As Alice and her friends followed Arana out of the building, the atmosphere of the ruins seemed to change. The air was thicker, the shadows were darker, and the silence was even more unsettling, especially for the first-timers. They walked cautiously, their senses heightened, trying to be observant of their surroundings while keeping up with the young Forest Chief.

  Arana led them through the ruins, the path illuminated by the dim light of the moon. The girls' eyes darted around, taking in the sights around them. Crumbling stone buildings, crumbling walls, and old, broken-down machinery loomed before them, casting long shadows that danced in the darkness. The air was still, the silence only broken by their soft footsteps and Arana's light breaths.

  The girls, still filled with anticipation and nervousness, followed Arana closely. The ruins were shrouded in an eerie atmosphere that made the girls' hearts race. The shadows seemed to grow deeper and more sinister, and the girls' senses were on high alert. They clung to the light cast by the moon, trying to keep their bearings as they followed Arana through the winding paths of the ruined structures.

  "You know," Zalgo blurted out, her eyes lingering on the olden ruins. "For such an ancient-looking place, the old structures here sure look very advanced. What's up with that, Arana?”

  Arana kept walking, her gaze fixed forward as she responded to Zalgo's question without looking back. "These ruins are much older than they appear," she said, her voice calm yet tinged with admiration. "The ancients who built these structures possessed knowledge and technology far ahead of their time.”

  "Interesting..." Rachel chimed in as they followed, her eyes darting between the ruins. "But how did they get so advanced while the technology you guys have now is...well, not-so-great by comparison?”

  The girls remained silent for a few moments as they digested Arana's words. The gravity of the ancients' demise hung heavy in the air, even as the night remained eerily quiet. Eventually, Alice spoke up, her voice soft yet curious, "What do you mean by Armageddon?”

  Arana sighed softly, the weight of the past evident in her voice. "Armageddon, the cataclysmic event that befell this world, was a period of immense turmoil and destruction. Long ago, dark beings from the Void Realm sought to overthrow the balance of power between realms, leading to a cosmic battle that sent waves of chaos and devastation across the realms, causing untold suffering and loss. This world was hit the hardest by it, leaving us on the brink of collapse. But through perseverance and remaining tribes sticking together, we pushed through and preserved the Ancients' technology the best we could.”

  Rachel, still mesmerized by the ancient ruins, pointed out another old stone structure. "So, wait. This Armageddon event wiped out the Ancients, right? But how come their ancient buildings and technology still stand, and your people haven't managed to build something similar even now?”

  Arana nodded, her gaze lingering on an ancient structure that passed her by. "The ruins we see here are remnants of a distant and bygone era, relics of a civilization that held great power and knowledge. They were able to achieve things we could only dream of, not just because of their advanced technology, but also because of their deep understanding and manipulation of Void energy. We, however, are mere fragments of what they once were, surviving and trying to rebuild ourselves to the best of our abilities. We're still stuck in the midst of rediscovering the lost knowledge and technology of the Ancients.”

  "So you are still trying to understand everything?" Zalgo inquired, her gaze flickering from Arana to the ancient structures. "How long has it been since that Armageddon event?”

  Arana let out a sigh, her expression carrying a weight of time and loss. "It has been countless centuries since Armageddon. Generations have come and gone, and most knowledge of our past has eroded over time. We have managed to preserve what we can, but it pales in comparison to the ancient knowledge of our ancestors.”

  Silence fell over the girls as they took in the weight of Arana's words. The ruins around them seemed to echo with the passage of time, each stone and crack a testament to the history that had been lost. Rachel finally spoke up, her voice tinged with empathy. "So, in a way, you're trying to rediscover your own history?”

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  Arana nodded, her eyes carrying a mix of sadness and determination. "Yes," she said softly. "Our history, our culture, our technology - everything has been scattered and buried under the sands of time. We are trying to gather the pieces, to piece together the fragments of our past and reawaken the ancient knowledge that once was our birthright. It's a slow and tedious process, but we can't afford to surrender hope.”

  The girls, absorbed in their conversation, almost missed the subtle shift in the air around them. As if on cue with this odd change in atmosphere, Arana stopped in her tracks, turning around to face the girls. "Speaking of hope... Here are the ruins where your trials shall begin.”

  Alice, Rachel, and Zalgo were taken aback by the statement, their gaze shifting from Arana to the specific ruin she was standing in front of. The crumbling stone pillars before them looked more ominous under the dim light of the moon, the pillars engraved with glowing symbols. The girls exchanged nervous glances, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through their veins.

  "These ruins..." Arana began, her gaze fixed on the symbols that adorned the pillars in front of them. "They hold great significance. Within these ruins lies a trial that will test your true strengths and abilities. The challenges that await you will not be easy, but remember, this is a journey of self-discovery and growth. The trials are not just a test of physical prowess, but a chance for you to tap into the depths of your very soul and embrace your true powers."

  Arana gestured to the pillars, her eyes narrowing as she observed the girls again. "Each of these pillars have a number between five and forty-five. Depending on which color you decide to change the pillar will determine its quantity in number. Your goal in this trial is to make all four colors of every pillar add up to one hundred, and then move those pillars back into place. Am I clear?”

  The girls nodded in response, their eyes fixated on the pillars. They couldn't deny the sense of excitement and anticipation coursing their veins. Rachel, being the most excited and determined of the trio, was the first to speak up. "We got it," she said, a subtle smirk forming on her face. "Bring it on!”

  Arana nodded, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Very well. Be careful, this trial is only the beginning.”

  With that, Arana took a step back, signaling for the girls to begin. Rachel, seizing the opportunity, confidently took the lead. She stepped closer to the first pillar, her gaze locked on the symbols carved into its stone. Without hesitation, she extended her hand and laid her palm flat against the pillar, the pillar's number being 10. As her palm made contact, a sudden chill ran through her body, and a faint glow emanated from the carved symbols. The pillar began to transform under the pressure of Rachel's touch, changing color from red to green. Zalgo and Alice watched intently, their curiosity piqued by the sight before them.

  Arana observed the transformation carefully, her gaze locked on Rachel as she watched the first pillar change. "Well done, you've changed the color of the pillar," she said, her voice calm yet approving. "The current values are as follows: Red - 90. Green - 110. Blue - 80. Yellow: 120. Keep changing the colors until each one has a value of 100.”

  Rachel nodded, her gaze still fixed on the pillar. "Alright," she said, her voice firm as she pulled her hand away from the now green pillar. The chill that had once surged through her body was replaced with a sense of accomplishment.

  As the pillar's color changed, Arana observed the change with a knowing look, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Very nice," she nodded in approval. "Next pillar. Same process.”

  Rachel nodded and walked up to the next pillar, her gaze fixated on the symbols illuminated under the moon's light. One glance at the pillar's number, and Rachel knew she was ready. As her hand made contact with the pillar, a chill once again coursed through her veins.

  This pillar's number was fifteen. Rachel focused her energy, willing the pillar to change color from red to green. The pillar began to respond, its color transforming from red to green in a matter of seconds. Rachel pulled her hand away, turning to face Arana, her confidence growing.

  Arana nodded, a hint of satisfaction shining in her eyes. "Excellent," she said, her voice steady. "The values are now: Red - 75. Green - 125. Blue - 80. Yellow - 120."

  Rachel froze in place, raising a brow. "Wait, so uh— Changing colors takes away from its total value?!”

  Arana let out a soft chuckle, her lips curled into a sly grin. "Yes, it does," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "The change in color alters the pillar's value. You need to keep each pillar's color changing so they reach the number 100.”

  Rachel huffed, a mix of irritation and determination in her expression. "Well, that's just great!" she muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Just when I thought I was doing good, there's another little catch!”

  Arana chuckled again, her smirk growing wider. "You can't expect these trials to be a breeze, can you? It wouldn't be a challenge otherwise."

  Rachel huffed again, but deep down, she knew Arana was right. This was a test of her adaptability and strategic thinking, and she had to play her cards right, especially since math isn't her strong suit.