The group huddled on the worn stone stairs, the air thick with the damp chill of the ancient hero yard. Sweat clung to Liam's skin beneath his battered armor, and his chest heaved as he leaned back against the rough wall. The girls sat close—Citra with her quiet resolve, the others catching their breath after the brutal push through the first layer. For a fleeting moment, the weight of everything pressed on him: the endless threats, the fragile lives depending on him. 'I can't let them down. Not after everything we've been through. They're counting on me to get us out of this alive.'
A sharp ping cut through the silence, and glowing blue text materialized before his eyes.
**New Quest: Uncover the Eye Follower's Trap in the Second Layer.**
**Objective:** Locate and neutralize the hidden trap set by the follower.
**Failure:** Death of the Host and all companions.
**Rewards:** 50 Shards of Reality + Critical Intelligence on the Eye's plans.
