"I still can't believe they managed to overtake us."
Raven, who pulled his dagger after impaling it deep inside arachnoid, checked his bracelet.
His pair, with long navy blue hair and red eyes, Rebecca Stone, responded shortly after pulling her rapier back.
"Is it so surprising? I'm not quite familiar with Brandon Locke, I did watch your duel with him. But in my opinion, I think you were holding back. Though Amy is really good it shouldn't come as a surprise."
An arachnoid. One of the phenomenons that occurred after spiders inside labyrinths were exposed to the vile miasma coming from monsters, permeating the air.
Then, Raven's head raised, meeting Rebecca's gaze, her red eyes flickered and looked back at him.
"I may have held back. But to be honest, he had barely lifted a finger during that fight."
"Is that so?"
Rebecca had come from a different academy, but enrolled in Imperial Academy as soon as it opened. For that reason, she wasn't quite familiar with Brandon.
"I guess he really is good as the rumors say. I've heard about them from time to time a year ago. Who knew a prodigy was just about our age."
Then, she shook her head.
"Now that I think about it, you're quite a prodigy yourself, Raven."
"That's not true. Compare me to Brandon, then I'm honestly average."
"Not at all. You're well on your way to breach the A rank. Most of our classmates are still at the B. In fact, some are still struggling to even become a B- ranked. Have some pride."
Raven could only scoff hearing her words. She had a point. While he may have still been an A- ranked, he could tell he was well on his way to reach the A rank.
At the moment, he was on par with Reinhard when it came to ranks. Though strength always varied. If he played his cards right, he could beat Reinhard most of the time.
But he could surmise that Brandon was a league above him. Most probably, A or A+.
'Insane....'
Brandon was honestly quite insane for that feat if that were actually the case.
Most humans often had a limit on what rank they could achieve in their entire lifetime.
It was for that reason, why no one had ever surpassed Lucian Frost, who was the only known human to breach the SSS ranks. In particular, he was SSS- ranked.
Humans couldn't tell what their limits were. Not until they had reached that pinnacle, and realized they couldn't go further.
And if he had to be honest, Raven found himself pathetic.
He had the system. An ability that allowed him to break past the limit of the human body. Yet this whole time, he could barely keep up with Brandon, who didn't have the system aiding him.
Just why is he so strong?
He truly couldn't fathom it.
But he had never seen Brandon as competition. More like, he saw him as an inspiration.
A person he wanted to catch up to.
Now that he thought about it, Cyrus kind of made sense now.
"Thanks."
"Mhm. Now, let's catch up to them. You don't want to lose to your girlfriend, right?"
"Girl.... friend?"
"Amy Ashfield? Isn't she your girlfriend?"
"Ah, no."
Raven shook his head and waved his hand awkwardly.
"Well, I'm not sure. There's barely been any progression this past year. I honestly think she's losing interest."
"Are you stupid?"
Rebecca suddenly frowned. This confused Raven even more as he scratched his neck and awkwardly smiled.
"Yes?"
"How beta are you?"
"Be–ta?"
Wait, everyone knew this term.
It was everywhere in his TokTok for you page.
He started recalling, and as soon as he did, he snapped his fingers, snap—!
"You mean that!"
"Yes, 'that.' Man up, Raven. Don't wait for the girl to take initiative. Do it yourself before you lose her."
"You're right. Thanks, Rebecca."
"Mhm."
Ending the conversation there, they tried to venture out of the labyrinth. After all, they had already passed. There was no need to waste any more time.
It was then.
A voice rang from somewhere.
"Zone."
Now the only ones who weren't here were Brandon.
"...?"
"Ah, guys. The instructor is back."
A silhouette appeared inside the darkness, slowly walking towards them.
At first, they thought it was the instructor.
But their conjectures were immediately proven wrong. The figure soon entered the light, revealing her features.
Hazel locks fluttered by the breeze, as the woman adorned a rather provocative outfit. Though Rachel couldn't see her face since the woman was wearing a white mask, Rachel could tell she was quite a beauty.
And of course, not once had she ever let her guard down.
After all, the labyrinth had been rented out.
So why would there be uninvited guests?
It was then.
The woman coldly muttered.
"Zone."
The scenery began to shift, isolating everyone in a sea of darkness. At that moment, light protruded, blinding everyone for a brief second.
As soon as the light died down, Rachel looked around. A look of panic spread across every cadet present.
What the hell is going on?
***
They continued walking around the maze–like cave.
But there was something strange that bothered Amy.
"Is it me, but it's eerily quiet?"
She asked as she turned her head towards Brandon, who was walking right beside her.
Without looking back, Brandon responded.
"You're right. We've been roaming this place for quite a while now, yet it seems like we're the only ones here."
Not once had they encountered a single monster, or any signs of cadets.
"Maybe we should head ba—"
Amy paused upon noticing a silhouette emerging from the dark corner.
"...."
Alarmed, Amy raised her guard up, taking a battle stance and extending her hand.
"Brandon...."
"Yeah."
From the corner, two figures emerged at that moment. Adorning masks. Amy couldn't see their faces. But judging from their build, it seems like they were both men.
Something was off.
And Amy was no idiot.
Most probably, the masked individuals had come to obstruct their labyrinth dive.
However, the moment she narrowed her eyes and scrutinized the masked individuals, Amy began to shudder.
She could tell from the mana emitting from them that they were not one to be trifled with.
They were way stronger than her. Maybe even Brandon.
This wasn't a fight they could win.
In the span of a few seconds, Amy surmised that they must've been the reason why the labyrinth was quiet.
Then did that mean....?
A chill ran down her spine as soon as her thoughts occurred.
'Could they have.... killed the monsters and cadets alike?'
It was a plausible theory.
"Amy, call the instructor. I'll hold them."
Brandon suddenly instructed.
There was no need to hesitate. Even if they failed, the instructor would understand that it wasn't the time to conduct the labyrinth dive activity.
At that moment, Amy clicked the emergency button on the bracelet. Because if she did hesitate and wasted time, then Brandon would have no choice but to fight them.
It wasn't as if Brandon was weak, it was simply because they were way out of their league.
"It's done. We have to go now. The Instructor should know about this location alr—"
However, those were the last words that left Amy's lips right before she....
Blanked.
"...."
Out.