The Labyrinth stretched out in all directions, its towering walls of shimmering metal reflecting distorted images of the students. The shifting walls hummed softly, rotating and reconfiguring every few minutes, turning the maze into a living puzzle. Traps lay hidden behind corners, and distant roars hinted at roaming dangers.
Seojun stood at the front of his faction, his Scholar System running calculations on every visible route. Beside him, Jiyeon and Hyunwoo kept a watchful eye on their surroundings while the newer recruits looked visibly nervous.
"The labyrinth shifts every four minutes," Seojun said, his voice calm but commanding. "That gives us just enough time to cross two or three junctions before recalculating our route. Stick close to me, and don't deviate unless I tell you."
Hyunwoo glanced at the recruits. "You heard him. Move fast, stay sharp."
The group pressed forward, following Seojun's lead. His Scholar System mapped their path in real-time, overlaying possible hazards and the most efficient routes. The maze seemed predictable at first until the hum of the walls deepened, and they began shifting faster than anticipated.
"What's going on?" Jiyeon asked, her tone tense.
"They're accelerating the shift intervals," Seojun said, his Scholar System struggling to keep up. The constant changes threw off his calculations, and new paths opened and closed before he could adjust.
"Can you still map it?" Hyunwoo asked.
"Not fast enough," Seojun admitted, his voice clipped. "We need to find a static zone and regroup."
As they rounded a corner, a floor panel beneath one recruit clicked ominously. Before anyone could react, the panel opened into a pit, and the recruit barely grabbed the edge.
"Help me!" he shouted, his fingers slipping.
Jiyeon rushed to pull him up, but a second trap triggered, launching a volley of arrows toward the group.
"Move!" Seojun shouted, grabbing Jiyeon and pulling her out of harm's way. Hyunwoo pulled the recruit to safety, but the group was shaken.
"This is getting worse," Jiyeon muttered.
Seojun's Scholar System flagged multiple danger zones ahead. "The labyrinth is designed to react to mistakes," he realized aloud. "The more we trigger traps, the harder it gets."
"Then we better stop making mistakes," Hyunwoo said grimly.
On the other side of the Labyrinth, Eunha led the Ascension Club with her usual confidence. Her Scholar System tracked the shifting patterns of the walls, allowing her to predict which routes would open next.
"To the left," she said, gesturing quickly. "That path will close in twenty seconds, so move fast."
Her recruits followed without hesitation, impressed by her ability to navigate the chaos.
Hyuna jogged beside her, glancing at the shimmering walls. "You're making this look easy, boss."
"It's just pattern recognition," Eunha replied, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
But as they turned a corner, they encountered their first real obstacle: a hulking, mechanical beast patrolling the corridor. Its glowing red eyes locked onto them, and it let out a metallic roar before charging.
"Scatter!" Eunha ordered, her Scholar System instantly analyzing escape routes.
Minho leaped forward, his Fitness System enhancing his speed and strength. He planted himself between the beast and the group, dodging its first strike and delivering a powerful blow to its flank. The creature stumbled but didn't falter.
"Get everyone past it!" Minho shouted. "I'll hold it off!"
Eunha hesitated. Her Scholar System calculated multiple outcomes, and none looked good for Minho if he stayed behind.
"No," she said sharply. "We'll outmaneuver it together. Hyuna, can you block its vision?"
Hyuna grinned, activating her Creation System. A wall of glowing mist formed around the beast's head, disorienting it. Minho took the opportunity to strike its leg, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Move!" Eunha ordered, leading the group past the thrashing creature.
As they reached a safer corridor, one of the recruits turned to Eunha, their face pale. "What happens if it comes after us again?"
"It won't," Eunha said confidently. "Its patrol pattern will reset once we leave its zone. Let's keep moving."
But deep down, she felt a pang of doubt. Her predictions were solid, but the human factor, Minho's impulsive bravery, and Hyuna's creative problem-solving were what saved them.
Both factions reached the mid-point of the Labyrinth, where the walls stopped shifting, and a massive chamber opened before them. Ascension Club and Genesis Club arrived almost simultaneously, the twins locking eyes across the room.
"Impressive," Seojun said, his tone neutral. "I didn't think you'd make it here this quickly."
Eunha smirked. "Same to you. Did you rely on your maps the whole way?"
"They worked well enough," Seojun replied, though his Scholar System flagged the statement as overly confident. The accelerated wall shifts had almost thrown his entire plan into chaos.
"And you?" he asked, his gaze sharp. "Did your predictions hold up?"
"They always do," Eunha said, but her Scholar System pinged a subtle warning: her confidence in her methods might be misplaced.
Their conversation was cut short as the chamber's far wall slid open, revealing a narrow corridor lined with glowing tiles.
Instructor Han Yeseul's voice echoed through the chamber. "Congratulations on reaching the halfway point. But don't get comfortable. The next phase of the trial will test your ability to lead under pressure. Proceed if you dare."
Seojun and Eunha exchanged a glance, their mutual rivalry sparking anew.
"This isn't over," Eunha said, turning to her team. "Let's move."
"Not even close," Seojun replied, leading Genesis toward the corridor.
Meanwhile, in another section of the Labyrinth, Lee Soyeon and her Eclipse Society moved with eerie precision. Soyeon's Spectral System gave her unparalleled awareness of hidden traps and dangers, allowing her faction to navigate the maze almost effortlessly.
"Static zone ahead," she said, her voice calm. "We'll regroup there before continuing."
Her recruits followed without question, their trust in her leadership absolute. Soyeon's ability to anticipate threats had given Eclipse Society a significant advantage and whispers of their progress were already spreading among the other factions.
Farther away, Park Jinwoo and Vanguard Club powered through the Labyrinth with sheer determination. Jinwoo's Titan Combat System made short work of traps and mechanical beasts, while his recruits relied on his unwavering discipline to stay focused.
"We push through," Jinwoo ordered as they approached a heavily-guarded junction. "No hesitation."
The clash of weapons echoed through the maze as Vanguard forced their way forward, their reputation for strength growing with every obstacle they overcame.
As the factions progressed deeper into the Labyrinth, the challenges grew more complex, forcing leaders to make quick decisions that could mean success or failure. For Seojun and Eunha, the first phase exposed cracks in their methods, and the next phase would only amplify the pressure.
Both siblings knew that their leadership would be tested further and that their rivals were closing in fast.