As Wayde observed Ryan's futile attempts against the golems, a cocktail of frustration and amusement stirred within him. The youth's persistent naivety prompted a head shake from the ragged mage, who couldn't help but be both exasperated and entertained.
However, he quickly returned his focus to the task at hand.
Beyond the stone adversaries, Wayde's eyes scanned for a way around the golems. But his hopes were dashed when another wall materialised, barricading any escape past the golems in the maze.
A wry smile played on Wayde's lips, veiled by suppressed amusement.
"It seems we're stuck with these piles of rocks," he muttered, a mix of exasperation and determination evident in his voice.
If they were unable to get past the golems, they couldn't venture deeper into the maze.
And so Wayde had no choice but to prepare himself for whatever it took to do so.
But before that, his mind drifted towards completing the trial after desperately desiring to do so for as long as he could remember.
Doubting Ryan's intellect and planning on exploiting his naivety, Wayde briefly entertained the idea of seizing the trial's rewards for himself, relishing the prospect of outsmarting his companion.
Suppressing the fiendish smile creeping up his face, he refocused on the immediate challenge after Ryan's frustration burst forth. "Are you going to help, or just watch me jump around here?!"
Wayde, initially silent, offered a vague statement. "These golems have achieved a level of sentience. They seem to be observing your every move and react accordingly."
A memory surfaced in Wayde's mind. "The Duzin Family... I recall hearing something about souls being harnessed and trapped within inanimate objects."
Confusion etched Ryan's face. "Duzin Family? And what does that have to do with these golems?!"
Wayde dismissed it casually. "Just something I suddenly remembered. It could explain why the golems are toying with you, gauging your abilities and waiting for the right moment to strike."
As if in response to what Wayde had said, the golems' once-green eyes turned a burning red.
Their movements suddenly accelerated, surpassing Ryan's expectations.
The gravity of the situation became clear – the golems were no longer playing games; they were ready to confront their perceived threat head-on.
With a resounding boom, the massive mace-like fist of the nearest golem smashed into Ryan. Despite his attempt to block the blow, it was as if he were swatted like a fly. Swiftly reinforcing his body with mana, Ryan crashed into the maze wall, finding solace in the improvement of his skills, earning Wayde's reluctant admiration.
"You're not as useless as I initially thought. Almost like those pitiful Urius fools that can barely be considered mages," Wayde remarked, his voice acknowledging Ryan's abilities with a hint of grudging respect.
'Urius? He must be making up names at this point?' Ryan pondered, momentarily puzzled by the unfamiliar term. Brushing it aside, he refocused on the charging golems as well as Wayde, who was channelling a large amount of mana from his mana core.
-
Ascending into the air, Wayde, surrounded by swirling mana, became a focal point of raw, surging energy. The atmosphere crackled with intensity as the air shimmered with magical concentration. His figure glowed ethereally, a testament to the immense power he held.
Streaming the formidable mana into his arms, the energy surged, creating a dazzling spectacle that surpassed imagination. No longer holding himself back, his aura intensified, marking the shift from cautious restraint to unbridled power. The magnitude of his mana manipulation sent a ripple of anticipation through the air.
Ryan, witnessing this display, felt a mix of trepidation and curiosity. He had sensed Wayde holding back but was amazed after seeing the raggedy mage unleashing his full power.
"Qidius Domain!" Wayde proclaimed, his voice carrying dominance.
Instantly, a palpable force enveloped the area, causing Ryan to stagger under immense pressure. Legs buckling, he collapsed, struggling against the intensified gravity. Even with his Combat Magic proficiency, Ryan struggled to regain his footing, feeling the weight of the world press upon him.
"Qidius Domain," Ryan muttered, rolling his eyes at the ostentatious name.
But despite finding it cringeworthy, he couldn't deny its overwhelming power.
It left him struggling to breathe and exerting strength just to stand.
However, unlike him, the golems that initially halted, quickly adjusted, resuming their relentless advance towards Ryan and the floating mage...