Marie and her group began walking through the towering walls of hedges, their footsteps cautious on the narrow path. The walls stretched high above them, their tops barely visible in the dim, filtered light that trickled down through twisted branches. Behind them, a second group of students followed at a measured distance, keeping their eyes on Marie's group as they all moved deeper into the labyrinth.

"Look," Isaki whispered, motioning with his head toward the hedges on either side. "Do you see that? The hedges—they're moving. Almost like they're... breathing."

Marie's eyes sharpened, her attention fully on the walls. The hedges indeed had an unsettling, undulating rhythm, swaying as if moved by some unseen wind. "Everyone, stay in the center of the path," she instructed, her voice firm. "It's best if we don't touch the walls."

As they moved forward, they soon came upon a fork in the path, where the trail split into two distinct directions—one leading left, the other veering sharply to the right. The second group of students ahead of them took a quick glance before heading left, disappearing into the shadows. Marie exchanged a look with Isaki, who gave her a slight nod. She turned to the others. "Let's go right," she decided, and they all followed.

The pathway stretched on, winding with sharp turns and narrow passes, their surroundings eerily quiet save for the rustling of leaves. But the farther they went, the narrower the path became, until they finally hit a dead end—a towering wall of dense, prickly hedges blocking their way forward.

"We'll have to double back," Marie said with a sigh, leading the group in the other direction. Yet, as they retraced their steps, something didn't feel right.

"Is it just me, or does something seem... off?" Marie murmured, her brows furrowing as she scanned the path around them.

Isaki nodded, his voice low. "You're not imagining it. This doesn't look like the same path we came down. It feels… different."

The three other students exchanged uneasy glances, turning to observe the changing surroundings. The path that had once seemed familiar was now subtly altered, with new twists and eerie shadows stretching across the ground. Marie's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Isaki, you noticed the hedges moving before. Maybe… maybe it's not just an illusion. The hedges themselves could be shifting, altering the structure of the labyrinth."

Isaki's expression darkened as he absorbed the implications. "A normal maze would've been challenging enough. But a maze that rearranges itself…" He shook his head, his jaw tightening. "We need to move fast and find another path, or we'll be stuck here."

"Agreed," Marie replied. "Let's keep going, and try to outpace the other group. The sooner we reach the center, the better."

They pressed onward, picking up their pace, but once again, they found themselves at a dead end. This time, frustration began to creep in as they turned around, preparing to backtrack yet again. But something was different this time. The air felt thicker, colder, carrying an undercurrent of tension.

One of the students at the back of the group suddenly stiffened, his voice trembling. "Guys… there's… there's something wrong with the wall."

Isaki, Marie, and the others turned as one, their eyes focusing on the dense hedge wall before them. From the twisting vines and dark, prickly foliage, a shape began to emerge, pressing through the leaves as if the hedge itself were giving birth to it. Slowly, a massive head pushed its way through—a creature with large, piercing eyes that gleamed in the half-light.

The head belonged to an enormous wolf, but it was unlike any wolf they had ever seen. Its mouth, framed by razor-sharp fangs, parted slightly to reveal teeth as long as daggers, each one gleaming with a deadly sharpness. Its coat was thick and dark gray, almost like a storm cloud gathered around it, and every movement seemed to ripple with an unnatural energy. Its paws, armed with claws as sharp as blades, stepped forward, leaving imprints on the ground that crackled faintly with a blue, ethereal light.

Its eyes, a cold, predatory blue, fixed on the group, and as it moved further from the hedge, the full scale of its size became apparent. This wolf was far larger than any normal wolf, standing as tall as a horse, its broad shoulders powerful and rippling with muscles that spoke of lethal strength. Two long, thick tails lashed behind it, each tipped with tufts of fur that swayed ominously, as if attuned to the creature's thoughts. The blue aura surrounding it pulsed and flickered like flames, accentuating every fierce feature and casting an otherworldly glow that danced across its hulking frame.

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The creature let out a low growl, deep and guttural, that reverberated through the air like the rumble of distant thunder. The ground seemed to tremble under its gaze as it took another step forward, baring its fangs and snarling at the group. Its two tails lashed in agitation, stirring up gusts of wind that sent leaves spiraling into the air, the aura around it intensifying until it seemed to ignite.

Marie's breath caught as she instinctively raised her hand, signaling the others to fall back. Her heart raced, every instinct telling her that this creature was unlike anything they had ever faced—a guardian, a sentinel, set to defend the maze from intruders.

"Stay close and keep your distance," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the creature's low, menacing growl. "And whatever you do… don't turn your back on it."

The enormous wolf's glowing blue gaze fixated on the group, its rumbling growl echoing ominously through the twisting paths of the labyrinth. Paralyzed by fear, the boy who had first spotted the creature felt his instincts scream at him to flee. Ignoring Marie's command to stay together, he turned on his heel, desperate to run. But the wolf was faster—its immense body sprang forward with terrifying speed, one massive, clawed paw slashing across his back in a vicious swipe. His scream of raw agony filled the air as he crumpled to the ground, writhing in pain, his body limp and unmoving.

Marie shouted, her voice laced with urgency. "Everyone, get ready! Be careful—this isn't just any creature!"

The remaining students gripped their weapons tightly, nerves taut as they steadied themselves for what was clearly a fierce fight. They formed a shaky line beside Marie, facing the beast, who continued to bare its fangs, razor-sharp and dripping with a hint of saliva.

The wolf's piercing gaze swept over the group before honing in on its next target—a boy standing near the front, trembling as the creature sized him up. In a split second, the wolf lunged again, but this time, Isaki moved swiftly, throwing himself between the boy and the beast. He raised his sword, his aura surging as he unleashed the first move of the Lunar Sword technique. His blade cut through the air, meeting the wolf's incoming paw with a clash that resounded through the labyrinth. The impact sent Isaki flying back, his feet skidding across the ground until he barely managed to stop himself from tumbling.

"Isaki! Are you okay?" Marie shouted, worry etched across her face as she took a step toward him.

Gasping for breath, Isaki managed a weak nod. "Yeah… still standing."

The boy he had protected turned to him, relief and gratitude filling his expression. "Thank you…"

Marie didn't waste a second. "All right," she commanded the other two students. "Follow my lead. I'll draw its attention from the front—you two, aim for its flanks. Don't hesitate."

With a shaky nod, the two students tightened their grips on their weapons, determination flickering through the fear in their eyes. They knew this was likely only the beginning of the trials awaiting them in the labyrinth, but they had no choice but to press on.

Marie charged, her sword slicing forward with incredible strength. The wolf's eyes narrowed, its monstrous jaws snapping around her blade, holding it tightly between its powerful fangs. Metal scraped against enamel, and Marie gritted her teeth, struggling against the wolf's jaw to wrest her weapon free.

Meanwhile, the two students flanked the creature, each launching an attack on its thick forelegs. Their blades managed to pierce its dense fur, and blood welled from the wounds, dripping onto the grass below. The wolf snarled, releasing Marie's blade as it shook its body violently, throwing the students off with a flick of its powerful limbs. They stumbled, disoriented but uninjured, and scrambled back to their feet, determined not to let their fear take hold.

Above, Isaki saw his chance. Taking a deep breath, he focused his energy and sprang into the air, diving down toward the beast with renewed force. His blade glowed faintly as he unleashed the second move of the Lunar Sword technique, plunging his sword into the wolf's spine from above. The wolf howled in pain, its massive body convulsing as it bucked wildly in a desperate attempt to throw him off. Finally, with a powerful twist, the wolf managed to fling Isaki forward. He tumbled to the ground, coming to a stop just feet away from the creature, disarmed. His sword remained embedded in the beast's back, pulsing faintly as if still echoing with the power of his strike.

Behind him, Marie and the other two students held their breath, watching as the wolf loomed over Isaki, a predatory gleam in its eyes. They knew they were running out of time, and Marie's heart pounded as she assessed the situation. She knew that even if she launched herself forward to shield Isaki, she would never reach him in time to prevent the wolf from striking. Desperation filled her voice as she shouted, "Isaki, get out of there!"

Isaki, still dazed, tried to push himself up, but the wolf was already closing in, its jaws opening wide, ready to strike. Suddenly, the wolf jerked back with a pained snarl. The boy who had initially been injured, despite his weakened state, had risen to his feet, a look of fierce determination on his face as he drove a dagger deep into the wolf's hind leg, wounding it further. The beast turned its fury on the boy, and with a violent sweep of its paw, sent him crashing against the ground once more.

Seizing this crucial opening, Marie tightened her grip on her sword. With a quick glance at the two students beside her, they nodded, gathering their courage. In one synchronized move, they lunged forward.