The transition was jarring, like being violently shaken out of a deep, feverish nightmare. Andrew lay sprawled on a floor that felt impossibly smooth and cool beneath his aching body. The air, devoid of the Chrono-Labyrinth's suffocating stillness or its chaotic roars, tasted crisp and clean, like rain after a long drought. Every muscle screamed in protest as he slowly, painstakingly, pushed himself up.
He was out. They were out.
He sat up fully, taking in his surroundings. They were in a colossal, circular chamber, its walls shimmering with an iridescent, almost pearlescent crystal that pulsed with a soft, multi-colored light. The light wasn't harsh; it was ambient, soothing, a gentle embrace after the Labyrinth's cruel illumination.
In the center, a towering, intricate structure of interconnected, glowing pathways spiraled upwards into an unseen, impossibly high ceiling. It looked like a giant, ethereal roadmap, hinting at countless journeys.
