Jorel gritted his teeth as he dodged a blast of searing pain magic aimed at his legs. The air crackled with energy, and he could feel the desperation growing among the new students. They were outmatched, and the platform seemed impossibly far away.
It had been about fifteen minutes of grueling combat, with the new students simply hanging on. With the middle level students having the high ground, no one had been able to land a shot on them. The lack of pain manipulation abilities had become a stark reality as they all truly realized how outmatched a typical person was compared to even the smallest amount of pain magic.
But Jorel wasn't ready to give up. He glanced around, taking in the chaos of the battlefield. The new students were scattered, each group fighting desperately to stay in the game. It was clear that without a plan, they would be picked off one by one.
"Ryen! Jain!" Jorel called out, his voice cutting through the din of battle. His mind raced as he formulated a strategy. "We need to work together—all of us!"
Ryen and Jain fought their way to Jorel's side, their expressions grim but determined. Nearby, another group of new students was struggling to hold their ground against the relentless onslaught of the senior students.
"We can't take them head-on," Jorel continued, his voice low but urgent. "They're too strong, and they've got the high ground. But if we can distract them, we might have a chance to bring down the platform."
Jain nodded, already understanding where Jorel was going. "You're thinking of flanking them?"
"Exactly," Jorel said, his mind already working out the details. "We need to divide their attention. If we can get a few groups to draw their fire, the rest of us can move in from the sides and take out the supports holding up the platform. Without those, the whole thing will come down."
Ryen grinned, the spark of excitement returning to his eyes. "It's risky, but it's the best shot we've got."
Jorel quickly relayed the plan to the other groups of new students, who begrudgingly nodded in agreement- no one here wanted to trust each other or work together, but it was better than dying. They all knew it was a long shot, but it was better than being picked off one by one.
"Alright," Jorel said, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
On his signal, the new students sprang into action. A few groups charged directly toward the center of the platform, drawing the senior students' attention with a fierce barrage of attacks. Pain magic crackled through the air as the seniors retaliated, focusing their efforts on the immediate threat.
Meanwhile, Jorel, Ryen, Jain, and a handful of others circled around to the sides of the platform, moving quickly and quietly through the shadows. Jorel's heart pounded in his chest as they reached the base of the platform, where the supports rose from the ground like pillars of stone.
"Ryen, keep them distracted," Jorel whispered. "Jain, you and I will take down the supports."
Ryen nodded, darting out from cover and launching a series of feints and thrusts with his spear, his movements designed to draw attention without fully committing to an attack. The senior students, already engaged in battle with the other groups, barely noticed the three students who had slipped through their defenses.
They turned their attention to Ryen with a smug grin and began throwing an onslaught of agony at Ryen. He tried to dodge but was clipped by one of the waves and was sent to the ground reeling in pain.
Jain and Jorel moved swiftly, each targeting one of the platform's supports. They knew their time was almost up, so Jain channeled her pain magic into her blade, the edge glowing with a sharp, icy light. With a determined swing, she struck at the base of one of the pillars, the force of the blow sending a crack spidering up its length.
Jorel followed suit, pouring all his energy into his strikes. His blades bit deep into the stone, each impact vibrating through his arms as the pillar began to buckle under the pressure. The platform above them shuddered, the senior students faltering as they realized what was happening.
"They're going for the supports!" one of the senior students shouted, but it was too late. The combined efforts of the new students had already weakened the structure.
With one final, powerful strike, Jorel and Jain brought down the last of the supports. The platform groaned as the weight of the senior students and the structure itself became too much to bear. With a deafening crack, the platform collapsed, sending the senior students tumbling to the ground.
The new students seized the moment, rushing forward to overwhelm the disoriented seniors. The battle was far from over, but with the platform destroyed and the senior students scattered, the tide had turned in their favor.
Jorel, Ryen, and Jain fought with everything they had, drawing on the strength and trust they had built throughout their time here. They worked in unison, their movements coordinated and precise, each covering the other's weaknesses.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the senior students fell, their weapons clattering to the ground as they conceded defeat. Even strength can be outdone by the power in numbers. There were simply too many new students for the senior students to target with their magic.
Jorel stood over them, breathing heavily, his body aching from the exertion. They had done it.
They had passed the trial, but the cost had been high. Ryen was badly wounded from the hit he took earlier, and students around the field lay collapsed and writhing with pain.
Jorel, Ryen, and Jain exchanged weary, but triumphant glances as they surveyed the battlefield. The platform lay in ruins, the senior students defeated. The new students who had fought alongside them were battered but victorious.
As they stood victorious, Jorel knew that this victory was not just about passing a trial. It was about survival, about proving that they had the strength and the will to overcome even the most formidable obstacles- including trusting each other.
But as the dust settled and the adrenaline began to fade, Jorel couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The trials would only get harder, and the stakes would only get higher.
For now, though, they had won. And that was enough.
The instructors all were standing in the benches above the maze writing on boards and muttering amongst themselves. Serina came down and showed them all the way out of the maze and began to bring them back to the dormitory.
As they made their way back to Raven House, the weight of what they had discovered in the maze hung heavily over the trio. The victory felt hollow, tainted by the knowledge that E&R University was hiding something dark and dangerous.
Groups of students broke off to go to the healers, led by Serina, and the rest of the students headed off to the dining hall to refuel. The trio continued on to the dormitory alone, desperate for just some simple rest.
When they finally reached the entrance to Raven House, Jorel noticed something more unsettling. A group of older students was waiting for them, their expressions twisted into devious smiles. Their eyes were locked on Jorel, and the intent behind their gazes was unmistakable.
"Looks like you had a rough day," one of them said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Why don't we… help you relax?"
Jorel's muscles tensed, his instincts telling him that this was no friendly offer. Whatever these students had in mind, it was nothing good.
Jorel and Ryen exchanged wary glances, and Jorel knew that they were all thinking the same thing: This must be what happened to Jain.