Battle for the Artifact Begins

The chamber trembled with ancient power.

Rian's dagger locked against Asvorn's sword, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. The force of the impact sent both men skidding back, eyes locked in a deadly stare.

Around them, the labyrinth moved. The walls pulsed, shadows shifting like living creatures. The grotesque faces carved into the stone grinned wickedly, feeding off the tension in the air.

"Good," the labyrinth god rumbled, its voice vibrating through their bones. "Show me your resolve."

Then—chaos erupted.

Kaisel vs. Rian – Speed vs. Precision

Kaisel was the first to react, vanishing in a blur of motion. In an instant, he was behind Rian, daggers flashing toward the man's neck.

Fast.

But Rian was faster.

With inhuman reflexes, he ducked, pivoting mid-step as a black chain erupted from his sleeve, wrapping around Kaisel's wrist.

"What the—?" Kaisel cursed, trying to pull away.

Rian smirked. "Surprised?"

With a flick of his wrist, dark energy surged through the chain—a pulse of pure force that sent Kaisel flying across the chamber. He crashed into a pillar, coughing as blood dripped from his lip.

But Kaisel grinned, wiping the blood away. "Damn, that actually hurt." He flipped his daggers in his hands. "Guess I'll have to take you seriously now."

Rian's smirk deepened. "By all means, try."

Lyara's Precision – The Archer's Strike

Lyara had already drawn her bow, her eyes glowing with mana. The air around her crackled as she notched three arrows at once, enchanted with piercing wind magic.

She let them fly.

The arrows screamed through the air like miniature lightning bolts, aimed straight for Rian's heart.

But the moment before impact—

A shadowy barrier materialized, absorbing the attack. The arrows shattered against the dark energy, their force dissipating into nothing.

Lyara's eyes narrowed. Tch. That wasn't normal magic.

"Asvorn!" she called out. "He's got something up his sleeve!"

Asvorn already knew. His instincts screamed at him—Rian was not normal.

Asvorn vs. Rian – The True Clash Begins

Asvorn lunged, his sword glowing with compressed energy. He aimed a downward slash, putting all his weight behind it.

Rian met the strike head-on.

Their blades collided with an earth-shaking boom, the sheer force splitting the stone floor beneath them. The labyrinth roared, as if delighted by the destruction.

Sparks erupted as they exchanged blows—strike after strike, parry after parry. Each movement was calculated, each attack designed to kill.

But something was wrong.

He's not struggling.

Rian was smiling, his movements fluid, almost effortless. He wasn't just blocking Asvorn's attacks—he was toying with him.

"You're strong," Rian admitted, deflecting a slash and countering with a precise stab toward Asvorn's ribs.

Asvorn barely dodged, the blade slicing through his cloak instead.

Rian continued. "But strength alone won't save you."

And then—the ground beneath Asvorn collapsed.

A trap.

Asvorn barely managed to push himself off the crumbling stone, flipping backward just as jagged black spikes erupted from the floor where he had stood.

Rian laughed.

"Did you really think this was a fair fight?"

Asvorn scowled. "Tch. Should've known you'd play dirty."

Emma's Unleashing – The Yandere Awakens

Across the battlefield, Emma watched Kaisel struggle.

Her body trembled.

Not with fear.

But with rage.

She had almost lost him once before. She would not let it happen again.

Her fingers curled. The air around her shuddered, the temperature plummeting as an eerie red mist swirled around her form.

Kaisel noticed. His eyes widened. "Emma—wait—"

But it was too late.

With a whispered incantation, Emma's power erupted.

The shadows in the room screamed.

The torches flickered violently as a wave of blood-red energy shot from Emma's body, distorting reality itself.

And then—

A dozen spectral hands emerged from the ground, reaching toward Rian like grasping claws.

His smirk finally disappeared.

"What—?"

The hands latched onto him, dragging him down into the stone itself. His body was sinking, as if the labyrinth itself had turned against him.

Emma's eyes burned with madness.

"You will not touch him."

Her voice was soft. Too soft.

Kaisel shivered. This was the first time he had seen this side of her.

The yandere side.

The Labyrinth's Will

The god's laughter rumbled through the chamber.

"Fascinating."

The ground shook violently, and the walls shifted once more.

But this time, something massive began to rise.

A gargantuan stone golem, forged from the labyrinth's own body, pulled itself from the depths. Its glowing eyes flickered with the same ancient energy as the artifact.

The labyrinth god was done watching.

It was time to eliminate the intruders.

Rian's Escape

Rian, despite being restrained, suddenly smirked.

"Impressive," he admitted. "But you're still underestimating me."

With a flick of his wrist, the black chains coiled around his body burst apart, shattering Emma's magic like glass.

Emma staggered back, her face twisting in shock.

Rian rose from the ground, dusting himself off. His eyes glowed with an eerie golden hue.

Asvorn's grip tightened on his sword. That was not normal magic.

"What are you?" Asvorn demanded.

Rian grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

And then, in a single instant, he vanished.

A blur of motion.

A fist to Asvorn's gut.

The impact sent Asvorn flying, slamming into a distant wall with enough force to crack the stone.

Lyara gasped. "Asvorn!"

Asvorn coughed, blood splattering the floor. He barely had time to react before Rian was on him again, blade aimed for his throat.

Asvorn dodged—barely. The dagger sliced his cheek instead, a thin line of blood trailing down his face.

Rian chuckled. "Come on, Asvorn. You're supposed to be strong."

Asvorn gritted his teeth.

His body ached, but he wasn't done yet.

Not even close.

"Fine. You want my full strength?"

The air around him shifted, his aura surging.

And for the first time since the battle started—

Rian looked genuinely surprised.