Bolin emerged from the labyrinth, panting and drenched in sweat. Pon, his loyal rock pig, trotted beside him, grunting cheerfully.
"We did it!" Bolin exclaimed, raising his arms triumphantly. "Did you see that, Pon? We conquered this blasted maze!"
"Oink oink!" Pon enthusiastically concurred.
Bolin collapsed to his knees, chuckling and stroking his companion's head. "By all the gods, that was no walk in the park! Those shifting walls, that disorienting mist... I thought we'd never escape!"
Bolin spun around at the sound of a haughty voice behind him.
Zephyr stood there, arms folded, a smirk playing on his lips. His wind baboon hovered nearby, generating small gusts that made his garments flutter.
"If such minor obstacles pose such challenges for you, perhaps you should reconsider your calling as a summoner" Zephyr remarked, his piercing gaze fixed on Bolin.
Bolin flinched, clumsily straightening up. "Ah, um... young master Zephyr," he stammered, frantically dusting off his clothes. "I was merely... uh... expressing my joy at overcoming this trial."
Zephyr snorted disdainfully, his eyes narrowing. "A trial?" He made a dismissive gesture. "This was merely a warm-up."
He turned towards the grand portal, his fists unconsciously clenching. "The real challenges await us further ahead," he murmured, more to himself than to Bolin.
His wind baboon emitted a shrill cry as if endorsing its master's words.
Zephyr cast one last contemptuous glance at Bolin before striding away, leaving the young man gaping and ill at ease.
Bolin nodded nervously, then surveyed his surroundings. They were in a vast circular chamber, dominated by an enormous door adorned with intricate symbols. About a dozen people were already present, including Aurora Lark, the young mistress of the Lark family.
Curious, Bolin approached a group of summoners conversing in hushed tones.
"Excuse me," he said politely "does anyone know how to open this door?"
A young woman with fiery red hair responded: "Apparently, the door will only unlock when all participants have either reached this chamber or been eliminated by the labyrinth's traps."
"Oh," Bolin's face darkened. "I hope Qiris makes it through..."
He found a quiet corner and settled there with Pon, anxiously observing the labyrinth's entrance. "Come on, Qiris," he whispered, "don't let this accursed maze get the better of you."
Meanwhile, in the depths of the maze, Qiris and Little Idiot were sprinting like madmen, following a path that the frog seemed to perceive in the mist.
"Are you certain it's this way?" Qiris gasped, dodging a wall that suddenly materialized before him.
"Ribbit!" Little Idiot affirmed with conviction, bounding from one side of the corridor to the other.
"If we end up at the beginning again, I swear I'll-" Qiris abruptly halted as they reached a dead end.
The mist around them began to stir, forming a grimacing face that glared at them malevolently.
"Oh no" Qiris groaned, "not again..."
But to his great astonishment, Little Idiot stood on his hind legs, furrowed his brow (as much as a frog can), and pointed an accusatory finger at the misty visage.
"Ribbit! Ribbit! RIBBIT!" Little Idiot croaked with surprising intensity.
Qiris, though unable to comprehend the words, grasped the intention. "You're right, Little Idiot! We've had enough of these games!"
The misty face seemed taken aback by their audacity, its features contorting into an expression of utter bewilderment.
Without warning, Little Idiot launched himself, employing his [Propelled Headbutt] skill.
"Little Idiot, no!" Qiris shouted, but it was too late.
The misty face regarded the tiny green creature hurtling towards it with disdain. It was even preparing to expel them from the labyrinth once more, when suddenly...
SPLASH!
An impact resonated, far louder than one would expect from such a diminutive frog. The misty face distorted under the shock, an expression of pain and surprise replacing its haughty air.
Qiris, slack-jawed, witnessed a thin layer of shimmering water envelop Little Idiot's head just before impact. The frog's anger against this accursed labyrinth, mixed with his fear of being eaten by Qiris, had unconsciously triggered aquatic magic, significantly amplifying his attack.
The misty face wavered, its features blurring. "Impossible," it murmured in a fading voice. "I, the great Nebulos, Astral Specter of the First Floor, vanquished by... a frog?"
With a final indignant look, the face vanished, taking with it all the mist from the labyrinth.
Qiris blinked, scarcely believing his eyes. Suddenly, two windows appeared before him:
[Little Idiot has learned Aquatic Reinforcement]
[Hidden boss of the first floor defeated]
"What..." Qiris whispered, watching Little Idiot who was bouncing joyfully, apparently unscathed after his heroic attack. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Ribbit!" Little Idiot responded proudly.
With the mist's disappearance, the path to the labyrinth's exit became visible before them. Qiris looked at Little Idiot, who was staring at him with eyes shining with excitement.
A mischievous smile slowly spread across Qiris's face. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Little Idiot?"
"Ribbit!" the frog replied cheerfully, hopping in place.
"Exactly," Qiris nodded. "Why rush to the exit when we have a whole danger-free labyrinth to explore?"
He picked up Little Idiot and placed him on his shoulder. "Come on, my little amphibian friend. Let's see what other secrets this labyrinth is hiding."
As they were about to turn back to explore the depths of the labyrinth, Little Idiot suddenly leaped from Qiris's shoulder. The small frog-headed towards the spot where Nebulos had vanished.
"What have you found?" Qiris asked, intrigued.
Little Idiot rummaged for a few seconds before returning with a hop, holding something in his mouth. He deposited it in Qiris's outstretched hand.
It was a small black crystal, no larger than a fingernail. Despite its dark color, it seemed to contain starry lights dancing within.
Suddenly, an information window appeared before Qiris:
[Astral Crystal - 1]
"Well" Qiris murmured, examining the crystal with fascination. "It seems our little adventure is starting to bear fruit, Little Idiot."
"Ribbit!" the frog approved, looking proud.
Qiris carefully tucked the crystal into his pocket. "So, what do you say we go see what other surprises this labyrinth has in store for us?"
Little Idiot joyfully jumped onto Qiris's shoulder in response.
And so, the unlikely duo plunged back into the depths of the labyrinth, oblivious to the other participants who were impatiently awaiting their arrival in the circular chamber.