"It seems we are down to half on the contestants. I think it's time to press them into the center." the Headmaster informed the crowd.
The crowd roared with approval.
****
Inside the Labyrinth
****
Walls shot up around the labyrinth. Slowly they moved toward the center. The competitors that were furthest away from the center were panicking because of the rising walls.
Fortunately the Chaos Eaters were closer to the center.
"Huh?" Wayland asked, sounding dumbfounded.
"What are his evolutions?" Wayland asked the system.
Due to the subject's statistics you are able to chose between the Hellhound Class, the Shadow Mutt Class, or the Shadow Kitsune Class. Due to the higher Agility statistic , the Shadow Kitsune Class is reccommended.> "Information *Ding* In Ancient times, these beings were thought of a tricksters and thieves. The truth was that their high magic and fondness of pride caused them to trick and steal from rich noble men and return the money to the poor. The Shadow Kitsune was marked as a herald of Death to some as it would appear to those who had committed horrendous crimes against nature or the universe. They would then dispense punishment and then disappear again.> "Hmm. What would happen if i didn't?" Wayland asked the system. "Shit, how long until implosion?" Wayland asked the system. 'So i have 12 hours to find out everything i need to know.' Wayland thought as he wanted to research the Classes that Gileon could evolve into. "Captain, i think something is happening to the labyrinth." Trusga informed Wayland as he felt the ground tremble slightly. "I hope it's not another split up." Synclade told them, readying her bow. Walls from the floor of the labyrinth shot up and blocked all but one of the exits. "Huh, i guess this is the way we go." Wayland said as he pulled his hood back over his head. **** Center of the Labyrinth **** A glow came from the center of the room. A trio of figures stepped out of the glow. "These humans and their games." a short figure commented to the others. "I know, they are so silly. Can i still play with them?" the thin figure asked childishly. "You know we are only here to hunt the one that snatched our little brother." a hulking figure told the two. "Yes, yes. If he was even snatched." the short one pondered. "The only one strong enough to summon a Shadow Creature is a Void Walker. And the last Walker was over a thousand years ago." the hulking figure told them. The figure then pulled out an axe and set it down on the floor, it then sat next to the axe. "Let's see who stole our widdle brother from us." the thin figure said giggling to themselves, twirling a dagger. "Tch, I'll just sit out. If it becomes interesting, maybe I'll join." the short figure informed the two sitting down in the center. **** Chaos Eaters **** "Are we close to the Center already?" Synclade asked, watching the corridors that weren't sealed yet. "Almost there. Wait." Wayland answered, stopping at an intersection that had all the corridors open still. "Why, did...." Trusga started to ask, then his reptilian senses kicked in. Through his naked feet, shoes were uncomfortable for him, he felt tremors of heavy feet. "Enemies." Trusga answered himself. "Pack, heel." Wayland commanded in a controlled voice. He was still on edge from the His wolves appeared down corridors, through walls and swiftly emerged with his shadow. His eyes flashed silver after they all entered his shadow. "Now let's see who is coming." Wayland cautioned his team. Suddenly a huge great axe came hurling through intersection aimed at Wayland. With ease he dodged the axe and grabbed it in mid air. "That was some impressive strength. Must be a Warrior in their group." Wayland inquired, flipping the axe upside down and slammed the head halfway into the ground. The "Analyse" Wayland prompted. Analysis failed. Need further data to complete analysis. > "So boring, come on out. Trusga already has a new weapon." Wayland goaded into the shadows. "I'm surprised you caught my axe. Almost no one can wield it." a gruff voice called out from the shadows of the corridor. A bare leg stepped out, the leg was massive almost as big as Trusga's whole body. Then a giant of a man followed the leg into the light. A card shined around his neck, green 3. Behind him a thin man with a wiry mustache. Finally a cat man appeared sitting on the huge mans shoulder. "Dretus, do you have to sit on my shoulder?" the giant man asked, shrugging his shoulder. Making Dretus jump off and land on all fours. "It saves me energy to inflict more damage to our enemies." Dretus informed the giant man. "Enough you two. They have a green 3 card. So we must do Sudden Death. Now the only question is, one on one or party on party?" the mustached man asked, settling against by the open corridor. "How about we do an elimination. One of us fights until they can't then the next person steps in." the giant man suggested, seeing that he was not only strong. He was also intelligent. "That is an excellent approach. But who to send first. Hmmmm, Sterdnas why don't you go first." the mustached man suggested to his giant party member. "Huh? Why me?" Sterdnas asked, looking confused. "You have the most Stamina, Neanderthal." Dretus informed everyone. 'That means he can last the longest. Unless he uses to much in battle, that means....' Wayland thought. "Fine, we accept the elimination challenge. Who is your first fighter?" Wayland questioned, not showing his cards yet. Sterdnas stepped forward, "That'll be me, whose my opponent?" Wayland pushed Synclade forward, nearly making her fall over. "What? Why me? I mean, why do i have to fight him. He's huge!!!" Synclade exclaimed, turning to Wayland. "You are faster than him. All you have to do is dodge his attacks, use up all his Stamina and he'll be easy pickings." Wayland whispered in her ear, "I'll also....., deal?" "Deal. Giggle." Synclade giggled with happiness as she stepped forward. "Boy if i lose to you, i'll kill you outside of here." Synclade shot forward with her short swords dragging the ground, her speed was only out paced by Wayland's. Sterdnas slammed his foot down causing the room to shift slightly. Synclade smirked as she used Sterdnas grunted as a small cut appeared on his hand. "One cut is nothing, but how about a thousand?" A voice from behind asked. Whirling around he saw no one there, only to feel another flash of pain. This time on his thigh, there was a small ribbon of crimson appeared before another flash of pain was felt. Dretus watched Synclade as she flashed back and forth. 'Huh, she's fast. We picked the wrong way to fight this one.' Dretus thought out. " 3 o'clock." the mustached man called out to Strednas. Strednas thrust his hand forward, hitting Synclade's short swords. One of them stuck in his hand from the force. Synclade jumped back holding onto the other sword. She glared at the mustached man. "Hey, we didn't say we wouldn't help. Just that we wouldn't fight." the man informed them, this was true. "Bahahaha, i have one of your toys now little she-elf. I'll take great pleasure in getting more from you." Strednas taunted Synclade, eyeing her lustfully. 'Grrr.... No, calm down. Kill later.' Wayland forces to calm himself, his knuckles turning white from the pressure of his fists. "Wayland!!! Could i borrow your dagger?" Synclade asked sweetly. 'System can my weapon be used by my party members?' Wayland asked the system. "Yes you can, i would like it back when you are done." Wayland informed his teammate, tossing his dagger at her. Synclade caught the dagger easily, she then stuck her tongue out and licked the dagger in a slight sadistic manner. *Ding* 'Yes.' Wayland answered the system as he pondered what "Hehehehe, now let's play." Synclade giggled outloud, it was like a complete 180 degrees of her usual shy self. 'I wonder if she's like this in.... No, focus on problem now. Fantasize later.' Wayland thought, he was after all a teenage boy. Strednas pulled Synclade's short sword out of his hand, then three it of to the side. He then spread his arms and legs wide, almost as if he was waiting for her to run straight in. Synclade smiled lightly, then a dazed look came over her face. Suddenly she sprinted in and at the last second she dodged a fist that was slung at her. It was almost as if she turned into a different person, Wayland mused about this until one of his memories sprung forward. The memory of when he first meet her, they had fought to a stalemate until she switched personalities due to her brainwashing by her family. They had come up with a safe word for just in case she went rouge. 'What was it?' Wayland racked his brains to find the word. *Ding* Kobra's Venom has been activated, target will lose 2 health per second.> "Huh?" Wayland was pulled from his musing to see that Synclade had some blood on her face, but Strednas was kneeling on the ground from about 30 cuts. Apparently those were the ones that got through as Strednas' metal bracelets had deep scores in them from blocking. "How long was i thinking?" Wayland asked Trusga who had been watching the whole fight. "About a minute." Trusga answered his Captain. "We need to stop her, she'll kill everyone in a few seconds." Wayland warned, running forward. Synclade suddenly froze and dropped her head. Her hair unraveled out of her ponytail and started swaying in an invisible wind. "Adesh, noct desa?" Synclade asked, looking around. "Uhhh, what?" Strednas' asked, looking confused. "Adesh, noct desa?" Synclade asked again, this time gripping Fenrir's Tooth hard. "Shit, she's gonna panic if we don't stop her." Wayland informed everyone, causing them to look at him with confusion. "What do you, GAHHHH!!!" Strednas' question was cut off as Synclade jumped at him, slicing his arm off. *Ding* Subdue Synclade before she kills the party. Reward: Improved Relationship with Synclade Do you accept?> "Yes." Wayland told the system, as he dodged a slice. His voice had set off her danger sensor. "What was the word or was it a phrase?" Wayland asked himself, dodging his dagger. The mustached man started to creep forward, he was almost within striking distance when Synclade stopped. "Oh shit, Trusga DOWN NOW!!!" Wayland ordered yelling at the Lizardman. Trusga sensing the urgent tone in his voice dropped like a stone thrown into a lake. A dark blade swung around Synclade as she pivoted on her feet like a ballet dancer. A murderous ballet dancer. "Shi-blahhhh" was all the mustachied man got out before he was sliced to ribbons, as was Strednas. Dretus was hanging from the ceiling, the blades of darkness swept under him. 'What the Hel is this woman?' Dretus was terrified, he wasn't like cats with nine lives. He also didn't want to find out if he did. "Damn it, the word or phrase. It was, Diem de Nocta." Wayland half whispered. Synclade suddenly stopped spinning, frozen for half a second before letting out a high pitch scream that made everyone cover their ears. Synclade then collapsed on the ground. **** In the Stadium **** "How does that boy know the command phrase!!??" A tall male Drow asked himself, the elf was shaking with fury. He had spent years, brainwashing her to be the perfect killing machine. "Even she doesn't know the command phrase." A female Drow informed the male. "Silence, only speak when spoken." the male reminded her. The female Drow shrinked as the man raised his hand slightly. "Son. Enough." an older Drow ordered. "Yes Father." the male Drow acknowleged. **** In the Labyrinth **** Synclade was currently resting, her head laid down on Wayland's cloak. "Sigh, what am i gonna do with you?" Wayland asked the unconscious beauty before him. "Well with that taken care of. Shall we get back to business?" Wayland asked Dretus, who had smoothed down his ruffled fur. "Why? Both my team mates are gone thanks to her. Now we can relax for a bit. Actually between us two, er three, they needed to relax." Dretus slyly smirked, he then pulled a dagger and stabbed himself. "Good.. cough.... luck...." Dretus smirked as he was transported to the healing area. "Scaredy cat, son of a...." Wayland started to insult him, but a sound behind him made him turn around. Synclade had woken to find herself looking up at the ceiling. 'Huh, i lost.' She thought to herself, before realizing how hard her bed was. Looking around, she came to the realization that she was still in the Labyrinth. "I won?" Synclade asked, sitting up. As she sat up a wave of disorientation hit her. "What?" She started, to find herself wrapped in a warm embrace. "Wayland? What happened?" Synclade asked, feeling wetness on her forehead. Pulling back, she realized that the man she has started to fall in love with was crying. "I thought i lost you to your darkness." Wayland told her in a coded statement. One that she knew to well, one of the reasons she wanted to leave her parents behind her. The brainwashing had been her father's idea after all. Her mother had long since broken from the stress placed on her. First the disgrace of bearing a girl as a first born, and then almost losing the second child. Synclade had to force herself not to become what her father wanted. "Synclade, let's finish this and move on to the next event." Wayland calmly told her, easing her up so the party could move on. "Yes, that would be wise." Trusga commented, pulling the giant war axe out of the ground with some difficulty. "Damn Wayland, you didn't have to push it in that deep." Trusga berated him aggravated as he finally pulled it out. "Sorry, the guy threw it at me." Wayland commented, almost snickering. "Let's get ready for the final push, the Center is up next." **** The Center of the Labyrinth **** The hulking shadowed figure swung his axe, decapitatiting the monster that had risen from the ground. "What are the humans gonna do now?" the short figure asked, seeing the Guardian of the Labyrinth was now destroyed. "We'll play with them." the thin figure answered, twirling a dagger between her fingers. The hulking figure stood up as a light came into view. "Our first guests have arrived. Remember we have a short amount of time." the figure informed the others. The thin and short figures nodded, knowing that the window of opportunity they had was closing fast. Wayland stepped into the Center as the massive figure threw off his cloak and gripped his battle axe with both hands. *Ding* An enemy is using Due to your numerous battles your resistance is Killing Intent resisted.> "So who are you exactly?" Wayland asked the figure, seeing a giant black dragonkin and behind him were a shirt figure and a thin figure. ' *Ding Analysis at 50% Subject: Unknown Race: Shadow Dragonkin Class: Fighter Stats: Unknown> Wayland flicked his eyes to the thin figure, seeing them ready themselves. Subject: unknown Race: Unknown Class: Assassin Stats: Unknown> Finally the roving eyes settled on the squat figure in the back. Subject: Unknown Race: Unknown Class: Unknown Stats: Unknown> *Ding* "Who are you guys?" Wayland asked again, holding out his hand having Gileon form into a scythe. The blade was now 5 inches longer, scraping the ground with it's blade tip. "We have come for out little brother." the hulking figure informed the party as Synclade and Trusga readied themselves for a fight. The *Ding* "Shit, We're gonna have to do this fast." Wayland informed his party. Wayland suddenly dodged to the side as the giant Shadow Dragonkin slammed his axe where he had just been standing. "Trusga, take him." Wayland ordered, dodging the sweeping attack from the Dragonkin. "Hmh." Trusga nodded, slamming his sword by the width if the blade against the axe handle. "Tsk, this worm is in the way of my quarry." the Dragonkin told the thin figure, "Help me." "Pfft, so needy." the thin figure snarked at the Dragonkin. The thin figure blurred it's way to Wayland, only to stop short when Synclade's short sword intercepted it's dagger. "You get to play with me first." Synclade informed the thing figure. The figures smiled a predatory smile before flipping back and getting low to start her attack. Wayland finally got to his target, the short figure. Out of all of them, this one was the most dangerous. "Please, won't you have a seat?" the short figure asked, as he pulled out a bottle of honey colored liquid. "Heh, why not." Wayland replied as he sat down and took the glass that was offered to him. Smelling it, Wayland found that it had a sweet aroma almost like honey and something else. "Ah, Nectar is so delectable." the short figure told the budding Necromancer. "Nectar?" Wayland asked, curious as he had read that the only way to gather 'Nectar' was from either the gods or be in well with the guardians of Yggdrasil. "Yes, 100% pure. None of that watered down bull that these 'noble' humans consume. Oh, i'm sorry i forgot to introduce myself. It's @#&$... Really, you know i'm a nice guy and yet you still cut out my name." the short guy yells upwards, almost as if he is calling someone out. "Sigh, okay to the point. Gileon, i know you are there." the figure announced, looking at Wayland's ring. Gileon slowly pulled himself into his puppy form. 'Hehe, hi big brother.' Gileon answered bashfully. "Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. Is this human your master? Are you being taken care of? Are you taking care of him? And finally who is this man to you?" the short figure asked Gileon as he watched the fights. Trusga and the Dragonkin where both beating themselves bloody. One would cut the other and the same amount would be dealt with to the other. Synclade was barley scrapping by, having to stay on her toes to avoid this woman's blades. After disarming her the first time, she had to stay on the defensive as the woman's blades just kept appearing. Back with Wayland and the short figure, they both took a drink of the 'Nectar'. Wayland found himself almost feeling like a cloud, so light and clear. "We have a little while till we are finished here. Let's see who wins. Shall we?" the short figure asked, watching the two pairs fight. "Yes, let's." Wayland responded, settling back. Knowing that this man was more dangerous than he seemed. If he was that dangerous, how dangerous is his companions?