Chapter 95: The Cloak of Deception!

Trial Six: The Cloaks of Deception!

The group entered the final chamber, their feet dragging with the weight of their losses. The room was dim, bathed in a strange blue light that flickered from above, making the cloaks hanging in the air seem almost alive.

"Welcome to the trial of cloaks," a sinister voice boomed from nowhere and everywhere at once. It echoed through the chamber, each word dripping with malice. "This is the final trial. Congratulations on making it this far… Heheh," the voice snickered ominously. Then it vanished, leaving only silence and the oppressive presence of the cloaks.

The cloaks shimmered and swayed as if they were eager to be chosen. Some were shiny, encrusted with jewels, others simple and elegant, but all of them exuded an aura of danger.

Ikehara, though limping behind the group, was fighting to keep the sinister smile from creeping across his face. He knew the secret of this trial: you had to resist. The cloaks were deadly traps—choosing any would spell doom.

Feigning ignorance, he approached the others, his voice light and encouraging. "These cloaks... they look powerful. We should make sure we each take one, don't you think? You've made it this far, after all."

Tessa narrowed her eyes at Ikehara. Something didn't feel right about his sudden enthusiasm. She had been watching him closely throughout the trials, and every instinct told her this was another deadly game. Her eyes flicked back to the cloaks, and for a moment, she was silent.

"Don't touch them," she finally said, her voice firm but calm. Adrian stood beside her, sensing the intensity in her gaze.

"Why not?" one of the others asked, a young man named Darnel who had been eager to prove himself.

Tessa didn't answer immediately. She could feel the cloak calling out to the weaker-willed members of the group, their allure almost hypnotic. "They're traps. You touch one, you die."

Darnel hesitated, his hand almost hovering over the most exquisite cloak in the room, adorned with sparkling jewels and a golden thread that gleamed under the dim light. "It's just a cloak, Tessa. We've been through worse—"

"No!" Tessa shouted. "Trust me."

But Darnel couldn't resist. His fingers barely brushed the fabric when the cloak shot out, wrapping around him like a serpent. His screams echoed throughout the room as the cloak tightened, covering his face entirely. Thick, noxious gas seeped from its fibers, suffocating him in seconds. His body collapsed, lifeless, as the group watched in horror.

The silence was deafening.

Adrian, his face pale, stepped forward and placed a hand on Tessa's shoulder, grounding her as she trembled with anger. "We told him. He didn't listen," Adrian said softly.

Nymff, her heart heavy, moved closer to Adrian, her eyes brimming with emotion. "It's not your fault," she whispered, hugging him tightly, her cheek resting on his chest. Adrian's arms encircled her, and in that moment, despite the nightmare they were living, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, a promise of safety.

Tessa, watching them out of the corner of her eye, felt a strange, hollow ache in her chest. She glanced at Adrian, who caught her gaze for a brief moment. Their eyes met, and something unsaid passed between them, but she couldn't bring herself to voice her desires. Now wasn't the time, and perhaps, it would never be.

Ikehara watched the scene unfold with quiet satisfaction. The group was fractured, tense, and now with one less member. He knew that if he kept pushing, their numbers would dwindle even more. But as he glanced at Tessa, something nagged at him. How had she figured it out? And why did it feel like the door to the exit had been opened?

Tessa turned away from the cloaks. "We're not picking anything," she said. "We're leaving. Now."

The group followed her lead without hesitation. No one questioned her command, not even Ikehara, who felt an uneasy pit forming in his stomach. This was the moment where he would have usually failed. But somehow, Tessa had led them to the exit, where he had always stumbled before.

As they reached the exit, the door creaked open, and standing before them was a middle-aged man, draped in a cloak of black and silver. His eyes gleamed with malice.

"So you came for my cloak?" he asked, his voice sending chills down their spines. It was deep, almost otherworldly, as if the shadows themselves were speaking through him.

Tessa's eyes flashed with rage. She had lost so many people—15 lives, to be exact. They had entered this cursed place with 43 people and now only 28 remained. Her fists clenched, and she took a step forward, prepared to unleash her fury, but Adrian was quick to grab her arm, pulling her back.

"Don't," Adrian whispered. "It's what he wants."

Tessa's chest heaved with restrained anger, but she let Adrian guide her. The figure in front of them seemed amused, oblivious to the fact that his life had just been spared.

"Congratulations," the figure said mockingly. "You've made it this far. But only one of you can claim the cloak… the real cloak." His lips twisted into a wicked grin. "If you're brave enough to try."

Three cloaks appeared before them, each more intricate and dazzling than the last. The group stared at them, unsure of what to do. The memory of Darnel's death still hung in the air, fresh and horrifying.

No one dared move.

The weight of the final decision settled on the group, but they remained frozen, paralyzed by fear and distrust. They had come so far, but now, at the end, the only thing they could rely on was each other—and that was a fragile bond indeed.

Ikehara watched in silence, his mind racing. This was it—the moment of truth. He had expected chaos, but Tessa had led them through, stronger than he'd anticipated. His hands trembled slightly as he limped closer to the group, desperate to see how it would end.

Tessa, her gaze unblinking, turned to the rest. "We're not touching any of these cloaks. We've seen enough. We leave now."

Without another word, she stepped away from the cloaks and walked towards the exit, her team—Adrian, Nymff, Lhiza, Lhize, Ecdy, and Nyala—following behind her. No one even looked back.

Ikehara, struggling to keep up, hobbled after them, his heart pounding. He had survived, but just barely.

As the door shut behind them, they found themselves in yet another chamber, but this time, the oppressive weight of the trials seemed to lift. A sense of uneasy calm settled over them.

At this poInt, something unexpected happened, an ancient tunic—old and tattered—fell from a hidden chamber above. The air around it shimmered with power, and the moment it touched the floor, Tessa felt its immense energy surge through her.

The figure who had overseen the trials thus far appeared, stunned and speechless. "No...this has never happened... Not in a thousand years has anyone passed this point."

The realization hit him: Tessa had surpassed all expectations. The cloaks before her were mere traps, yet she had done the impossible, and now the true cloak lay at her feet.

"Master Akanon will not be pleased," the figure muttered, almost in awe. He knew his master had never anticipated anyone reaching this stage. But now, the cloak had changed hands, and the consequences were far beyond his control.