Great! We continue the epic saga. Here's **Chapter 27**, a very long and tense chapter in which Zofia and her group face betrayal within the dungeon, challenging traps, and new puzzles:---

### CHAPTER 27 – Betrayal and Darkness

The group continued into the tunnel that led directly into the heart of the dungeon. The air was heavy and chilly, and the walls pulsed constantly with rune light. Every step was watched – by traps, by underground mechanisms, and… by someone else.

"I sense something evil," Elijah said, frowning. "One of us may not be who we seem. The dungeon is testing not only your abilities, but also your trust."

Zofia felt a chill run down her spine. She knew they had to trust each other until now, but now even one false move could cost them their lives.

As they entered the vast chamber, the walls were covered in mirrored runes, reflecting figures and creating illusory corridors. In the center stood a mechanism—a gigantic spinning wheel with levers, buttons, and puzzle pieces.

"This is a master's test," said Elijah. "You must arrange all the pieces in the correct order. If anyone decides to act alone or withholds information, the trap will activate immediately."

Zofia and the group sprang into action. Lira coordinated their movements, the scarred man arranged the order of the gears, and Zofia concentrated on matching the symbols she knew from previous traps.

Suddenly, they heard a cracking sound—the child who had been helping had pulled one of the levers in the wrong order. The spinning blades activated, and the runes began to pulse with a sharp red light.

"What are you doing?!" Zofia shouted, running toward him.

The child looked at her in fear. "I didn't mean to!" he whispered.

Zofia caught them at the last moment, and Elijah shouted, "Now you must act even faster! Every mistake costs money!"

The group, working in sync, stopped the spinning blades and returned the mechanism to a neutral state. But Zofia felt uneasy – someone in the group was clearly acting on their own.

"Someone's betraying us," Lira whispered, glancing at the prisoners. "Someone wanted the trap to activate."

Zofia decided to observe everyone. Her gaze fell on the scarred man – he was exceptionally calm, as if he knew what was coming. A feeling welled up in her heart that she needed to be vigilant.

At that moment, another trap activated. The floor began to open, creating swirling trenches full of spikes. The group had to jump and climb walls, avoiding death at every turn. Zofia led the group, her reflexes and logic allowing them to avoid the most dangerous threats.

When they reached the safe zone, Zofia confronted the scarred man. "Why did you do that?" she asked.

The man smiled bitterly. "I didn't do anything wrong... at least not according to my logic. But you must know – the dungeon tests everyone. It's not just about survival, but about who can keep their composure in the face of betrayal and traps."

Zofia felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. The dungeon not only presented them with physical threats but also tested their mental and collective trust.

After a moment of silence, the rune labyrinth opened a new passage – this time leading towards the artifact that was supposed to be the heart of the dungeon. However, before they could reach it, new puzzles emerged – logical, mechanical, and moral.

The first was a massive puzzle with gears and runes, the sequence of which had to be arranged not only in the correct order but also with moral choices in mind. Each choice activated or deactivated traps in other parts of the room.

Zofia analyzed each element, observing the reactions of the runes and mechanisms. Elijah assisted with observation, Lira with group coordination, and the prisoners tried to support each other, though the tension of betrayal still loomed.

After long, exhausting work, they managed to align all the elements correctly. The mechanism glowed with a bright light, and the underground seemed to embrace their success—their courage, cooperation, and morality had been rewarded.

Zofia felt a pang of relief, but she knew one thing—the underground was not yet defeated. Deeper still lay further trials, even more ruthless, even more complex. But now, after betrayal, struggle, and a series of traps, the group was stronger, united, and ready to face what awaited in the heart of the underground.

---

If you want, I can immediately prepare **Chapter 28 and beyond**, in which Zofia faces the **climactic underground sequence**: puzzles, traps, moral choices, betrayals, and a final showdown with the enemy faction in the underground – such a chapter will be truly long, epic, and full of tension.

Would you like me to continue in this direction?