"Sorry kids", they looked behind.
"What the..." Jason exclaimed. Suddenly, the earth below them trembled, and then, like a thousand knives, black thorns sprouted from the ground, blocking their path.
The man, on the other side, sighed. His smile, diabolical. "Don't take it to heart kids, just shortening the competition"
Jason roared "how could you do this!"
The man walked away while speaking loudly "don't follow strangers next time"
"Shit!" Jason cursed, they were tricked.
"Shortening the competition huh" said Eiden with a sigh, "seems like we're not the only ones he has put in this situation"
"We have to find a way out, '' said Jason eagerly. The tip of the thorns were sharp, the space between each one was narrow and it was way too high to try and jump over.
Eiden studied the thorns, they were like metal spikes, tint black.
He pondered, so this was his power, either he can make thorns or he has the ability to manipulate metal.
"What do we do now?" Jason asked, Eiden looked like he was starting to get an idea.
"Do you have any idea how we can't get out?" He rephrased his question.
Eiden contemplated, it surely won't be easy whichever method they may use. If DoHyun was here then she could easily melt the metal with her flame but she's not.
He looked an Jason, "do you think my sword will be sharp enough to cut through this?" He asked
With his hands akimbo, "it could work but I doubt your sword will remain the same afterwards"
Eiden's gaze wandered around, Jason was right, his sword will get really damaged.
"Will you try it?" Asked Jason
"Do we have a choice?". With a thought, Eiden's system appeared. He went to the item tab.
A faint glow materialized in his hand, taking the shape of a sword. The appearance of his sword was accompanied by a soft whooshing sound like resulting of leaves.
With both his hands, Eiden held tightly to the hilt. He stood before the spine of thorns.
Jason moved back.
With a powerful swing, Eiden's single edged jian dipped in on the thorns, slicing through it easily.
With each strike, the thorns fell away, their spines crumbling on the ground.
The sound of the metal clashing was loud and ear disturbing.
Jason, who moved further back, had his hands covering his ear.
Eiden stood, his chest heaving with exertion. His hands that held the hilt of his sword trembled to a fault. He had successfully cut through the thorns but it left his sword broken in half.
"You actually did it," said Jason. His eyes met the damaged sword
Exhaling, Eiden dropped the sword "won't be needing that anymore" he sighed again, his exhaustion evident.
They got through. Jason balled his fists, swearing inwardly that the man who tricked them will be the reason he finally levels up.
They quickly left. They weren't the only ones running helter skelter, every now and then they would run past a group of two or three or four, sometimes one person who was also running.
In the fourth pathway, Derrick lagged as he walked. His hands in his pocket, unlike the others that passed by him, he was completely out of it.
He walked so carelessly and nonchalantly. He kicked a small rock while sighing "well this is fucked up" he pursed his lips. Somehow they all got separated.
He had no idea what to do, if Eiden or Gabbie were with him, they would've thought of something.
Occasionally, people would pass by him. Each time they ran past him, he found himself losing interest.
His mind wandered to his special ability. Gabbie had said he might have the ability to pause time. Should he give it a go? He thought.
"What would Eiden say?" he muttered to himself before giving a response while trying to imitate Eiden.
"Derrick, it might work but we aren't sure of the many possibilities which might be negative. The system said you'll deteriorate, who knows in what way".
Derrick sighed and scolded himself, what was he doing?. He would just avoid using that skill for now...
Just then, someone ran past him. It was a guy, short blonde hair and rectangular glasses. His face was unmoving, determination lurked within his eyes.
'Just imagine, after all this seriousness and resolution you don't make the thirty in the end. That sure would make him cry' Derrick thought.
He sat down on the ground there and started counting. If Blondie returns then it means this path has a dead end but if he doesn't return in 10 minutes then it might be the way to thesecond gate, this was Derrick's conclusion.
He sat, counting seconds and minutes. Not too long later, Blondie ran back out. He seemed surprised seeing Derrick seated comfortably.
He couldn't help but stop. "You're still here?" He asked him
"Yeah, so?" Derrick stood up.
"Everyone's trying their best to find a way out of the maze and you're here, don't you want your wish granted?" He asked
Derrick stared at him dryly, his right hand in his pocket. Why didn't this Blondie just mind his own business.
"So you've given up already huh, why did you even come here in the first place? If you're just going to lag around, you might as well return to the beginning gate"
Derrick's eyes twitched, his annoyance evident. He stuck up his middle finger "go fuck yourself"
Derrick's gesture made him glare. He turned around and continued on his way.
Coming out back to the entrance, Derrick turned right and entered the fifth. As he strode along, he heard a soft whimper.
His brows creased and curiosity drove him to find out where the sound was coming from. He got into one of the many passageways and came across a damsel in distress.
He was shocked at first. The lady on the ground sat while holding her ankle.
"Help, it hurts" her tiny voice pleaded in a whisper after seeing him.
Derrick squatted next to her, "what happened?"
"I twisted my ankle" she replied, her eyes teary
He narrowed his eyes, "is that all?" He asked, his voice skeptical.
She looked up at him helplessly, "huh?"
"You twisted your ankle and you're here doing nothing about it and crying like a baby" he poked her head three times "so your pretty brain wasn't able to come up with even one solution huh, you're weak!" He said coldly.