**Chapter 8: The Gateway to the Unknown**
The Academy was abuzz with excitement as the news spread like wildfire—a new **Secret Realm** had been discovered and was being opened for exploration. Secret Realms were mysterious dimensions filled with treasures, ancient knowledge, and unimaginable dangers. For beast masters, entering these realms was both a privilege and a test of their mettle.
Erythion stood among the gathered students in the grand courtyard, the energy of the crowd palpable. The massive **Realm Gateway**, a towering stone archway inscribed with glowing runes, loomed before them. The air around it shimmered, pulsating with raw magic.
Rynna stood beside him, her piercing gaze fixed on the archway. "This is it," she said. "The first real step for most of us."
Kaelen, leaning casually against a nearby pillar, grinned. "Real step? It's a bloodbath waiting to happen. Secret Realms don't care about talent or titles—they chew up the weak and spit them out."
Erythion said nothing, his thoughts focused on what lay ahead. He felt the faint hum of the Sovereign System, almost as if it was eager to analyze and interact with this new realm.
The crowd quieted as **Calenira** stepped forward, her presence commanding respect.
"Students," she began, her voice ringing out clearly, "this is a momentous occasion. The discovery of a new Secret Realm is not just an opportunity—it is a challenge to prove your worth. This realm, known as **The Shifting Labyrinth**, is classified as a **C-Rank Realm**, making it accessible to those who have achieved Mid-Rank capabilities or higher."
She gestured toward the archway, its runes glowing brighter with each passing second. "The Shifting Labyrinth is unstable, its layout constantly changing. Within, you will encounter dangerous beasts, intricate puzzles, and possibly otherworldly phenomena. But the rewards are equally significant: **Labyrinth Crystals**, ancient artifacts, and remnants of lost knowledge."
Her gaze hardened. "However, let me be clear. The dangers are real, and survival is not guaranteed. Teams of four or more are mandatory for entry. Choose wisely."
As soon as Calenira finished speaking, the courtyard erupted into activity. Students began forming teams, some seeking alliances with powerful individuals, others sticking with trusted friends.
Aric Vaelstrom, flanked by members of his noble entourage, approached Erythion. "Ashvale, join us. With my Solar Griffin and your Abyssal Direwolf, we'd dominate this realm."
Before Erythion could respond, a cold voice cut in.
"Elira Sylanthir," the silver-haired beauty, accompanied by her Silver Wyvern, stepped into the circle. Her icy blue eyes locked on Aric. "Always so quick to recruit, Vaelstrom. Afraid you can't handle it alone?"
Aric smirked but said nothing.
Erythion raised a hand. "I've already got a team," he said, stepping back toward Rynna and Kaelen.
"Good choice," Kaelen said with a grin. "The royal politics are a headache waiting to happen."
When it was their turn to enter, Erythion felt a surge of anticipation. The runes on the Gateway flared, and the air shimmered as the team stepped through.
The transition was instantaneous.
They found themselves in a dimly lit maze of obsidian walls, the air heavy with magic and the faint echoes of distant beasts reverberating around them. The labyrinth was alive, shifting subtly with each step they took.
"Stay sharp," Rynna said, her Ethereal Seraph floating above, its glowing form illuminating the area.
Kaelen's Fenrir growled low, its hackles raised. "Something's watching us."
Erythion summoned Obsidian, the Abyssal Direwolf appearing beside him with a low growl. "Let's move cautiously," he said, scanning their surroundings.
A sudden roar echoed through the labyrinth, and a massive **Shadow Behemoth** emerged from the shifting walls. Its hulking form was covered in jagged scales, and its glowing red eyes locked onto the group.
"Scatter!" Erythion shouted.
Kaelen charged head-on, his Fenrir leaping at the beast with claws crackling with lightning. Rynna's Seraph took to the air, raining beams of light on the creature.
Erythion stayed back, the Sovereign System activating to analyze the situation.
**[Shadow Behemoth: Mid C-Rank Beast. Weakness: Luminescent Crystals embedded in its hide.]**
"There!" he called out, pointing to the faintly glowing crystals.
Rynna nodded, directing her Seraph to focus its attacks. Kaelen's Fenrir fought fiercely but was being pushed back.
"Obsidian, with me!" Erythion commanded.
The direwolf lunged, its claws slashing at the crystals with precision. A crack formed in the largest one, and the Behemoth roared in pain.
Erythion felt the Sovereign System pulse again.
**[Skill Fusion Available: Activate?]**
"Yes!"
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### **Skill Fusion: Shadow Rend + Abyssal Howl**
- New Skill: **Abyssal Rend**
- Effect: A devastating strike imbued with shadow energy, targeting multiple enemies with piercing force.
"Obsidian, Abyssal Rend!"
The direwolf howled, its claws glowing with dark energy as it slashed at the Behemoth. The crystal shattered, and the beast collapsed with a final roar, its body dissolving into shimmering dust.
Erythion approached the spot where the Behemoth had fallen, picking up a faintly glowing **Labyrinth Crystal**.
Kaelen smirked. "Not bad for a first fight. But this place is just warming up."
Rynna glanced at the shifting walls. "We need to keep moving. The longer we stay in one place, the more dangerous it gets."
Erythion nodded, gripping the crystal tightly. The Sovereign System hummed faintly, as if acknowledging the start of something greater.
They pressed on, the labyrinth's secrets and dangers waiting to test them further.
The shifting walls of the labyrinth seemed to move with purpose, as though alive and intent on dividing or trapping its invaders. The group had been navigating its twisting paths for over an hour, and the oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional growl of distant beasts.
Erythion tightened his grip on the Labyrinth Crystal he had claimed earlier. It radiated faint warmth, its ethereal glow providing some comfort in the dimly lit maze. The Sovereign System remained active, overlaying subtle cues on his vision: pathways, potential threats, and faint traces of energy.
Rynna, her Ethereal Seraph floating above, stopped suddenly. "Something's nearby," she whispered, her voice cutting through the oppressive stillness.
Kaelen's Fenrir growled low, its nose to the ground. "We're being followed. I've sensed it since we defeated that Behemoth."
Erythion glanced behind them. The labyrinth had closed off the path they'd come from, the obsidian walls sealing their escape. "Let's not wait to find out who—or what—it is," he said. "We need to keep moving."
The group pressed forward, but the tension in the air only thickened. The Sovereign System suddenly flared to life.
**[Danger Detected: Multiple Hostiles Approaching.]**
"Brace yourselves!" Erythion called, summoning Obsidian. The Abyssal Direwolf appeared, its crimson eyes scanning the shadows with feral intensity.
Out of the darkness, a pack of **Void Hounds** emerged, their sleek, shadowy forms blending seamlessly with the dim light. Their eyes burned like embers, and their claws glowed faintly with dark energy.
**[Void Hound: Low-Mid C-Rank Beast. Strengths: Speed, Pack Tactics. Weakness: Disruption to Shadow Energy.]**
"They're coordinated," Rynna said, her Seraph hovering protectively above her. "We need to break their formation."
Kaelen grinned, his Fenrir stepping forward with a low growl. "Leave that to me."
The Fenrir howled, a crackling arc of lightning surging outward. The Void Hounds scattered, their formation broken, but their speed made them hard to pin down.
"They're circling us!" Erythion shouted. "Obsidian, hold the line!"
The direwolf lunged at the nearest hound, its claws clashing with the creature's shadowy form. Sparks flew as Obsidian's Abyssal energy disrupted the hound's body, forcing it to retreat with a pained yelp.
"Rynna, can your Seraph create light barriers?" Erythion asked, his mind racing.
She nodded. "It can, but I need a few seconds."
"Do it. Kaelen, keep them off her!"
Kaelen's Fenrir charged into the fray, its lightning-coated claws tearing into the hounds. Despite its efforts, the Void Hounds regrouped quickly, their pack tactics relentless.
Erythion activated his system again.
**[Skill Available: Abyssal Rend. Potential Effect: Wide Area Disruption.]**
"Obsidian, Abyssal Rend!"
The direwolf howled, slashing its claws through the air. Dark energy rippled outward, colliding with the hounds and forcing them back. For a brief moment, the pack was stunned.
"Now, Rynna!"
Her Seraph emitted a radiant burst of light, creating a dome of shimmering energy around the group. The Void Hounds howled in pain, their shadowy forms flickering and retreating.
"They can't handle concentrated light energy," she said, her voice steady despite the strain. "We've bought ourselves some time."
As the group caught their breath, the labyrinth shifted again. The walls groaned and moved, revealing a hidden passage to their left. Unlike the rest of the labyrinth, this path was lined with glowing runes and emitted a faint hum of power.
"That's new," Kaelen said, his Fenrir sniffing cautiously at the entrance. "Should we risk it?"
Erythion felt the Sovereign System pulse again, the faint overlay on his vision highlighting the path in gold.
**[Recommendation: Investigate Hidden Passage.]**
"It's risky, but the system's pointing us that way," he said. "If it's marked, there must be something important inside."
Rynna looked skeptical but nodded. "If we stay here, those Void Hounds might return with reinforcements. Let's move."
The group entered the passage, their footsteps echoing softly against the rune-etched walls. The air grew heavier, charged with magic, as they ventured deeper.
At the end of the passage, they found a small chamber illuminated by a pulsing crystal embedded in the floor. Floating above it was a glowing orb, its surface swirling with colors.
Erythion stepped forward, his heart pounding as the Sovereign System activated.
**[Discovery: Fragment of the Labyrinth Core.]**
- Effect: Enhances a beast's abilities and provides insight into the realm's structure.
- Compatibility: High with Abyssal Direwolf.
He reached out, his hand hovering over the orb. As he touched it, a surge of energy flowed through him, and Obsidian let out a deep, resonant howl.
**[Bond Strengthened: Abyssal Direwolf.]**
- New Ability: **Shadow Meld** (Allows brief invisibility and increased agility in shadowy environments).
The orb dissolved into light, its power transferring fully to Erythion and Obsidian.
As the group prepared to leave, the chamber began to tremble. The walls shifted violently, and the passage behind them collapsed.
Kaelen cursed. "Looks like we've overstayed our welcome."
A new path opened ahead, darker and more foreboding than the one they'd come through. Erythion tightened his grip on the Labyrinth Crystal, his resolve hardening.
"This labyrinth isn't going to make it easy for us," he said, glancing at his team. "But we're not turning back."
With Obsidian leading the way, the group ventured deeper into the labyrinth, unaware of the greater dangers—and rewards—that awaited them.
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*End of Chapter 8.*