Marie lunged forward, signaling the others to follow, as she led the group in their renewed attack on the beast. She leaped with precise strength, driving her blade deep into the same wound on the wolf's back that Isaki had struck before. Her sword plunged in with a fierce strike, and the creature howled, its massive body shuddering under the force. Meanwhile, the other two students dashed forward, each aiming at the wolf's flanks with resolute focus. Their strikes connected, sending a shock through the creature's body and forcing it, finally, to collapse under the combined assault.

As the wolf hit the ground with a thunderous impact, Isaki stepped forward, grasping his sword and pulling it free from the wolf's now-still form. The group, still tense, exhaled in relief, their breaths visible in the cool air. They quickly turned their attention to their injured teammate, who lay sprawled a short distance away from where the wolf had tossed him.

Marie crouched beside him, her brow furrowed with worry as she leaned closer to check his injuries. But then, unexpectedly, the boy's magical bracelet began to glow intensely, emitting a radiant light in hues of white and prismatic color. The beam expanded, enveloping his entire body in a gentle, protective warmth. The boy's form shimmered as the light intensified, until, in a final flash, he vanished completely, as though he had dissolved into the beam itself.

Their own bracelets vibrated, and a calm, clear voice echoed through the air around them. "You have lost a group member, but rest assured—he has returned safely to the academy. Remember your objective. Reach it quickly before you lose any more of your team." The voice was feminine, steady, and authoritative, a presence that filled them with both reassurance and urgency.

The group exchanged glances, processing the message. Weariness finally catching up with them, they sat down on the ground, each of them catching their breath in the aftermath of the battle. The quiet settled around them, save for the faint rustling of the labyrinth walls, which seemed to move ever so slightly, as if alive.

Isaki looked down at his bracelet, which had dimmed to a faint glow, and finally voiced what was on everyone's mind. "Thank goodness he's safe… but what is this place, really? He looked like he was seriously hurt, and then that light just… whisked him away as if nothing happened."

Marie, still catching her breath, wiped a hand across her forehead, her expression serious. "That voice… it's probably from one of the professors, watching over us somehow. This labyrinth is more than just a maze—it's enchanted, and they're clearly pulling us out if we're close to failing. But still, it's a reminder of how high the stakes are."

The two other students nodded, both still a bit shaken yet resolute. The labyrinth was proving to be a more formidable challenge than any of them had imagined, and each loss of a teammate added a new layer of difficulty to reaching their goal. Marie's gaze hardened, her focus sharpened as she looked down the uncertain path that lay ahead.

"Every person we lose makes it harder to reach the center," she continued, her voice filled with determination. "We can't afford any more mistakes. Let's stay sharp."

The group fell silent, catching their breath, while the walls of dense hedges loomed around them, obstructing every potential route forward. As they pondered their next move, Isaki's eyes lit up with an idea.

"Since the wolf appeared through the hedge wall, maybe there's a path on the other side," he suggested. "What if we try passing through it, just like the wolf did?"

Marie's face brightened at the thought. "Good thinking, Isaki! If the wolf could go through the hedge, then maybe that's the solution to this maze."

The other two students nodded in agreement. There was a renewed energy among them, a spark of hope that this might lead them closer to their goal. Marie took a deep breath, her tone serious as she addressed the group. "From here on out, we have to stay sharp. Watch every detail, don't let anything slip by. This maze clearly holds secrets at every corner."

The others gave her a determined nod, understanding the importance of vigilance in a place as unpredictable as this. Together, they rose from the ground, and Marie led them to the spot where the wolf had first emerged. With a hint of uncertainty, she reached out, her hand pressing against the wall of hedges. Surprisingly, her hand slid through as if the thick foliage were merely an illusion. She paused, the sensation unusual, as though the hedge was simultaneously solid and permeable. Slowly, she pushed her arm further in, followed by her shoulder, until half her body was inside. She walked cautiously, the hedge branches brushing against her, until her hand felt open air. With a final step, she emerged on the other side, finding herself on a new path in the labyrinth.

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"Everyone!" she called, her voice echoing slightly. "There's a path here. Follow my voice!"

One by one, Isaki and the others slipped through the hedge, guided by her voice, and soon they all stood on the new pathway. This part of the maze was different, an unnerving silence cloaked it, and the path stretched forward in a straight line, seemingly endless.

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Meanwhile, across the labyrinth, Gaus and his group made slow but steady progress. Like Marie's team, they walked cautiously, staying as close to the center of the path as possible to avoid the towering hedge walls. Gaus led the way with a focused expression, his eyes fixed forward as he listened with mild disinterest to the conversation behind him.

Three of his companions trailed behind, grumbling under their breaths as they eyed Ray, who lingered at the very back.

"What a waste of space, isn't he?" one of the boys sneered, loud enough for Ray to hear. "Probably just holding us back."

"Yeah," another one muttered. "Don't know why he even bothers. He's only good for slowing us down."

The third boy chuckled mockingly. "Well, Gaus is the only one who can actually get things done. The rest of us just have to make sure this deadweight doesn't mess anything up."

Ray didn't react, ignoring their taunts as he observed his surroundings, paying special attention to the shadows and subtle movements within the hedge walls. Suddenly, Gaus stopped in his tracks, realizing they'd reached a dead end. He turned, his voice a hard edge. "We can't go any further here. We'll have to go back and find another way."

The other three murmured their agreement, but Ray, unfazed, moved toward the wall of hedges blocking their path.

"Wait," Ray said, stepping forward. He inspected the dense wall, noting its structure. From his readings, he knew these hedges weren't ordinary—they were rumored to be enchanted, designed to conceal hidden paths for those who dared to test them.

One of the boys sneered as Ray moved forward, his tone sharp. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

Without turning back, Ray replied in a cold, calm voice. "Instead of barking like a dog, why don't you follow me?"

The boy's face reddened, his hand moving to his sword. "Who are you calling a dog?" he spat, drawing his weapon.

Ray turned, his gaze icy. Before things could escalate, Gaus intervened. "Put your sword down, idiot," he barked at the boy, his expression fierce. "We're here to complete the task, not to fight each other."

The boy hesitated, then lowered his sword, grumbling, "But he started it. We don't need weaklings like him."

Gaus's eyes narrowed. "If you want to make it out of here, you'll listen to me. This is your last warning."

Ray moved closer to the hedge, his voice calm. "Let's go through the wall. There might be something on the other side."

With that, he approached the wall and, without a moment's hesitation, stepped through, disappearing into the thick hedge. The others, momentarily stunned, followed, reluctantly trusting his judgment. Within moments, they, too, had emerged on a new path. Gaus shot a glare at the boy who had pulled his sword, a silent reminder to obey without question.

"Good," Gaus said firmly. "Now let's keep moving."

The group advanced down the path, until they came to a four-way intersection. Before they could decide on a direction, a soft sound caught their attention. The voice of a girl, muffled but getting closer, echoed down one of the paths. Then, from the shadows of the hedge corridor, a girl stumbled forward, looking distressed.

One of Gaus's companions stepped forward, curiosity piqued. "What happened to you?" he asked.

The girl, eyes wide with fear, explained, "My group and I were just walking, but when I turned around, they were gone—just vanished! One moment, they were there, and then they weren't, like they'd been swallowed by the maze itself."

The boys looked at each other, stunned by her account. Gaus clenched his fists, muttering under his breath. This trial was clearly more treacherous than he had anticipated. Ray, however, remained calm, his eyes trained on the girl as she continued.

"When I tried retracing my steps, I saw the hedges moving, reaching toward me like they were alive," she shuddered, her voice trembling. "I barely managed to escape and find you."

Gaus's group exchanged uneasy glances. He spoke up with a sharp tone, "Alright, we won't take the path you came from. We'll try the one next to it." The girl, now on the verge of tears, asked, "Please, can I come with you?"

Gaus shot her a steely glare. "Don't be ridiculous. This is a competition, and you're our rival. Find your own way."

Two of his teammates seemed sympathetic, urging, "Gaus, come on. She's just one girl; we're five. If she tries anything, we have the numbers."

But Gaus's cold stare silenced them, and they followed his lead down the adjacent path. As the group moved away, Ray, at the back, glanced over his shoulder at the girl, who remained at the intersection, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed. Something in her story had seemed off to him. The enchanted hedges were tricky, yes, but from what he'd studied, there was no record of them capable of reaching out to ensnare someone.

"Wait!" Ray called out. "Don't you think that girl might be lying?"

The three boys turned, one of them snapping, "You think she could cry like that if she were lying? And besides, why would she be alone if she weren't telling the truth? A path is a path either way."

The other two nodded in agreement, dismissing Ray's suspicion. Gaus remained indifferent, saying, "There are risks on every path. We just have to stay alert."

Ray, realizing his concerns would go ignored, decided to follow along, though he kept his guard up. They continued down the chosen path, but as they disappeared into the maze, back at the intersection, the girl wiped her tears away, a sly smile spreading across her face. She watched as Gaus's group disappeared into the distance, almost out of sight. Then, three boys rushed up from the direction she had come.

"Did it work?" one of them asked eagerly.

The girl's grin widened. "Perfectly," she replied, her voice dripping with mischief.