Ray dashed towards the wall at the last second, dodging the beast's charge. Taking a quick look around, he observed that everyone else had successfully avoided the danger. Yet, he couldn't relax as the beast suddenly changed direction and charged at him. Ray ran waving his arms to get the beast's attention.

“I will lead it. Just cause some damage as it passes by.”

Ray said before dodging again, narrowly avoiding being hit. The beast turned again, running back towards Ray, running in the other direction now. But his team was ready this time. Ren and Chio swung their weapons at the beast's right leg, slicing down to the bone. A pained cry escaped it as it fell. Without hesitation, they attacked it with a rapid series of strikes. The beast cried out again, and then suddenly spikes of the liquid material covering its body shot out in every direction. Ray barely turned his head in time to avoid being stabbed in his left eye. He stumbled back and griped his cheek, feeling blood run out of a gash left by the spike. The other team had a less fortunate member. The spike impaled his chest before he vanished, his amulet activating. Ren's left shoulder took a hit, but he still raised his axe and slammed it into the creature's neck. But it did not leave a scratch as the liquid hardened, blocking the strike. Ray noticed something about the substance as the group resumed their attacks. It seemed only able to harden approximately one meter of the liquid on its body at a time.

“We need to try striking it at the same time in different locations. It can only harden a limited part of its body at a time.”

Ray called out. Ren alone continued his assault on the armor, defying the group's consensus. Ray saw the beast needed to divert most of its attention to Ren to keep from having its head cut off. He waited for Ren’s next strike to come down before seizing the opportunity to plunge his long dagger into its left eye before the beast could react. It cried out and lost control of the liquid long enough for Ren to bring down a final blow severing its head from its shoulders. Ray stepped back, staring at the decapitated beast.

"Nice work, everyone—"

The leader of the other team interrupted him by stabbing towards Ray's chest with his sword. He was able to raise his smaller dagger in time, intercepting the blade and moving it to his right side, only getting a minor cut on his shoulder. Ray poised his dagger but then hesitated. The leader saw this and seized the opportunity to turn his blade and swing it towards Ray’s neck. Ray couldn't stop the blade in time. A flinch, and then the man vanished, leaving Chio there, sword drawn. Ray dropped to the ground, relieved. But remembering the last team member, he frantically scanned the area. He was relieved when he did not find them, only seeing Erith cleaning off some specks of red from her staff. Ray sat back and pondered what had happened during the fight with the leader. When he had the chance to stab the man, he froze, risking his dream and possibly his life. Despite knowing the amulet should prevent it, he couldn't shake the feeling that he might have killed the man. Ray shook his head, letting those thoughts go. If he was going to achieve his dream, then he would need to steal his resolve and push forward even if that meant ending someone else's. Following a brief rest, Ray walked to Chio.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Don’t mention it. It was thanks to your plan, we took down the beast. I should be the one thanking you.”

Chio responded.

“Don’t give him the credit for my kill. Remember whose axe it was that ended its life.”

Ren interjected.

“That opportunity resulted from my actions.”

Ray defended himself.

“I’d have cut through that armor. All you did was speed up the process.”

“How many strikes would that have required, Ren? If we hadn't followed Ray's plan and the creature shot more spikes, how long could you have survived?”

Erith asked. Ren grunted and turned away, refusing to engage further in the conversation. After the group bandaged most of their wounds, only using the healing salve on the worst injuries. They proceeded down the hall, peering around the corner where the creature emerged. The wall bore a massive dent, a testament to the beast's charge.

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“Thank the heavens none of us got hit by that thing's charge. In the best scenario, our amulet would have activated, causing us to fail the test.”

Ray said.

“Indeed.”

Erith responded. Ray turned his attention back to the path in front of them and started forward. A minute's walk brought them to a crossroads, with one path continuing straight ahead and the other turning left.

“That group likely came from the left path, judging from the wall damage.”

Erith said. Examining the indent on the wall.

“We should continue straight then. Unless they missed a path while running in this direction. This should be that way forward.”

Ray suggested.

“I agree. That sounds like the best case of action.”

Chio said, nodding at the group. Ren just grunted, taking the lead down the path that they decided on. A five-minute walk along a winding path led them to a large, circular room. Ray saw three routes converging in this room. A pedestal rose from the floor in the center. Ray walked towards the pedestal to investigate it. It was chest-high and contained a small hand-shaped indent.

“Any idea what this thing might be?”

He asked.

“Only one way to find out.”

Erith said, walking towards the pedestal and putting her hand into the indent. The entire room rumbled as the hallways leading out of this room slammed shut.

“Oh, Shit!”

Chio yelled as two of the mantis creatures dropped to the ground from above.

“Ren Chio: Left one's yours. Erith, help me with the one on the right.”

Ray Shouted getting into position with his daggers drawn. Erith ran to his side and deployed a smokescreen for the two of them. Hidden by smoke, Ray circled to the monster's left. He watched the disoriented Mantis for a moment before seeing an opening and charging. He got three quick stabs into its chest before being forced to retreat from its claws sweeping after him. Erith using the opportunity swung her staff down on its head with a large crack. They took turns attacking the Mantis, a black ichor slowly pooling beneath it. As Ray went in for his next attack, he overlooked the pool and slipped. In its disoriented state from the flurry of attacks, the Mantis only hit him in the stomach with the back of its claw, which sent him flying. Ray crashed into the wall, coughing up blood.

“Ray!”

Erith yelled out, running towards him. The Mantis charging after her its claw poised to strike. Ray tried to yell out in warning, but they came out. Was this it? Was he going to lose his first friend since his parents had passed because of a mistake that he should have been able to avoid? The awful scene repeated in his mind, making him miss the axe flying towards the creatures. It sailed true, striking it in the neck, leaving it headless as it fell. Erith closed the rest of the distance and kneeled next to him.

“Are you bleeding? Where does it hurt the most?”

She asked, pulling out the healing salve.

“It only got me with the back of its claw, thankfully. Just one minute, and I'll be ready.”

He responded, fighting the pain that came from talking. Erith frowned at him for a minute before poking him in the ribs. Ray yelped in pain.

“That's what I thought. Don't hide your injuries from me again or next time. It will be a jab, not just a poke.”

She said, lifting his shirt to apply the salve.

“It looks like that is the last of it. We need to be more careful from now on.”

“Yes, mom.”

Ray said, receiving a glare in response. Ren walked over, retrieving his axe before sitting down to rest. The group rested in the closed-off room for half an hour before they all felt good enough to continue. Ray walked towards the pedestal and placed his hand on it. The room suddenly flashed white, leaving the room empty as the team disappeared.