The Adventurer's Academy was not joking around with their second test. This wasn't just about skill—it was about survival. The students were thrown into a massive, ever-shifting maze filled with monsters and, worse, other desperate students trying to qualify.
The Rules of the Maze Test
The instructor stood before the gathered students, his voice booming across the training grounds. "The rules are simple. Your goal is to be among the first thirty to escape the maze. The maze itself will shift every ten minutes, changing paths and revealing new dangers. Be warned—this is a free-for-all. You are allowed to fight, sabotage, and form temporary alliances, but only those who reach the exit will pass. And one more thing—there is a final guardian awaiting at the end. Defeat it, and the path to victory will be yours. Good luck."
The ground beneath them rumbled as towering walls of stone and ivy twisted into new formations. The moment the horn sounded, chaos erupted.
Red's Tactics is Winning Without Trying Too Hard
Step one: Let everyone else fight. Why waste energy?
Step two: Use the natural stupidity of overconfident idiots to his advantage.
Step three: Sneak past fights and head straight for the exit.
Step four: Casually dodge attacks like it's just another Tuesday.
He ducked behind a crumbling pillar as a group of students rushed past, already engaged in battle. One particularly loud warrior screamed as he swung a massive axe at a rogue. Red sighed, side-stepping as a stray fireball whizzed past his head.
"This is just a battle royale with extra steps," he muttered.
Anna: The Chaotic Factor.
Anna, on the other hand, was having the time of her life.
"Outta my way!" she bellowed, slamming her gauntleted fist into the nearest opponent's face. She charged forward, knocking people aside like a rampaging bull.
Red pinched the bridge of his nose. "Anna, we don't have to fight everyone."
"What if I WANT to?" she grinned, cracking her knuckles.
"…What if we just don't?"
"Coward."
"Strategist."
Eventually, Red let her do her thing—quietly using her as a distraction to move ahead.
---
Sephyra & Duke: The Quiet Observers
A short distance away, Sephyra and her knight, Duke, observed from the shadows.
"That guy is good," Duke muttered, watching Red slip past another fight without being noticed.
Sephyra hummed in agreement. "He's lazy, but smart."
"Tch. Can't believe he's actually winning by doing nothing."
"No, he's doing just enough."
The two continued their silent observation, avoiding conflict for now.
---
The Cocky Noble (a.k.a. Another Intelligence Check Failure)
Of course, no exam was complete without the arrival of a pompous noble who thought he was the main character.
"You! Red, was it?" A blond-haired noble sneered, pointing his rapier. "I've seen you lurking around like a rat. You haven't fought a single battle. That ends now!"
Red sighed. "Really?"
The noble smirked. "Afraid?"
"No, I just don't want to waste my time."
"Too bad!" The noble lunged forward.
Red, without breaking a sweat, sidestepped and led the noble straight into a hidden pit trap.
"AHHHH—" *THUD.*
"…Wow. That was easy," Red muttered.
Anna jogged up. "I blinked. What happened?"
"He failed the intelligence check."
Anna shrugged. "Happens."
Into the Maze's Tricks and Traps
The deeper they went, the more unpredictable the maze became. Walls shifted without warning, leading some unfortunate students straight into enemy attacks. Floors crumbled beneath those who weren't careful. Hidden pressure plates activated magical turrets that fired at anyone in sight.
Red casually strolled past one such turret, letting it target a group of aggressive students instead. "Convenient."
Anna, on the other hand, smashed through a crumbling wall, nearly taking out Duke in the process. "Oops. My bad."
Sephyra shook her head. "There has to be a better way."
"There is," Red said. "Follow me."
Sephyra's Hesitation
As they pressed forward, the group reached a flooded section of the maze. A powerful, water-based guardian blocked the path.
Sephyra hesitated, gripping her staff tightly. "I'll handle this."
Red raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"Yes."
But the moment she stepped forward, doubt flickered in her eyes. The way the water moved—too familiar, too much like home. Her hands trembled, and for the first time, Red noticed the tension in her posture.
Anna frowned. "What's wrong?"
Sephyra shook her head. "Nothing."
Red didn't buy it, but for now, he stayed silent.
The test was far from over, and with each step, the maze grew more dangerous. But beyond the shifting walls and lurking monsters, something deeper was stirring within Sephyra—something even she wasn't ready to face.
End of Chapter 5.