Jaeden examined the rusty sword he’d used in the fight, noticing the Minotaur’s silvery ichor had acted as a solvent, revealing gleaming red-gold metal beneath the grime. Intrigued, he scrubbed the blade with a quartz stone he carried, gradually uncovering a beautifully crafted weapon, etched with intricate markings. Inspired, he dipped the sword in the remaining ichor puddle, watching as the last of the rust burned away, leaving a gleaming, potent blade in his hands.

As he continued to clean the blade, Jaeden noticed that the quartz stone had also transformed, now resembling a polished, glowing polyhedron. When he pricked his thumb and let a drop of blood touch the crystal, it pulsed with energy, lifting from his hand and hovering in front of him. The orb suddenly surged forward, connecting with him in a burst of light and energy, temporarily linking Jaeden’s senses to the labyrinth itself.

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When the energy settled, Jaeden saw that the sword had opened to reveal hidden sockets, perfectly shaped for the glowing orb. He fitted the orb into the first socket, and the sword pulsed with new power, linking him further to the labyrinth. Jaeden felt stronger, faster, and sharper—ready to face whatever awaited him next.