The pale figure's form continued to shift and warp, growing larger and more monstrous with each passing second. What stood before us now was a creature of nightmare – a chimera of sorts, with the head of a lion, the body of a serpent, and wings that seemed to be made of living shadow.
"I am the Guardian," it growled, its voice a mixture of roar and hiss. "And you are not worthy of the Crystal's power."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "We've come this far. We won't turn back now."
The Guardian's eyes narrowed, glowing with an eerie light. "Then you will face my trial. Prove your worth, or perish in the attempt."
Suddenly, the ground beneath our feet began to tremble. The maze patterns we had so carefully navigated started to glow, separating us from each other. I found
