The Chaos Eaters walked out of the long corridor into the open arena. The crowd roars were deafening to most people. The Chaos Eaters formed a single line along with the other parties from the Highraesh Academy and the other Academies.
The Headmaster clapped his hands to regain silence. The crowd fell silent in a few minutes as pockets of yells were put down.
"Welcome to the 113th Guild-fest hosted by Highraesh Academy. Welcome Dresgund, Astheis, and Frizgud Academies. Welcome Guilds from around the world." the Headmaster announced, each academy cried out and all the Guilds roared from under their banners.
"Now. Now. As adventurers we must face unknown situations with the trust of our party members, that they will always have our backs. With that being said, let's move onto our first event. Ms. Redus if you please." the Headmaster motioned to the Academy nurse.
Ms. Redus revealed a large wheel, with a pull of her arm the wheel started to spin. After several seconds passed and the wheel started to slow.
The tension from the wait was horrendous to some, who relived themselves of their breakfasts. Even Pricusla was a little green from the tension.
With a final click, the wheel stopped.
"Our first event is The Labyrinth. The contestants will have to traverse the Labyrinth to it's center and defeat the Guardian of the Labyrinth. To help weed out so many of you unfortunately. Each of the Party Leaders was given a card." the Headmaster informed them, holding up a gold card with the number 0 emblazoned on it.
"Your opposition has the same number and color. If you happen to cross paths with them, then a Sudden Death Match will occur. With the winners taking place to the next event. You will not get any time to reinvigorate yourselves if this is to happen. Example, if two teams manage to fight and only one person is left on the winning team, only this person will advance." the Headmaster explained, "Now with out further explanations. Advance and Conquer."
The Headmaster waved his hands. One by one the parties disappeared into the Labyrinth.
"Please focus your attention onto the screens, the festival is about to begin!!!" the Headmaster announced to the crowd, who roared loudly in approval.
****
Somewhere near the South East corner of the Labyrinth
****
Wayland looked around for other combatants before turning to his party.
"Okay guys, ideas?" Wayland asked, looking for suggestions for what they had been thrown in to.
"Splitting up would be an unwise choice. The Headmaster issued those cards to cause havoc amongst the parties. Which card do we have?" Trusga pointed out, seeing the hazard that they had been put in to.
"All we have to do is dodge green number 3, while traversing a maze that is probably filled with traps." Synclade informed the group, after Wayland showed them the card.
"So, the best option would be to have Wayland send out a few of his Shadow Pack to see the safest route to the next intersection." Pricusla offered, seeing as the Shadow Wolves would regenerate as long as Wayland had mana.
"Good idea Pricusla, Come Forth my pack." Wayland commanded, several shadows shooting off of his own to form the Shadow Wolves.
"We need you to find us safe passage to the next intersection. If you happen to see a party with this card." Wayland informed them, showing the green number 3 card. "Hunt them down. We can afford no delays, understood?"
The wolves nodded before splitting off and searching for the safest routes.
"Okay guys are we set?" Wayland asked, checking his equipment.
"Yes Captain. Let's show them that Chaos Eaters are not one to trifle with." Trusga answered, pulling a greatsword from his back.
"Please, after Hel Month. This will be a walk in the park." Synclade answered, nocking an arrow to her bow string.
"Did you have to ask?" Pricusla answered with a smirk, magic dancing from her fingertips.
A single Shadow Wolf reappeared from the left hand corridor as they finished doing their final checks.
"Alright Chaos Eaters, let's move." Wayland told them as he pulled his hood over, shadowing the upper half of his face.
****
Further in the Labyrinth
****
"Gah, this is so boring." a heavily armored man yelled out loudly.
"Geez Argos, why don't you yell a little more. Do you want the other teams to find us?" a cloaked woman asked the heavy armored man.
"Pfft, it'd be easier than running around this death trap. Right Clause?" Agros asked a thin man with glasses.
"Agros, Delfine. Shut up or i'll cook you both." Clause told the two, glaring at them.
Suddenly he shot a lightning bolt down a corridor on his right.
"What the hell!! If that's not a big 'hey we are over here.' i don't know what would." Argo stated, looking down the corridor where Clause had shot.
Argo pulled his shield out, sensing an unnatural intent.
"Get ready guys." Argo calmly told the rest of the party. A cool breeze flowed down the hall.
"Where did this breeze come from?" Delfine asked, suddenly afraid.
"I don't know." Clause informed them, shaking slightly.
Suddenly dozens of red eyes were seen in the pitch blackness.
"Roar!!!!" a giant orc appeared in front of the party, swinging a great sword.
"Shit, it's a Great Orc!" Clause yelled, starting to chant a spell.
"I'll draw him in." Argo informed his party,
"Grrrr." the Great Orc called out, suddenly a short Goblin shot out of the corridor and fired an
Argo blocked the
"The Hel, a Goblin Mage to?" Delfine asked suprised.
"Turg nesh." The Goblin Mage said to the Great Orc.
"Neg, est alshe." The Great Orc replied to the goblin's comment.
Suddenly a howl came from the other three corridors that lead to the opening. Clause and Delfine froze with spine chilling fear.
A dark figure walked out, "Est, nick datc mela? Desatee Groel. Heft." The dark figure pointed at the three companions, suddenly the party was set upon by black wolves.
The screams could be heard across the labyrinth.
****
Chaos Eaters
****
"Huh, why didn't they under stand us?" Synclade asked, appearing amongst the group. She was basically their back up plan if things went south.
"I don't know." Wayland told her, the group had been scouting a route to the center when suddenly a bolt of lightning had shot at Wayland. If it had not been for the quick thinking of Trusga, who deflected the spell with his great sword, Wayland would have been knocked out of the tournament.
They followed that corridor and came across a group of Kolbolds, Pricusla had sent out a
Trusga then rushed out and cast
"Gahlish, nit dea!!!" the Kolbold Mage yelled.
Another of the Kolbolds slammed a shield in front of the rest of it's group.
" Ess, writ dakes om." the shield Kolbold announced.
Suddenly Pricusla shot forward and shot an
" I thought Kolbolds were hunters?" Trusga commented to Pricusla.
"They are, why are the defending?" Pricusla asked.
" I don't think they are Kolbolds. Shadow Pack. Hunt." Wayland ordered as he came out of the corridor.
The Shadow Pack surged forth and swarmed the group.
"That's over. Now let's keep moving to the center." Wayland ordered as they started moving again.
'Attention contestants, it has been 20 minutes since you have entered. 10 parties have been eliminated.' A voice echoed through out the labyrinth. 'There will be a small change.'
Suddenly the labyrinth started shaking and the walls started to move.
"Shit, the Labyrinth is shifting. Everyone stay close together." Wayland ordered, standing back to back with his party.
Walls suddenly shot between the group, blocking them from each other.
"Damn, what the Hel now?" Wayland asked, slamming his palm against the newly formed wall.
"Wayland, what do we do?" Pricusla asked, scared of what would happen next.
"We have to keep moving forward. Meet up in the middle of the labyrinth. I'll send a wolf to help you." Wayland comforted Pricusla.
A wolf appeared out of Pricusla's shadow. The wolf nudged Pricusla's hand, letting her know it was there before returning to her shadow.
'Okay, i can do this. One step... at... a... time....' Pricusla told herself, slowly walking forward.
Trusga walked warily down a new corridor, coming to an intersection he made a mark on the lower corner of the corridor he exited. He was about to go into the left corridor when a large yeti shot down into the intersection.
Trusga brought his great sword up and blocked a punch from the beast.
Grunting, he forced the beast back.
The yeti growled and slammed his fist into the ground, a crater formed under it fists. The yeti picked up a boulder from the crater and threw it at Trusga.
A Shadow Wolf eased around the shadows of the wall, watching the battle unfold. As it searched for an opening, suddenly an image flickered in front of it's eyes. Only for a split second, but instead of a yeti. There was a large man in a vest and slacks.
The wolf shook it's head slightly. Trying to see if it was an effect of the light. Yet again, the image flickered. Showing a man instead of a beast.
The wolf crouched down to jump on the man's, beast's, whatever it was, back. As the wolf leapt, the creature turned and grabbed the wolf in mid-air.
The creature roared at the wolf before throwing it into Trusga, who rolled with the wolf to make sure it wasn't damaged to much.
"What is with this beast?" Trusga asked, slowly trying to figure this situation out.
The wolf bumped him and nodded at the yeti.
The split second image happened again, only this time Trusga saw it.
"Wait? What was...." Trusga tried to ask, when suddenly the yeti rushed forward and slammed into his great sword.
The yeti nashed it's teeth at Trusga, trying to bite his neck.
Trusga slammed his fist into the yeti's face, forcing the creature to back off. The Lizardman swung his tail around, tripping the yeti. With a sudden
The yeti could do nothing but howl in pain as he was pummeled. The yeti howled once more before Trusga knocked it out.
*Ding*
You have gained 100 experience. You are now Level 6. You have earned 3 statistic points. Would you like to distribute them now?> 'Huh? Why would the system say i beat a Barbarian when this is a yeti?' Trusga thought to himself. Trusga suddenly looked at his display and found a bubble icon. 'Could i contact Wayland with this?' Trusga asked himself, pressing the button. A window opened with four names in the box. Self. Wayland. Pricusla. Synclade.> "Interesting, let's try it out." Trusga told the Shadow Wolf, who cocked it's head. **** Synclade **** Synclade was scouting a corridor, easing across the wall when suddenly a voice came into her head. 'Testing, testing, can anyone hear me?' the voice echoed out. Synclade swiftly turned her head back the way she came. 'HELLLOOOOO LABYRINTH PLAYERS???' the voice called out. 'Who in the Hel is this?!' Synclade called out in her mind. 'Synclade is that you?' the voice asked. 'Again. Who the Hel is this?' Synclade thought out. ' It's Trusga. I found a 'chat' picture in the system.' Trusga informed Synclade. 'What? So we can talk to each other, without being around one another? Like 'Pricusla?' Synclade asked, watching her surroundings carefully. 'Yep, still wondering around in the dark here.' Pricusla answered with a frightened tone. 'Have you guys noticed anything weird about this maze?' Wayland asked the group. 'The system said i defeated a Level 7 Barbarian, yet it was a yeti i fought.' Trusga informed the group. 'Guys, i got a problem.' Pricusla told them. Standing in front of her was 3 tall thin Lich Mages, who were talking to one another. 'Shit, how do i get out of this?' Pricusla asked herself. 'Use the Shadow Wolf you have attached to you to sneak around the enemy.' Wayland ordered via the chat. 'Yeah, i'll just hop on it's back and we'll just sink into the shadow around the base of the wall.' Pricusla replied sarcastically. 'Actually...' Wayland started. 'What?! You actually knew about that and didn't tell us!' Pricusla exclaimed, 'Do you know how much time we could have spent avoiding these monsters?' 'It only works for a few seconds, just enough to get across an intersection. Now hurry up before whoever they are sees you.' Wayland ordered her. Pricusla looked at her shadow before walking back a little before she tapped her shadow. The shadow wolf, who was accompanying her, emerged from her shadow. She then jumped on it's back. Pricusla shivered slightly as she watched the three Lich Mages turn to where she had been. Suddenly the Lich Mages shot several spells in that direction. Pricusla looked at the wolf who jerked it's head in the opposite direction. Pricusla shook her head, now was a perfect opportunity to try and level up. The Lich Mage started chanting and shot a 'Lich Mages only know how to use Chaotic Magic. Why is using Earth Magic?' Pricusla wondered, shooting our a The Lich Mage staggered and grabbed it's arm. Pulling back it's withered hand, blood seeped out of the cut. 'No, Lich Mages are undead creatures. They can't feel pain or bleed. So.... by Yggdrasil!!!' Pricusla came to a conclusion, just as she got hit with a dual Wayland was easing around a corner when suddenly an emergency window appeared in front of his face half startling him. *Ding* 'Huh? How is Pricusla not in the area?' Wayland asked to himself, he hit the [Yes] box. Defeat the Level 6 Earth Mage. Rewards: Earring of Enlightenment, 100 experience, 4 statistic points.> 'Now where is this 'Earth Mage' ? ' Wayland thought to himself. Suddenly a map appeared before him, a red dot appeared on the map. A green arrow was one corridor down and one to the left of the red dot. Wayland walked forward with the map open, the arrow moves forward. Wayland took a few steps back, the arrow backed up. 'So, I'm the arrow. I need to head up this corridor and turn left. Then defeat this 'Earth Mage'. Let's get going.' Wayland thought to himself as he moved up. Just what was going on. **** In the stadium **** A cloaked figure watched as the contestants slowly were putting it together. 'The only one to full understand what was happening has been eliminated.' the figure thought. "Enjoying the show Envy?" a masculine voice asked of to the figures right side. "Pronucs, you know we are not allowed to say our 'occupations' in public." Envy told Pronucs, turning to the man. Pronucs was a rich nobleman, who had come to inquire the new adventurers for his guild. The Crimson Moon always hired the sneakiest of adventurers, the ones who would do the quest and then slit your throat if they could. "The tournament is proving intriguing. I wonder how they'll shape up if we intervened?" Envy asked Pronucs, smirking slightly. "Oh? What games do you have in store?" Pronucs asked the cloaked figure. "You'll have to see, Ledath placed a mark on one of the contestants. Let's play some head games with them. Shall we?" Envy asked the man, not needing permission. Envy then waved their hand slightly, a sickly greenish hue formed around it. **** Inside the Labyrinth **** Wayland was just about to turn into the left corridor when suddenly a half rotted hand reached out of the shadows toward him. "Gah!!" Wayland exclaimed, jumping back. "Why Wayland? Why didn't you save us?" A half rotted adult Synclade appeared after the hand. "What do you think I'm doing?" Wayland asked, shaken to his core from seeing Synclade half rotted. "You took all the glory for yourself. What did you do for us, but lead us to death." another voice accused him. Wayland spun to see Garned bleeding heavily, from several wounds across his body. "Garned? But the Demon Lord...?" Wayland started, only to be grabbed by Trusga from behind Half his snout was missing, an eyeless vision peered at him. "You killed us, you are no better than the Demon Lord." Trusga told him in a chilling voice. "No, no. I'm trying to do better, i promise. I'm going to make sure we all survive this time." Wayland tried to explain, only to trip over a bloody Pricusla. "Why not give up? You can't change the past or future. Give up and join us." Pricusla told him, her half torn face bleeding heavily. *Ding* Haunting Detected. Resisting Haunting. Haunting Resisted.> Suddenly all the horrible nightmarish forms of his friends and comrades were gone. The cold sweat from the experience was still lingering on Wayland's body and mind. He curled onto the floor and started to sob lightly. **** In the stadium **** Wayland's screen showed him curling into a ball. "Huh, he resisted your "The effects still worked in our favor. Whatever he saw is his weakness. We must know what it was." Envy informed Pronucs, eyeing the teenager. Suddenly an intense aura could be felt as it washed over the stadium. Envy and Pronucs felt a shiver running down their spines. Envy 'That boy is really special.' Envy thought as the figure melted into the forest. Pronucs had to sit as clamly as he could, knowing his comrade had already left. The aura was intense, almost deafening. If he moved even one centimeter, he knew he would become the target of this person's wrath. The source was coming from someone who was pissed that this man, no, this thing on the floor was the one who had won not only the person's heart but beat them through cunning and strength. Deina was aggravated, no enraged. Someone had done this to her darling. Moments before Wayland started looking around and yelling at nothing, she felt a slight spike of negative magical energy towards him. That kiss in the training room not only proved to witnesses that he was her husband, but also placed a sensing charm on him. So that no ill will could not be felt towards him with out her knowing about it. That is how she knew that he cared deeply for the companion called Synclade, when the two had shared that intimate moment before the start of the tournament. She still needed to put her plan into motion, but that would be when Wayland was more comfortable. Deina forced herself to calm down and send positive energy to her beloved. **** In the Labyrinth **** A wave of energy forced it's way into Wayland's core. A pleasant feeling of love and caring. This energy helped Wayland slowly pull himself together. Slowly he pulled himself up off the floor. *Ding* 'Deina.' Wayland thought, unknowingly causing the Amazon Queen to smile a predatory grin. Which caused her servants to gulp slightly, and shiver from the look she had. Wayland moved into the intersection Pricusla was last in to see that instead of Lich Mages, there was a person trying to wake up his fellow mages. "Frisnt, Herdal. You guys suck if you got knocked out by a goblin mage. Wake up." the only conscious mage berated his party members, as he tried to wake them. "If they got hit with my mage's The conscious mage turned to the voice to see a hooded figure step out of the shadows. The hooded figure was wearing leather gauntlets, with a dagger on it's right hip. "Who are you?" the mage asked, taking aim at the figure. "I wouldn't if i were you. Alpha." the figure commanded. Suddenly the mage felt a chilling breath on his neck, turning he saw a huge black wolf staring at him. Uttering a tiny scream the mage crab walked away from the snarling beast. He backed up so fast that he bumped into an object. Looking up he saw that he had backed into the hooded figure. "So you are the one that knocked my mage out of the tournament?" the hooded figure asked. "Yes, i'm sorry. I didn't know that goblin was with you, please don't kill me." the mage cried, getting on his knees and begging. "No. You hurt a friend of mine, but i won't hurt you. Cuz my other friend here will do that." the figure told the mage. "Who?" the mage asked, suddenly a pain came from his ankle. Looking down he saw an arrow in his leg, panicking he looked to were the arrow came from. A silver haired Drow walked out of the shadows holding a great bow. "You hurt my friend. I'll torture you nice and slow." the Drow informed the mage. "What? No. What about the rules?" the mage asked. "The rules say that until you are below a certain health level you will be sent to a infirmary suit. But you are not at that level yet. You won't be anytime soon, cuz i will heal you just enough to keep you here." the Drow informed him. The mage looked on in horror, suddenly he was in an infirmary bed. The bed was going to need new sheets as the man relieved himself. Wayland drew Gileon back into his ring form after he had sliced off the man's head. "Awww, you ended it to quick. Can't i tease some people?" Synclade asked, pouting slightly at Wayland had done. "Only if it's me beautiful." Wayland flirted with his Sniper. "Blah, if you guys flirt any more then you'll have to send out marriage invitations." a rough voice came from a corridor. "Trusga, nice of you to join us." Wayland commented, as the Lizardman walked into the field of vision. "So Pricusla is out. What now?" Synclade asked. "We keep going." Wayland stated, picking up the Earring of Enlightenment. Four statistic points awarded, would you like to distribute them?> "This will help with *Ding* "Huh?" Wayland looked at the screen stunned.