paranoianovel Chapter 53: Ch 53: Developing the Skills- Part 3
Chapter 53: Ch 53: Developing the Skills- Part 3
Chapter 53: Ch 53: Developing the Skills- Part 3Selene could feel the sweat dripping down her back, her body tense with fear.
Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, to leave before they were spotted. Her breathing was uneven as she weighed her options, trying to push through the panic gripping her chest.
Just as she was about to decide to retreat, she felt something—
A light touch on her hand.
She flinched violently, pulling her hand away instinctively before she even registered who had touched her.
Orion.
The boy looked just as startled as she was, but he quickly composed himself. His dark eyes studied her with concern.
"Selene... are you okay?"
She swallowed, forcing herself to nod.
"I’m fine."
But even as she said it, she knew she wasn’t convincing anyone. Her complexion was pale, her fingers trembling slightly. Orion clearly wasn’t buying it.
He hesitated before speaking again, softer this time.
"If you’re scared, we should go back. We can always find another dungeon."
Selene shook her head, tightening her fists.
"No. This is the dungeon I want to explore."
She had put too much effort into re
Orion shifted nervously.
"What do we do first?"
Selene took a quick glance at their surroundings before focusing ahead.
"We find the first challenge in this dungeon. The sooner we start, the better."
Orion hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded.
"Okay."
With that, the two of them pressed forward.
The first room of the dungeon was unlike anything Orion had expected.
Instead of a battleground, it looked like an ancient hall filled with floating platforms and glowing symbols. The platforms were suspended in the air, shifting positions at random intervals.
At the far end of the room was a door with no visible handle or keyhole.
Selene’s eyes scanned the environment quickly.
"A puzzle room."
Orion frowned.
"What do we have to do?"
Selene’s gaze landed on a series of glowing runes carved into the floor. They pulsed faintly, shifting colors every few seconds.
She narrowed her eyes.
[Insight activated.]
Immediately, text appeared in her vision:
"The Path of the Sky - Those who walk with the wind may pass. Step with the flow, and the way shall open."
Selene read it aloud. Orion frowned.
"Walk with the wind?"
Selene exhaled, analyzing the platforms. They didn’t just move randomly—they followed a pattern. A rhythm.
"We have to step on the platforms in a specific sequence. If we step at the wrong time, we’ll probably fall."
She realized.
Orion paled.
"F-Fall where?"
Selene looked down.
The floor was missing beneath the platforms. Instead, there was a spiked path which did not look too dangerous...for someone who had a shielding skill.
She grimaced.
"Not somewhere we want to end up."
Orion took a step back.
"Great."
Selene turned to him.
"You’re going first."
His head snapped toward her.
"What?! Why me?"
"Because you have a barrier. If you fall, you’ll be protected long enough for me to pull you back."
Orion groaned but didn’t argue.
Selene watched as he hesitated at the first platform. She could see the pattern clearly now.
"Wait... now! Step on it!"
Orion obeyed, jumping onto the first platform just as it stabilized. It held.
He let out a shaky breath.
"Okay... what now?"
Selene smiled. "Now, we keep going."
Behind them, the timer on her system counted down.
10 minutes left.