The labyrinth had grown quieter.
The chaos that erupted when the trial began screams of frightened children, crashing stone, and the thunderous stomps of wandering golems had slowly faded as time passed. Many of the weaker candidates had already been eliminated or forced to retreat deeper into the maze. What remained now were the truly determined… or the truly talented.
Eternia Sinclair walked calmly through a narrow stone corridor, her footsteps light against the cold floor.
The silver haired girl moved without hurry, yet every motion was precise. Her eyes scanned the surroundings while faint ripples of mana expanded from her body like silent waves.
Detection magic.
Simple.
Basic.
Yet when used with refined control, it became one of the most valuable tools a mage could possess.
Eternia's senses spread through the nearby corridors, touching walls, floor, and air currents alike.
But despite her calm demeanor, she knew something important.
The lingering strength flowing through her body, the remnants of ancient magic would not last forever.
Even now she could feel it slowly weakening.
Ancient magic was powerful, but its price was unavoidable.
Soon the backlash would arrive.
Her body would grow heavy.
Her senses would dull.
Her mind would feel like it had been drained dry.
Which meant one thing.
"I need to finish this quickly."
Her silver eyes suddenly narrowed.
There.
A pulse of mana flickered nearby.
Unlike the scattered magical weapons hidden throughout the labyrinth, this signal carried a distinct signature.
Dense.
Stable.
And glowing faintly with golden energy.
Eternia immediately changed direction.
Her steps quickened slightly as she moved toward the source.
After turning through two more corridors, the narrow passage opened into a circular chamber.
And standing at its center…
Was a golem.
But this one was far larger than the previous constructs she had encountered.
Its body was made from thick slabs of enchanted stone reinforced by metal veins glowing with magical energy.
At the center of its chest floated a golden rune sealed behind a translucent barrier.
Eternia's lips curved faintly.
"So that's the prize."
The golem turned its massive head toward her.
Two glowing eyes ignited.
Then the creature stepped forward.
BOOM.
The floor trembled.
Eternia raised her hand calmly.
Her storage ring flashed.
A pulse of light appeared.
And her dark silver staff materialized instantly in her grasp.
The crystal at the tip glowed softly as it resonated with her mana.
Her breathing slowed.
Her body moved into a relaxed stance.
Even with the ancient magic weakening inside her, the boost to her physical ability still remained for now.
The golem attacked first.
Its giant fist swung downward like a falling hammer.
CRASH.
Stone exploded where Eternia had been standing.
But she had already moved.
Her body dashed sideways with incredible speed.
Ancient magic still flowed through her muscles.
She raised her staff.
Three magic circles formed instantly.
Three.
More than that would risk destabilizing the spells at her current level.
"Zero Circle Spell—Stone Pebble."
Small fragments of stone rose from the ground.
"Zero Circle Spell—Small Flame."
A spark ignited beside them.
"Zero Circle Spell—Wind Push."
Air compressed violently.
The three spells collided.
Fusion.
Molten energy erupted outward.
"Fusion Magic—Lava Burst."
The molten projectile smashed against the golem's chest.
BOOM.
Lava spread across its stone armor.
The creature staggered slightly but quickly recovered.
It swung again.
Eternia ducked beneath the attack, sliding across the ground before launching another fusion spell.
Again.
And again.
She moved constantly.
Every few seconds another molten splash blasted against the golem's body.
The chamber filled with smoke and heat.
But the ancient magic inside her body was fading quickly.
Her senses flickered slightly.
Her limbs felt heavier.
"…Not good."
She couldn't prolong the fight.
The golem raised both arms and slammed them down.
Eternia jumped forward instead of retreating.
Her staff glowed brightly.
Three circles appeared again.
But this time she poured everything into them.
"Stone Pebble."
"Wind Push."
"Mana Bolt."
The fusion formed instantly.
"Fusion Magic—Piercing Meteor."
A blazing projectile shot forward like a comet.
BOOM.
The attack struck the golem's chest directly.
CRACK.
The protective barrier shattered.
The golden rune inside fractured.
For a moment the golem stood motionless.
Then its massive body collapsed.
Dust spread across the chamber.
Eternia lowered her staff slowly.
"…Finished."
The ancient magic inside her body flickered again.
The backlash was coming.
She quickly stepped forward and retrieved the golden rune from the broken core.
The warm energy pulsed in her palm.
"…One."
But before she could move—
A slow clap echoed from behind her.
"Well done."
Eternia didn't turn around.
She already knew.
Her mana detection had sensed them earlier.
Four people.
Waiting.
Watching.
"…I was wondering when you'd come out," she said calmly.
Behind her stood four children wearing the robes of the Sinclair main family.
Pure-blood candidates.
Their expressions twisted with hostility.
One of them sneered.
"So the bastard girl finally finished."
Another laughed.
"You're stronger than we expected."
"But that rune belongs to us now."
The tallest boy stepped forward.
"And we'll make sure you never compete again."
His eyes gleamed cruelly.
"We'll cripple you."
"Take your runes."
"And leave you here."
Eternia slowly turned around.
Her expression calm.
Even amused.
"…Four against one?"
She smiled faintly.
"That saves me time."
The boys frowned.
"What?"
Eternia raised her staff.
Mana surged.
Three magic circles appeared instantly.
The four boys froze.
"Three circles at once?!"
"That's impossible!"
Even trained mages struggled to maintain two.
Three required exceptional control.
Eternia spoke calmly.
"Stone Pebble."
"Small Flame."
"Wind Push."
Fusion erupted.
"Lava Burst."
BOOM.
The explosion sent two of them flying backward instantly.
The others rushed forward.
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Spells flashed across the air.
Stone shattered.
Fire exploded.
Eternia moved like a dancer through the battlefield.
Her staff guided every spell with flawless precision.
Triple casting.
Constant fusion.
Relentless pressure.
The four pure-blood candidates were stunned.
Their formation collapsed instantly.
Within minutes—
All four lay defeated.
Groaning.
Unable to stand.
Eternia calmly collected the golden runes they carried.
"…Two… three… four… five."
Five runes rested in her hand.
She slipped them into her storage ring.
"…That should do."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the exit.
Circulating her mana to delay the backlash of Ancient magic.
Eventually the twisting corridors opened into bright sunlight.
The arena entrance stood ahead.
Eternia stepped out.
But someone was already there.
Standing quietly near the gate.
Etherius Sinclair.
Her twin brother.
His staff rested against his shoulder as if he had been waiting.
When Eternia stepped outside—
Their eyes met.
Silver and blue locked together.
Mana stirred faintly between them.
Neither spoke.
But the message was clear.
The trial inside the labyrinth had only been the beginning.
The real battle between them…
was still ahead.