Chereads / The Eight Gates / Chapter 3 - The Labyrinth

Chapter 3 - The Labyrinth

What if they send those who will fail home? I can't go back there failing my parents. I ran as fast as I can, I invoked low flame to cover myself and headed to the entrance of the labyrinth.

This labyrinth is one of those solo-training platforms that prevents being with other bumping into them, until a convergence point is reached. It also changes from time to time and involves fights against Koros or Monsters that applies different capability field. I was heading straight when I reached a dead end.

" No ! Dead end?!"

I looked around me and lit a few walls, but nothing is there but still darkness. I began to feel desperation, my anger level rose that made the cold flames covering me turn to blue. It doesn't hurt me but my surroundings started to melt.I was about to head back when words started to appear in the wall beside me. A riddle.

"One magus that leads the other to greatness, one who serves as a mountain to shield . Tears will flood in the moment of her death , and will damp the land of men "

Someone that is a leader , oh a woman . Could it be Aria of the fifth gate? They say she was the visser of Beauty and Leadership , she was also has the dominance over water and liquids. Wait ,aria did not die, she was sealed. Oh common , do I have to be this dumb ?! Is this the end for me? Wait..... I remember asking grandpa about who is the greatest leader, and I clearly remember his answer

"Every man is a born leader. Every one of us can manage and unite a group . But for me, the greatest leader will be our mothers , they serves as walls before us." I muttered my grandfather's answer.

Grandpa ! You really are my savior !

Mo...mother. Yeah ! And of course when a mother dies we will all be weeping. Thats it ! I grabbed my crystal pen and wrote mother in the labyrinth wall. As soon as I finished writing , the wall faded and completely vanished. On its cue, I ran again.

I was walking straight the path from the wall when I got stucked again. There are three doors in front of me. This is a test of how clerical we are. 'Bummer on my side' I thought out loud.

"You are given a choice of three, nothing inside would be free. A challenge will happen in any of the door. You may bump onto someone you already know."

The first door was my first choice, It looked too small for a Koro to be inside , but the third door attracted me. I unconsciously headed towards it and grabbed the knob. At first there was nothing inside.

The total silence and the complete darkness killed my senses.

"Torchlight" I summoned a ball of fire to light my way. I headed into a direction I believe was straight.

"Hmp ! You made me wait ! Now prepare !" someone snickered

I directed my torchlight into where the voice came. There was a man standing, he has the same body structure like me. I was speechless , he looks so tough, how can I defeat such guy.

"What are you waiting for? Wave your pen ! This needs to be quick !" He smirked and waved his pen, a declaration of a duel.

"The winner continues and the flunker will be teleported back to the entrance, hmp. I'll make this quick !" He explained

I waved my crystal pen and the field started to appear, fields are randomly chosen unless specified by the challenged party. A forest, well played , gives me both advantage and disadvantage. He ran deep inside the forest , he's a Physical Arcana User, an enhancer, stat is speed. With this battlefield , he can overpower me. I decidedto burn some of the trees surrounding me to grant me more vision and mobility. I assume he has his own weapon, Physical Maguses uses weapons to enhance their potentials.

I closed my eyes for they may just confuse me, I concentrated to find where is he. But I was too slow , two sword slashes hit me . I blocked the first but the second hit me in my knee. He's a hit and run opponent. I closed my eyes and covered myself in flames, another hit may impale me real bad, I need to prevent and evade him.

I can sense something getting near, but I can't measure the distance. He's going to strike again ! I jumped as high as I can and opened my eyes.

"Armageddon" I shouted. Casting a spell that shoots burning stones from the sky. He was too fast but for each stone that hits the ground is another falling from above. He evaded most of it but I know the heat gave him scars and burns. I saw him standing straight in front of me , slightly wounded and breathing heavily just like me. Casting Area Splash attacks and skills drains energy or magoi. He ran towards me , but he seemed to be slower. He's slower but I'm too weak to cast another skill.But I had no choice, I need to force myself to fight ! If I won't , I'll lose ! No !!! I can't lose !!!

"Flamewheel!!!!"

I covered myself in fire and prepared to collide with him. Flamewheel will shield me from enough damage - I thought.

~Tugssss *Explosion*

We were sent flying into the air , then both hit the ground hard. I don't have much strength anymore to get up, but my will pushes me to it. I know I will win if I get up ! And I NEED TO WIN !! From my desperation, I gathered every last drop of my strength and consciousness to stand up inch by inch, my vision started to blur. I got up but in a few seconds collapsed again.

"Did I won?" I muttered weakly