The world around Kai blurred into motion—the pounding of his heartbeat loud in his ears, the breath burning in his lungs, the taste of dust thick on his tongue. The maze had tested his endurance, his will to survive, but now, something far more dangerous stood in his way.
A figure loomed at the exit, wrapped in darkness, unmoving yet radiating undeniable presence. The voice that had called out was deep, steady—filled with certainty that Kai had no right to make it this far.
Then—movement.
Fast. Precise.
Kai barely had time to react before a blur of motion lunged toward him. Instinct screamed—Dodge!—and he barely managed to twist his body in time to avoid the lethal strike aimed at his throat.
Steel flashed past him, slicing the air where his head had been mere moments ago.
Kai scrambled backward, feet sliding against loose debris.
It wasn't a trap.
It was a person.
A warrior dressed in dark armor, lean and deadly, moving with the efficiency of someone trained for combat. The maze hadn't just been filled with hidden dangers—it had sent assassins to weed out those who didn't belong.
The warrior's eyes locked onto Kai, calculating. Cold.
"You're not meant to be here," he murmured, barely audible over the chaos still raging in the maze behind them. "But no matter. You won't make it out."
He attacked again.
Kai had no weapon, no defense beyond his own body. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike meant to cleave through his ribs. He knew he couldn't outrun his opponent—this wasn't endurance anymore. This was survival.
Then—another voice.
Desperate. Panicked.
"Kai!"
He turned sharply toward the sound—toward Rico.
The noble boy had been just behind him during the run, but now he was trapped.
A triggered mechanism had sprung out of the wall—thick metal chains wrapping around Rico's leg like a predator ensnaring prey. He struggled, pulling at the bindings, his breaths coming fast.
And beneath his feet—the ground was shifting.
Breaking.
A pit lurked below, waiting to swallow him whole.
Kai's entire body tensed.
Rico would die.
Kai had a choice—fight for himself, keep running, escape while he still had the chance—or turn back, risk everything, and save the noble who he still wasn't sure he could trust.
He cursed under his breath.
And then—he moved.
Ignoring his own danger, Kai pivoted, sprinting toward Rico with everything he had left.
Behind him, the warrior gave chase, sensing the opportunity to end them both.
Kai didn't hesitate. As Rico fought to keep himself from falling, Kai reached out, grabbing hold of the chains wrapped around his leg.
"Stop moving!" Kai snarled, pulling with all his strength.
Rico gasped, struggling to keep his balance. The ground beneath him was breaking faster now, crumbling into the abyss.
Kai gritted his teeth, muscles screaming. The bindings refused to loosen.
The warrior was closing in.
Kai's mind raced. There was no time to untangle the chains properly—no time for careful work.
A choice.
He pulled Rico forward, using everything in him. And then—
With a sharp twist of motion, Kai slammed his fist down against the bindings.
A sickening snap followed.
Rico yelped in pain as the chains shattered beneath Kai's strike, but before he could react, Kai grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward, out of the collapsing trap.
The pit swallowed the ground where Rico had been standing—darkness consuming everything in a single, crushing collapse.
Kai barely breathed before turning.
The warrior was upon them.
This time, Kai didn't run.
This time—he fought back.
Kai barely had time to catch his breath before the warrior lunged again, his blade flashing in the dim light of the maze. This time, Kai was ready.
He threw Rico back with a shove, forcing him out of immediate danger, and spun just as the blade carved through the air toward his chest.
Instinct screamed at him to dodge—so he did.
Kai twisted his body, narrowly missing the lethal edge, feeling the rush of wind against his skin as the weapon passed inches from his ribs.
But he couldn't just keep dodging forever.
The warrior was faster. Stronger. Armed.
Kai had nothing but his hands—and the iron resolve burning in his veins.
The warrior didn't hesitate, pivoting swiftly for another strike. Kai barely saw it coming—a downward slash meant to split him in two.
He reacted on impulse.
Dropping low, he caught the attack with both hands, gripping the warrior's wrists mid-swing. The force behind the blade sent tremors through his arms, his muscles screaming under the pressure, but he held firm.
For the first time, the warrior hesitated, eyes narrowing in slight surprise.
Kai didn't waste the moment.
Using every ounce of strength left in his body, he shifted his weight, twisting his grip in a sharp, sudden motion. The momentum sent the warrior off balance—just enough for Kai to lash out.
He slammed his knee upward, driving it straight into the warrior's gut.
A grunt escaped the man's lips as the impact reverberated through his armor.
Kai didn't stop. He shoved forward, forcing the warrior to stumble back, finally creating distance between them.
But it wouldn't last long.
The warrior straightened, rolling his shoulders as if barely fazed.
"You're more stubborn than the others," he murmured, voice unreadable.
Kai's breath was ragged, sweat dripping down his temples, exhaustion clawing at his limbs—but he refused to yield.
He didn't need to win.
He just needed to escape.
Rico, still recovering, finally snapped out of his shock. He grabbed Kai's arm, urgency in his voice.
"We need to move—now!"
Kai didn't argue.
The warrior lunged again, but this time, Kai didn't stay to fight. He turned, sprinting toward the exit, Rico beside him.
The sound of pursuit was close—too close.
But the exit was within reach.
The light from beyond the maze spilled onto the stone pathway, promising salvation just a few steps ahead.
They just had to make it.
And then—
A sharp whistle.
Kai felt it before he saw it.
Something cut through the air, fast, deadly—a projectile, fired with expert precision, aimed straight for his back.
In that instant, he knew.
If he didn't move—he was dead.