As they approached the rift, the air grew thick with dark energy, and a figure emerged—a shadowy silhouette stepping from the depths of the portal. The Dungeon Master had arrived, cloaked in shifting shadows, eyes gleaming like stars in the night. He exuded power, and his voice resonated like thunder.

“Brave souls, you seek to stabilize this rift?” he questioned, raising a hand to reveal a gleaming Quest Board.

Trial of Passage

* Objective: Survive the Dungeon Master’s Gauntlet.

* Rewards: Dungeon Master’s Allegiance, +10,000 XP, Legendary Relic (Random)

* Failure: Permadeath Risk.

The air crackled with energy as the Dungeon Master gestured, summoning the gauntlet around them—a labyrinthine series of rooms filled with traps, monsters, and tests of strength and wit. A timer appeared above their heads, ticking down from ten minutes.

“Prepare yourselves!” the Dungeon Master bellowed, and with a wave of his hand, the gauntlet activated.

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Greg and Alister exchanged determined glances and rushed forward. The first room was lined with flickering torches and shadowy figures darting through the corners of their vision. Alister activated Arcane Shield, absorbing the first wave of attacks from spectral guardians materializing from the walls.

Arcane Shield Active: 100% Protection (Duration: 2 Minutes)

The spectral guardians struck with ghostly blades, their damage output high but mitigated by Alister’s shield. Greg, on the other hand, summoned the Infernal Wraith, which launched a barrage of fiery projectiles at the guardians, chipping away at their health bars.

As they fought through the room, the health bars of the spectral guardians dwindled until they shattered into wisps of energy. Alister checked his Mana Bar.

Mana Bar: 3500/4800 (Draining due to Shield)

“Keep an eye on your mana!” Alister shouted, recalling that sustaining spells would require careful management. They pushed through to the next room, where spikes protruded from the ceiling and floor—a deadly trap.

Greg pulled up his Danger Detection interface, revealing a grid of red outlines indicating the trap's range. “We need to time this perfectly!” he yelled, as they jumped and dodged, narrowly avoiding the spikes that shot up like a nest of serpents.

As they reached the end of the gauntlet, the Dungeon Master appeared again, impressed by their performance. “You have proven your worth. But the real challenge lies ahead.”