The crystalline path twisted and turned, leading Eren, Aria, and Jin deeper into the heart of the labyrinth. With each step, the walls seemed to pulse with an increasingly intense energy, as if the very air around them was charged with arcane power.
Eren's senses were on high alert, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. The encounter with their doppelgangers had left him unsettled, acutely aware of how quickly the labyrinth could turn their own strengths against them.
"Hold up," Jin said suddenly, his voice low and tense. He crouched down, examining the crystal floor before them. "Look at this."
Eren and Aria gathered around, peering at what appeared to be a hairline fracture in the otherwise flawless surface.
"A trap?" Aria asked, her fingers twitching as if longing to weave a detection spell.
Jin nodded grimly. "Most likely. The question is, what kind?"
Eren frowned, studying the barely visible line. Something about it nagged at him, a piece of information just out of reach. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, trying to recall anything that might help them navigate this obstacle.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced - a conversation with his mentor, Azar, from months ago:
"You know, Eren, your eyes need to be fast enough to react to anything," Azar had said, his voice serious yet tinged with excitement. "In fact, most of the Valestrian Patriarchs possessed a specific set of eyes that allowed them to see everything - to observe every movement and the world in a sense. I want to see if you can awaken that ability."
As the memory faded, Eren felt a strange sensation wash over him. It was as if a switch had been flipped in his mind, unlocking a hidden potential. His eyes snapped open, and the world around him changed.
A system notification appeared in his field of vision:
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All requirements have been met. The Observer's Eye skill has been unlocked. Duration: 5 minutes Warning: Prolonged use may cause mental strain.
The labyrinth was suddenly awash in a sea of information. Glowing lines of energy crisscrossed the air, forming intricate patterns that pulsed and shifted with every breath. And his companions... Eren's breath caught in his throat as he saw Jin and Aria in a whole new light.
Floating above Jin's head was a translucent window, displaying information in crisp, clear text:
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Name: Jin of the Seyoung Clan Level: 37 Class: Martial Artist Strengths: Close combat, acrobatics, trap detection Weaknesses: Long-range attacks, magic resistance Current Status: Alert, slightly fatigued
A similar window hovered over Aria:
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Name: Aria Moonwhisper Level: 35 Class: Arcane Spellweaver Strengths: Elemental magic, divination, magical theory Weaknesses: Physical combat, sustained spellcasting Current Status: Focused, mana reserves at 78%
"Eren?" Aria's voice cut through his daze. "Are you alright? You look... strange."
Shaking his head to clear it, Eren focused on the task at hand. With his newly awakened ability, he could now see the trap for what it was – a complex web of magical energy, primed to trigger at the slightest disturbance.
"It's a cascading energy trap," he said, his voice filled with a certainty he didn't fully understand. "If we trigger it, it'll set off a chain reaction through the entire corridor. We need to disarm it at the source."
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Jin raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you know that?"
Eren hesitated, unsure how to explain his sudden insight. "I... I can see it. The energy flows, the way it's all connected. It's like... like I've unlocked some kind of observational ability. I can see your mana flow, even your strengths and weaknesses."
Aria's eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and excitement crossing her face. "That sounds incredible! But what kind of skill could this be? I've never heard of anything quite like it."
Jin frowned, his expression thoughtful. "There are legends of ancient techniques that allowed warriors to perceive the flow of battle in extraordinary detail. Could this be something similar?"
Aria nodded eagerly. "Or perhaps it's a rare form of mage-sight? Some texts speak of abilities that let spellcasters perceive the very fabric of magic itself."
"Whatever it is," Eren interrupted, "it's showing me how to disarm this trap. We can figure out the details later. Right now, we need to focus on getting past this obstacle."
Jin nodded, ever practical. "Agreed. So, how do we neutralize this thing?"
Eren examined the energy patterns, tracing them back to their source. "There," he said, pointing to a seemingly innocuous crystal formation on the wall. "That's the anchor point. If we can disrupt the energy flow there, it should unravel the entire trap."
"Leave that to me," Aria said confidently. She began weaving an intricate spell, her fingers dancing through the air as she manipulated the magical currents around them.
As she worked, Eren's newfound ability allowed him to see the delicate interplay of energies. He watched in fascination as Aria's spell slowly unraveled the trap, strand by strand of arcane energy dissipating until the path before them was clear.
"It's done," Aria announced, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple. "The trap is disarmed."
Jin nodded approvingly. "Impressive work, both of you. Now, let's keep moving before any other teams catch up to us."
As they continued down the path, Eren's mind raced with the implications of his new ability. He could see his companions' strengths and weaknesses, their current status, even the flow of mana through their bodies. It was an incredible tactical advantage, but he knew he had to use it wisely.
The corridor opened up into a vast chamber, its ceiling lost in a glittering haze of crystal formations. At the center stood a towering obelisk, covered in pulsing runes that seemed to shift and change as they watched.
"This must be the first major challenge," Jin said, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the room for potential threats.
Eren nodded, his Observer's Eye revealing the complex web of magical energies surrounding the obelisk. "There's some kind of puzzle here," he said. "The runes are the key, but they're constantly changing. We need to find the pattern."
Aria stepped forward, her hands glowing with arcane energy as she attempted to decipher the runes. "It's a cipher," she said, frustration evident in her voice. "But it's shifting too quickly for me to crack it."
Eren focused his ability on the obelisk, trying to discern any pattern in the chaotic swirl of energy. As he concentrated, he felt a sharp pain behind his eyes, a warning that his time with the Observer's Eye was running short.
"We need to solve this quickly," he gritted out. "My ability won't last much longer."
Jin, who had been circling the obelisk, suddenly called out. "There's a panel here, with indentations for some kind of key."
Eren turned his gaze to the panel, and suddenly the solution clicked into place. "The runes!" he exclaimed. "They're not changing randomly. They're cycling through a series of configurations. We need to input the correct sequence on that panel to match the peak energy state of the obelisk."
Aria's eyes lit up with understanding. "Of course! But how do we know which configuration is the peak state?"
"I can see it," Eren said, his voice strained as he fought against the growing pressure in his head. "When the energy aligns just right, there's a moment of perfect symmetry. That's our window."
Jin nodded sharply. "Tell us what to do. We'll be your hands."
For the next few minutes, Eren called out instructions rapid-fire as Jin and Aria worked in tandem to input the correct sequence. The runes on the obelisk spun faster and faster, the energy building to a crescendo.
"Now!" Eren shouted, just as his vision began to blur.
Jin slammed his palm against the final symbol, and the chamber erupted in a blinding flash of light. When it faded, the obelisk had split open, revealing a gleaming crystal key floating within.
As Aria reached out to claim their prize, Eren's knees buckled. The Observer's Eye ability winked out, leaving him gasping and disoriented.