But even a leaf leaves ripples, and immediately she touched the white stone, a spear came down so fast she had to drop all presence and jumped back into the tunnel to save herself from getting pierced from the head.

"How should we cross now?" Alex demanded.

They stared up at the space above the stone room, but there were no visible spears. Did they only appear when we touch the stone? Azaroth wondered.

From the two that stepped on the stones earlier, there was really no such difference from the two stones as they produced the same results.

"Is it necessary that we continue forward? We can go back and choose another way," Stallus said.

"Ehm, I don’t think that’s possible," Catena said and pointed behind them.

They all looked back. The space behind them was now nothing but solid stone. They got close to it to confirm if it was an illusion, but the stone was no illusion.

"Great. Now we’re truly stuck," Alex said and threw up his hand in frustration.

Azaroth crouched and picked up a small stone, then he threw it into the room, atop the white stone. All the while, he was watching up to see how it would happen. A spear appeared from thin air and came down immediately the stone touched it and crushed the small stone Azaroth threw.

He picked up another stone and threw it at the black spot. It was still the same result. Azaroth knew then that the trap will activate no matter the stone they step on.

"What are you playing at?" Alex asked him.

"To know how the trap works," Azaroth answered him. Since they followed him, then they should at least prove themselves useful.

But so far they had been dead weight.

"We know how it works. Step on the stone, and a spear will attack you from above. One step, one spear," Alex said. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"We should find a way to cross. The spears are fast, but maybe we can be faster," Stallus said.

But Azaroth was already shaking his head before she finished. "That’s impossible. The room is a long one. We can’t be fast enough if we try to cross it. Not when we have to step on hundreds of stones and then dodge hundreds of spears."

"So what are we to do?" Stallus asked.

Azaroth opened his mouth to answer, but Catena cut in as he spoke urgently. "Guys? The stone is closing in on us!"

It was the truth. They went to check and saw that the stone wall behind them was moving towards them, filling the tunnel. Soon it would push them into the room and force the trap on them.

"What are we to do? We should take our chances and run. We might even make it across if we use all our essence," Alex kept glancing back as he said it.

"We should make ourselves light like a feather," Azaroth said. Traps like this are expected to be solved, especially since this was training. It must have been made with the solution. Azaroth thought fast as he heard the sound of stone groaning behind him.

The solution, he thought. He looked around the room, but there was nothing else there. Not even the used spear. Everything was smooth.

If this was indeed training and not a death trap with them ending dead, then the solution must have been provided. Probably something they saw since they came here.

Azaroth thought faster. Something they saw. Something they saw. His eyes widened as it clicked. The Duskstalkers. That must be the answer.

Azaroth’s eyes swept the stones again. But how? He didn’t understand how the knowledge could be of use here. Then he remembered how silent the monsters were. The Duskstalkers crept on them without making any sound; even their aura was hidden.

Azaroth turned to Alex. "Tell me about the Duskstalkers."

"What is that of use..." Azaroth narrowed his eyes, and Alex raised his hands. "Okay, okay. They are mostly found in abandoned dark places. Like caves or tunnels. They breed during the month of..."

Azaroth interrupted him. "Just tell me about their movement. How do they walk that silently without making a sound?"

"Amazing right?" Alex said. "Even though they have long claws, they make no sound as they walk. And they use their claws to walk. From study, they focused their essence on the tip of their claws, which made it look as if they floated as they walk."

Stallus looked at Alex in amazement. "How do you know all this?"

He shrugged. "What better way to pass the time at home than to learn about cool monsters? How do you spend your own time?"

Stallus’s eyes darkened immediately as she heard it.

Azaroth cut in. They have no time for dramas. "Imitation. That must be what we are supposed to learn here."

Stallus shook herself. "What are you talking about?"

Catena already got it. "We are to be like Duskstalkers."

Stallus blinked. "Be like what now?"

"A monster? What are you two talking about?" Alex asked.

Azaroth looked at the two of them flatly. "The Duskstalkers can walk on stones without making sounds. That means they must be light on their legs. If we can do that, there’s a high chance we will cross this room without any problems."

"But how do we do that?" Stallus frowned slowly. "How do we do it that quickly?"

Azaroth was already bringing out his essence from his fire core and directing it to his legs, then to the sole of his feet. He took a step and touched down on the stone of the tunnel.

A stone crunch as his weight settled in.

"See?" Alex pointed. "We can’t do what monsters can."

Azaroth ignored him. Maybe he put too much, he thought. So he reduced it a little, but it still was as if he was taking his normal step.

When the others saw that the wall was now about to touch them, they began using essence for their legs.