The Soul Link was stable and strong.
It felt as though I'd gained a new network of connections like threads extending outward and binding us as a single entity. Each pulse from their auras resonated with mine, almost as if they were additional limbs, lending strength to my reserves. I could feel their power pooling around me like a vast wellspring of energy ready to tap into.
Kara flexed her fingers, looking intrigued by the sensation. "So, what's next?" she asked.
I met her gaze, then turned to scan the maze, taking in the rough-hewn stone walls and the dim flickering light casting shadows around us. "We hunt," I answered simply.
Selena caught my eye, and I knew she was waiting for more.
Information.
So that was what I did.
I talked.
"This labyrinth isn't what it appears," I explained. "It's likely a product of a combined ability—several hunters working together, probably on behalf of the Association, to create this environment. It means they're manipulating the space and terrain as part of the test."
"Right, so the terrain changes wouldn't be random, but intentional," Selena murmured thoughtfully. "That means any route we take won't stay the same for long."
It was an obvious assumption.
No way would they make it easy.
"Exactly," I replied. "I suspect the labyrinth shifts every few minutes, so we can't rely on backtracking for safety. And as you already noticed, flight is restricted. The Association is enforcing a no-kill rule, so we avoid other hunters for now."
Wolf let out a quiet breath, clearly relieved to hear we'd be keeping our distance from the other teams. "So, we're just focused on the constructs then?"
"Yes. Our objective is to hunt the minotaur constructs. They'll be tough, close to cryptid-level strength. That means every fight needs to be planned. We lure them to us and fight on our terms, not theirs."
I laid out everything I knew about the creature we'd soon be facing. "Minotaur was a cryptid found only in the Forbidden Region. Imagine a giant with the head of a bull and the body of a man. It was capable of spatial manipulation and brute physical strength beyond most hunters' limits. Fortunately, what we're dealing with here is a construct—an imitation created for this test. It'll be weaker than the real thing but still nothing to underestimate."
Wolf listened, nodding as I spoke, then chimed in. "Actually… I'm a Seeker and a Tracker sub-type," he offered a bit shyly, "so I can track non-human creatures too. It should work for tracking something like this Minotaur construct." His expression was almost sheepish, but there was a hint of confidence in his eyes. "If you're okay with it, I can lead the way."
I exchanged a glance with the others. Selena shrugged, clearly indifferent, and Kara just gave a quick nod, satisfied. I agreed, and Wolf took the lead, beginning to focus his senses on finding a path to our target.
Wolf's aura shifted, thin tendrils of energy radiating outward like invisible threads, probing the area for traces. I could feel the hum of his ability through our aura link. It was a faint pulsing that guided us as he honed in on something just out of sight.
We moved forward in cautious silence, our steps careful against the uneven floor. Every so often, I scanned the shifting stone walls, noting how they seemed to ripple in places. The labyrinth's shape would subtly alter itself once in a while.
Suddenly, a low rumbling rolled through the corridor. It made the ground tremble beneath us. A heavy, rhythmic thud-thud filled the space, each step accompanied by the faint, metallic rattle of some ancient, grinding mechanism.
The sound grew louder.
It reverberated off the stone walls as the unmistakable scent of machine oil drifted into the air.
"Showtime," Wolf whispered, his voice barely above a breath, his tone tense but prepared.
The source of the footsteps finally emerged. It was a massive shadow stretching down the corridor. The construct lumbered into view. The imposing creature possessed a bull-like form twisted with metallic parts that gleamed darkly in the dim light. Its face was a grotesque fusion of bull and machine, red eyes glowing ominously in its mechanical skull. Vents on its shoulders hissed and spat steam, making it appear both monstrous and ancient. It stood at least eight feet tall with fists that looked like iron anvils clenched at its sides.
I kept my voice low and steady. "Remember the plan. We hit fast and hard, don't give it a second to counter."
Selena's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's give our 'discordant little friend' a show, shall we?"
The Minotaur's head turned in our direction, its glowing eyes locking onto us, and a guttural, mechanical snarl rumbled from deep within its metal chest. Then, in an instant, it charged, the ground shaking beneath the force of its strides.
I glanced back at Wolf, who was lingering at the edge of the group, looking more anxious than ready. "Wolf, can you fight?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, averting his gaze. "Uuuh… sorry, no… I'll just hang in the rear and keep an eye out. I'll warn you guys if any other hunters get too close."
With a nod, I shifted my focus, reaching through the Soul Link. Drawing in the attributes I needed: Selena's Disguise Attribute, Kara's Wind Attribute, and Wolf's Observe Attribute.
The Minotaur charged, iron-plated hooves hammering into the stone with a bone-rattling force that reverberated underfoot. It moved faster than I'd anticipated, every step radiating an intense, hostile aura laced with the hum of machinery. Just being this close made my skin crawl, but I pushed that discomfort aside, tightening my grip and focusing on the Soul Link connection that tethered me to the others.
"Stay on your toes," I murmured, pushing out an extra wave of aura from the labyrinth to reinforce them. "Let it come."
Kara sprang to my right, her finger cymbals flashing as she gathered a swirling whirlwind into her hand. She glanced at me, eyes alight with a wicked gleam. "What's it gonna be: offense or defense?"
"Offense," I said without hesitation. "Throw whatever you've got at it."
Kara unleashed a cyclone with a grin. It was a violent wave of wind and dust aimed squarely at the Minotaur. The force hit it hard, whipping around its hulking body and obscuring its vision. The construct staggered, iron head scraping against the onslaught, but didn't slow down. It kept moving, its red eyes blazing through the storm, dead set on us.
"Brace yourselves," I muttered, steeling myself for whatever came next.
Selena needed no further prompting. With an almost nonchalant movement, she pulled out a bazooka from seemingly nowhere and took her shot. The round hit the Minotaur dead-on, an explosion bursting around its face, but it barely flinched, its thick armor untouched. I had to think fast.
Drawing on the disguise and wind attributes, I crafted a series of afterimages, flickering illusions darting around the corridor. Thanks to Wolf's observe attribute, I could correct each tiny flaw in the illusions, perfecting the mirage. Selena discarded the bazooka and used her own illusion abilities to add a second layer of distortion, effectively hiding us as we spread out.
I bolted to the left, keeping the Minotaur in my peripheral vision. Through the Soul Link, I could feel each teammate's position as clearly as if I could see them. Wolf hung back, way behind our formation, and Selena slipped to the creature's right, her steps so silent I'd almost think she'd vanished completely. Kara, meanwhile, had gained some altitude, hovering just above the ground, her aura flickering as she skirted the labyrinth's flying restrictions.
The Minotaur plowed through the afterimages, annihilating them in seconds. Its red eyes swept the room, flickering with irritation as it recalibrated. I tightened my grip on the link between us, keeping a steady pulse in my aura, readying myself. This thing was relentless, but we had enough power pooled between us to stay one step ahead. All we had to do was keep moving, keep it guessing, and find that one weak point we needed.
I heard Selena's voice in my head, using the Soul mark I left on her to converse.
"It is impact resistant… We need a different strategy!"
The Minotaur's eyes locked onto me, and in the blink of an eye, it lunged, descending on me like a boulder crashing from above. I barely had time to divert my aura, flooding it with the wind attribute to give myself a burst of speed. Just as its massive fist slammed down, I slid beneath its legs, feeling dirt and debris scatter in all directions. It had sensed me, somehow seeing past Kara's invisibility illusion as soon as my aura had spiked.
I hit the ground in a roll, coming up in time to see its backhand swing, just barely evading the hulking metal fist. Kara appeared behind it, her finger cymbals clinking as she channeled her aura, unleashing a barrage of wind spears that tore through the air, aiming for its joints and back. But just as her attack hit, the Minotaur vanished, reappearing behind me with that guttural mechanical snarl.
Its arm swung in a deadly arc, inches from my head. I dropped, ducking as the wind from its strike grazed past, the air feeling like blades on my skin. This thing had no hesitation, no faltering in its drive to crush anything in its path. I could hear Kara's frustrated hiss behind me, and through the Soul Link, I felt her gathering her aura again, prepping for another assault.
Was it just me, or was this minotaur tougher than what the test should've thrown at us?
"Now, go for its legs!" I commanded, and Selena didn't hesitate. She darted forward, managing to sink her dagger into one of the creature's exposed joints. Sparks flew as she twisted the blade, causing the minotaur to stumble.
While the minotaur was impact-resistant, there were still some weak spots left exposed.
Seeing the opening, I focused on the Soul Link, drawing in the collective energy from each of us to form a concentrated blow. I added the labyrinth's aura to my own, concentrating it all in my fist and transforming my aura into its Fighter State.
"Now!" I yelled, releasing everything into one focused blast as I performed an uppercut.
The minotaur shot upward and was propelled several meters off the ground.
In mid-air, the minotaur struggled, trapped within Kara's airless bubble. The echo of her finger cymbals resounded as a series of sonic blasts hammered the creature inside. But just as the assault reached its crescendo, the minotaur vanished, teleporting once again—this time, directly behind me. But I was ready for it. The beast was missing its left arm, and its left leg was malfunctioning from Kara's earlier strikes.
As it lunged, I anticipated its move and aimed a palm strike imbued with the wind attribute. The minotaur was still unnervingly quick, but I'd already touched it once, which meant my Soul Link was primed. I connected to its aura, returning a burst of its own energy to force it into a backward teleport, throwing its attack off-balance.
Its iron-plated fist swept past me, missing by mere inches, and my strike landed perfectly. I pushed the wind attribute through the minotaur's body, driving the force into its internal mechanisms. I felt the wind carve through its circuits like blades, the metal body buckling under pressure until—bam—it erupted in a scatter of shrapnel.
The minotaur crumbled into a heap of smoldering, mangled parts.
That was... easier than I thought...
For one, no major injuries on my part or my team.
"Congratulations! You've passed the fourth stage!" The voice of the announcer erupted from the shattered remains of the minotaur, his tone gratingly triumphant. "Now, don't get too excited yet~ but surely, this deserves a reward!"