Marie's group got to know each other much better, the two boys admired the strength Isaki and Marie had shown against the wolf and chatted as they continued through the labyrinth, their steps echoing faintly in the stillness. The terrain began to shift as they moved forward. What once had been soft, earthen pathways flanked by towering hedges was now giving way to something more imposing. The dirt underfoot became interspersed with small, smooth cobblestones, and soon, the ground was entirely paved with stone. The hedges transformed into high, stone walls adorned with intricately carved columns that jutted out at intervals.
Atop each column rested gargoyle statues, crafted in stunning and eerie detail. Some had bat-like wings folded neatly against their backs, their claws clutching the edges of the columns. Others depicted grotesque hybrid creatures—part lion, part serpent, with snarling faces frozen in time. The labyrinth had shifted from a place of nature to one of stone and shadow, and the air felt colder here, heavy with an unnatural stillness.
As the group entered this new area, their magical bracelets began to glow softly, emitting a pale light. The familiar, calm female voice resonated once more:
"Well done for reaching this point. The center of the labyrinth is near. Only three teams remain within the maze. One hour has passed, and you now have one hour left to find the coin. This trial will affect your end-of-year evaluation. Failing to locate the coin means you will not receive any bonus points. Good luck."
The group stopped in their tracks, exchanging looks of both surprise and urgency. The stakes were higher than they had anticipated.
Marie, lost momentarily in thought, muttered, "My brother once told me that the academy's trials were difficult, but he never mentioned anything like this."
Isaki, his tone firm and confident, said, "Well, there's no point in dwelling on it. If we want those points, we have to keep moving forward and see what lies ahead."
The others nodded in agreement, and the group continued walking carefully across the stone pathway. They were mindful of the strange shift in atmosphere, and tension hung thick in the air.
As they moved, one of the boys—Jared—unwittingly placed his foot on a faintly raised tile. There was a sudden, sharp sound of grinding gears. The group froze.
From within the stone columns, hidden panels slid open with a low rumble, revealing rows of crossbows mounted inside. Each was loaded with sharp, glinting arrows that swiveled menacingly to aim at the group.
Marie gasped. "What's happening?!"
Jared's face went pale as he stammered, "I think… I stepped on something!"
Isaki clenched his fists and hissed, "Be more careful! There could be more traps like this!"
The crossbows fired without warning. A flurry of arrows shot toward them from multiple directions, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
"Quick! Dodge!" Marie shouted, her voice laced with panic.
The group sprang into action. Marie and Isaki, both experienced with their blades, deflected the incoming arrows with swift, precise movements. The sound of metal meeting metal rang out as they batted away the projectiles.
Jared and the other boy, Ethan, were not as lucky. One arrow struck Jared in the shoulder, eliciting a sharp cry of pain as he staggered backward, clutching at the wound. Another embedded itself in Ethan's leg, causing him to collapse to one knee.
Marie's heart raced as she glanced at her injured teammates. "We can't stay here! We need to move—now!"
Isaki nodded, gritting his teeth as he parried another arrow. "We'll cover you! Move to the sides, out of the crossbows' range!"
Marie dashed forward, weaving through the arrows with practiced agility. She reached Ethan and helped him to his feet, supporting his weight as they moved toward the edge of the trap zone. Isaki mirrored her efforts with Jared, who was pale but still able to limp along.
The crossbows, as if sensing their retreat, fired more rapidly, their mechanisms clicking in a relentless rhythm. But the group, though battered and bleeding, managed to reach a safe area beyond the trap. The sound of arrows whizzing through the air faded as the crossbows' mechanisms slowed, eventually halting altogether.
Panting, the group slumped against the cold stone walls. Jared winced as he inspected the arrow protruding from his shoulder. "This is bad... I don't think I can fight like this."
Ethan, gritting his teeth against the pain in his leg, added, "Me neither. We won't last long if there are more traps like that."
Marie tore a strip from her sleeve, quickly fashioning a makeshift bandage for Ethan's wound. Her hands trembled slightly, but her voice was steady as she said, "We'll make it through this. We just need to be more careful."
Isaki, kneeling beside Jared to help him stabilize his arm, glanced back toward the columns. His eyes burned with determination. "This labyrinth is testing us at every step. But we'll finish this, no matter what. Let's keep going."
Marie nodded, her resolve hardening. "We can't give up now. The center of the labyrinth is close. Let's move."
After treating Ethan and Jared's injuries as best they could, Marie and Isaki helped their teammates back to their feet. Despite the exhaustion weighing on their shoulders and the tension of the labyrinth's challenges, the group pressed forward, their determination stronger than ever. Each step was taken with the utmost care, their eyes scanning the ground for any signs of more traps.
Ahead, the path stretched toward a massive door embedded in the stone wall. Its surface was adorned with intricate carvings of winged creatures and swirling patterns that seemed almost alive in the dim light. The group had already traversed half the distance to the door, leaving behind the treacherous columns and crossbows.
But as they moved, a low, grinding noise broke the silence.
The sound was guttural and resonant, like stone scraping against stone. It echoed off the high walls, growing louder with each passing second.
Marie froze, her voice tinged with both fear and frustration. "What now? What are those sounds?"
Isaki, his grip tightening on his sword, replied sharply, "I don't know. Stay alert!"
The source of the noise became evident as Jared and Ethan, glancing nervously behind them, pointed in alarm. Jared's voice trembled as he shouted, "Look! The gargoyle statues… they're moving!"
The stone gargoyles perched atop the columns were no longer still. Their heads turned with jerking, unnatural movements, their jaws grinding open to reveal sharp, jagged teeth. A sinister red light began to glow in their hollow eyes, pulsating like an eerie heartbeat.
As the group watched in horror, the gargoyles' limbs cracked and shifted, their stone bodies shedding tiny fragments of dust as they came to life. One by one, they spread their massive, bat-like wings, and with powerful thrusts, they launched themselves into the air. The sound of their wings flapping filled the corridor, a deep and rhythmic beat that seemed to echo inside the group's chests.
"Run!" Marie shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "We have to reach the door!"
Without hesitation, the group broke into a desperate sprint. Isaki supported Ethan, who limped heavily due to his injured leg, while Jared, gritting his teeth against the pain in his shoulder, pushed himself forward. Marie took the lead, her eyes locked on the door ahead, hoping against hope it would offer them salvation.
The gargoyles, now fully animated and airborne, swooped toward them with terrifying speed. Their red eyes locked onto the fleeing group, and guttural growls echoed through the stone labyrinth as they closed the distance.
Isaki risked a glance over his shoulder and felt his heart drop. "They're gaining on us!" he shouted.
Jared, his breath ragged, turned to Isaki. "Leave me! I'm slowing you down. I'll only hold you back."
"No!" Isaki barked, his voice resolute. "We're not leaving anyone behind. We're almost there!"
Despite the pain and the terror clawing at them, the group managed to reach the massive door. Marie and Ethan leaned against it, panting heavily.
Marie's eyes darted across the surface of the door, searching for a handle or mechanism, but found nothing. "There's a problem," she said breathlessly as Isaki and Jared joined them. "It won't open. It looks like… we have to fight."
The group turned to face the oncoming threat. The gargoyles, descended in a coordinated attack. Their claws gleamed like sharpened blades, and their glowing red eyes locked onto the group with predatory intent.
Isaki stepped forward, his expression grim but resolute. His sword gleamed in the dim light as he unsheathed it, holding it firmly in both hands. "If we're fighting, we're fighting together."
Marie nodded, pulling her blade from its scabbard. Her grip was steady, and despite the fear gnawing at her, she stood tall beside Isaki. Behind them, Jared and Ethan, though injured, readied themselves as best they could.
The sound of wings filled the air as the gargoyles approached, their monstrous forms blocking out the dim light from the corridor's torches. The group braced themselves, ready for the battle that would decide their fate.
The tension was palpable, the silence before the clash deafening. Isaki's voice cut through the stillness, a rallying cry of determination:
"We fight as one. Let's show them what we're made of!"
The first gargoyle dived, its claws gleaming in the red light, and the fight began.