The pit's darkness stretched before them, chains dangling like black serpents waiting to strike. The Scythe pulsed faintly, suspended in the air, its energy vibrating through the ground.
Alex tightened his grip on his sword. "Everyone stay close. The chains are moving again."
Vile crouched, scanning the metal links with careful eyes. "It's reacting… to us. Every small motion we make, it calculates. It's like it's testing us."
Lyra's hands glowed softly, illuminating the edges of the pit. "Then we move together. One wrong step, and it will know."
Mya tapped her foot impatiently. "Move together, fine. But how do we even know what it wants?"
Kira crouched near a chain, tracing its movement. "It's forming patterns. Not random. There's a rhythm to the way it swings."
Liam swallowed, voice trembling slightly. "A… rhythm? Like a heartbeat?"
Vile adjusted his glasses. "Exactly. Clink… drag… clink… drag. If we step in sync with the chains, we can avoid them. Step out of rhythm, and it reacts."
Alex nodded. "Then we follow the rhythm. Stay tight, communicate, no one moves alone. Lyra, light up the faint links. Mya and Ethan, cover the sides. Liam, stay close. Kira, coordinate the pace."
The group advanced slowly. The chains swayed around them, curling slightly to create a path. When someone stepped incorrectly, the links recoiled, warning but not striking.
"This isn't trying to kill us," Vile whispered. "It's testing coordination. Step in rhythm, it moves with us. Step wrong, it resists."
Mya grinned, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "Finally. Something I can actually work with."
Liam stumbled, nearly breaking the rhythm, but Lyra's energy shield steadied him. "Careful," she said softly. "We move as one."
Ethan's eyes shone with excitement. "Alright. Let's see how far this thing takes us."
Step by step, they followed the chains' pattern. The Scythe pulsed brighter as they synchronized perfectly, its metal links clinking in time like a signal of approval.
Finally, they reached a slightly raised platform near the pit's center. The chains paused, forming a perfect circle around the Scythe. Its dark energy pulsed, inviting but still dangerous.
Alex's voice was steady. "We're close. But this isn't over. The Scythe is testing us, and we're not ready to take it yet. Observe, learn, and stay together."
The group exchanged determined glances. They had passed the first challenge, but the Scythe's real test was only beginning.
Above the pit, the chains hummed faintly, waiting for the next move.