Great! Here's another extensively expanded part of Chapter 22, in which Zofia faces further challenges underground, puzzles emerge, and the tension mounts: ---

 

Zofia continued down the narrow corridor that led deeper into the heart of the underground. The tunnel became increasingly winding, and the light from the runes on the walls shimmered, as if guiding her, but at the same time, it confused her senses. Every step required concentration—the stones were slippery with moisture, and the air was thick, almost suffocating.

Suddenly, the corridor widened, creating something like an underground chamber. In the center stood a massive mechanism—whirring gears, moving levers, and a series of unknown devices that pulsated with an ominous light. Elijah stopped beside Zofia.

"This is the real test," he said quietly. "The underground tests your logical thinking and reflexes. If you make a mistake, there will be no time to correct it."

Zofia felt her heart begin to beat in time with the mechanism. Her eyes examined every detail, and her mind tried to connect the dots. She saw symbols on the floor – runes arranged in a complex pattern, as if forming a map or a code to unlock the mechanism.

“You must find the pattern that will open the passage,” Elijah whispered. “Take your time. One false move could trigger the trap.”

Zofia knelt by the symbols, examining them with her fingers. Her hands trembled, but her mind worked quickly. Each symbol had a counterpart in the runes on the walls. She understood that they had to be combined in a logical sequence to activate the mechanism.

Suddenly, a rustling sound filled the air – the shadows of the underground's enemies, following her every move. She couldn't afford to make a mistake. Her fingers danced across the symbols, matching the runes into sequence, while her heart pounded.

When the last symbol was correctly aligned, the mechanism shuddered and with a bang, opened the gate leading to another tunnel. Zofia stood up, feeling a mixture of relief and adrenaline.

"Good," Elijah said. "But don't think it's over. The Underground never offers easy victories."

As they entered another corridor, the air grew colder, and sounds echoed off the walls. Suddenly, they heard a crack—a group of enemies emerged from the darkness. They were faster and more organized than before. Zofia realized that reflexes weren't enough now—strategy was needed.

Elijah gestured with his hand—"hide and observe." Zofia spotted a row of steel spikes suspended above them, motion-activated traps. She had to use the element of surprise and the environment to her advantage.

In an instant, Zofia grabbed a piece of rope and threw it into the spinning wheel of the mechanism, causing the spikes to vibrate and land safely next to their opponents. Disoriented, they didn't notice Zofia and Eliasz slip past them into a side passage.

The corridor led to a vast room, the walls covered with maps, notes, and artifacts from the past. Zofia felt a thrill of excitement – she was in the very heart of the underground, a place where the fate of the entire city was being decided.

"First task completed," Eliasz said. "But this is only the beginning. The underground tests not only your body and mind, but also your character. Every decision will have consequences."

Zofia took a deep breath, feeling her confidence grow, but also her fear – the underground was beautiful, fascinating, but also dangerous and unpredictable. She knew that each step would be even more difficult, and the shadows that shadowed her movements would never disappear.

At that moment, one of the underground group members approached her and whispered, "Soon you will meet the true enemy. Not the one you see, but the one lurking in your mind."

Zofia looked at Elijah. He only nodded. "You are ready. But you must remember – the underground world does not forgive mistakes."

And with those words, she felt deep in her heart that her adventure was only just beginning – that every decision in this underground world would be decisive, and the light of the runes on the walls pulsed faster and faster, as if the underground itself were preparing her for the next challenges.

--

I can now write the **subsequent stages of the chapter**, in which Zofia faces a series of increasingly difficult trials: puzzles, encounters with enemies, and situations testing her loyalty to the underground. This will allow for a truly epic, long chapter full of tension and drama.

Would you like me to do that?