the weight of the Harvest Festival shifted from physical endurance and magical resonance to something far more cerebral and predatory. It was finally time to begin the third and final preliminary test: the fabled City of Mazes. The trio made their way deep into the boulevard of the Factory known as the Garden. Hidden beneath the industrial exterior of the facility lay its shadowed heart—the basement vaults. Here stood the Monoliths: massive, stone-like structures pulsating with significant ancient power, capable of tearing holes in space to act as gateways to other locations. As George, Nana, and Kayn descended the winding stone stairs, the flickering torches along the damp walls cast eerie, elongated shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. George's earlier excitement, bolstered by his victory at the resonance field, began to wane. It was replaced by a gnawing sense of unease that crawled up his spine.
"The air is different down here," Kayn muttered, his voice echoing lowly. He adjusted the strap of his gear, his large frame tensing as he scanned the darkness. "It feels... heavy. Like the stone is watching us."
Nana nodded, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp. "It's the Monoliths. They aren't just stone; they are anchors for the city above and the city within. Stay focused."
They entered the indoor stage, a cavernous hall where the perplexing Monolith leading to the mazed city awaited. The majestic structure was a sight of terrifying beauty. Its walls shimmered with ancient runes that didn't glow with the typical blue of common mana, but a deep, pulsating blood-red. These swirling patterns etched into the stone seemed to taunt George, promising a challenge that wouldn't just test his magic, but his sanity. The atmosphere was thick and suffocating, laced with the sharp, metallic scent of ozone and the subtle shifting of unseen forces. It set a grim stage for the ruthless trial ahead. George looked around and felt the weight of thirty thousand pairs of eyes. The other Harvesters stood in silent ranks, their faces obscured by the dim light, each one a potential opponent in the fierce competition to come. Two out of the three tests lay defeated behind him, but George knew the reality of this world meant that the hardest climb was still ahead. The fabled maze of cunning and deceit would push him to his absolute limits. George stood at the very edge of the Monolith portal. The structure shimmered with an otherworldly light, a swirling vortex of crimson and silver that hissed like steam. His heart raced with a heady mix of fear and excitement. He looked at Nana and Kayn, seeing his own apprehension mirrored in their faces, yet softened by the bond they shared. "Together?" George asked, his voice steadying as he reached for the inner reservoir of courage he had found during the magic test.
"Until the end," Nana replied, her hand hovering near her focal point.
"Let's see what this city is made of," Kayn added with a grim nod.
With a final breath, the three Harvesters stepped through the threshold, the light of the Monolith swallowing them whole as they prepared to enter a place of legend and mystery.