Gaus's group trudged forward, the weight of their recent losses heavy on their shoulders. Determined to press on, they navigated the labyrinth by cutting through sections of the towering hedge walls, the dense greenery enclosing them like a living prison. Emerging into a narrow path, their progress slowed as something caught Gaus's eye.

Stretched across the ground ahead of them was a thick, scaly tail. Its size was monstrous, each scale gleaming like polished metal under the dim light of the labyrinth. The tail's ridges were jagged, and its blackened coloration gave it an ominous presence.

"That's… a snake's tail," Gaus said, his voice laced with disbelief. "But it's enormous… it doesn't seem to be moving. Let's move closer and see."

The three advanced cautiously, their weapons ready. After covering another forty meters, they found the snake's massive head severed from its body. The wound was jagged, with dried blood pooling around the neck. Its eyes, though lifeless, retained a sinister glare, and venom still dripped from its enormous fangs, forming small puddles of toxic green liquid on the ground.

Ray crouched near the severed head, inspecting it closely. "Looks like another group dealt with this beast," he said, running his fingers along the edges of the wound.

The other member of the group, a wiry young man, peered around nervously. "Maybe this is the right path," he suggested. "If they took down the serpent, they were heading the same way as us. We should hurry to the center before they beat us to it."

But before they could move, Ray raised a hand to halt them. "Wait," he said, his voice calm but commanding. He leaned in closer to the snake's head, prying open its massive jaws to inspect the fangs. After a moment, he pulled out three sharp teeth, each glistening with venom. He handed one to Gaus and the other to their companion.

"Take these," Ray instructed.

Gaus took the fang without question, nodding in understanding. Their companion hesitated, staring at the venom-coated tooth in disgust but ultimately accepted it, recalling how Ray's ingenuity with the soporific flowers had saved them earlier.

Ray continued his inspection, peering deeper into the serpent's maw. There, caught in the venom-soaked recesses, were several drowned insects. Their bodies were larger than any ordinary bugs, with sharp, barbed legs and translucent wings that shimmered unnaturally. Ray's mind raced as he connected the details to pages from a book about animals he had studied. These were no ordinary insects—they were likely drawn to the serpent's venom but met their end within its deadly grasp.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gaus. "We can't linger here. Time is slipping away."

Ray stood, brushing off his hands. "Let's move," he said, slipping the remaining fang into his pocket.

The group continued cautiously, the eerie silence of the labyrinth broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Minutes later, their path was interrupted by an unsettling noise—a rustling, like dry leaves crackling in the wind, coming from the hedge wall ahead.

Then the rustling turned into screams.

Bursting through the hedge were two girls and a boy, their faces contorted in agony. Their bodies were swarmed by the same insects Ray had seen in the serpent's mouth. The creatures bit and tore at their flesh, leaving angry red welts and streams of blood in their wake. The trio collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain and clawing at their skin, their screams filling the air.

Gaus, Ray, and their companion froze in horror.

"What the hell is happening?" Gaus muttered, gripping his sword tightly. "We can't go forward like this. Those insects… they're carnivorous. There's no way through the hedge now."

The other young man's voice shook. "If that group killed the snake and still couldn't get past, how are we supposed to make it?"

Ray's calm voice cut through the rising panic. "Why?"

The young man stared at him, incredulous. "Why? Are you blind? Look at them!" He gestured to the three figures writhing in agony.

As if in response, the three were suddenly enveloped by shimmering lights. The agonized screams ceased as their bodies were teleported away, just as had happened to the two members of Gaus's group who had fallen earlier. The three remaining students exchanged grim looks, their thoughts racing.

Ray finally broke the silence. "I have a plan. Follow me."

Gaus and the other young man exchanged a glance, then nodded. Despite their doubts, they had learned to trust Ray's sharp instincts. They followed him back to the fallen serpent's corpse.

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Ray stopped by the massive body, gesturing to the thick, scaly hide. "We'll use the snake's flesh and skin to mask ourselves. The serpent is the natural predator of these insects. Its scent should keep them from attacking us."

Gaus didn't hesitate. He unsheathed his blade and began slicing into the snake's flesh, grimacing as the sickly-sweet stench of decaying meat filled the air. The other young man hesitated, his face contorting in disgust.

"You want us to wear that?" he asked, his voice wavering.

"Yes," Ray replied firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "If you have a better idea, I'm listening. Otherwise, start cutting."

With a resigned groan, the young man joined in, peeling away sections of flesh and scales. The work was gruesome, and the air grew thick with the pungent smell of blood and venom. Finally, they had enough material to cover themselves.

Wrapping the serpent's hide around their bodies and securing it with strips of flesh, the three stood before the hedge wall, their makeshift armor clinging to them uncomfortably.

The insects could be heard rustling just beyond the greenery. Gaus tightened his grip on his weapon, the other young man swallowed hard, and Ray took a deep breath, his eyes fixed ahead.

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Meanwhile Marie's group was facing the gargoyles. Marie's eyes narrowed as the first gargoyle lunged at her with claws outstretched. Her blade gleamed in the dim light as she swung with precision, slicing clean through the creature. Its body shattered into fragments of stone, crumbling to the ground with a deafening crash. "They're just stone," Marie called out, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her. "Strike them precisely, and they break easily!"

Isaki turned his attention to two more gargoyles charging toward him. His movements were swift and calculated, his sword cleaving through the creatures with practiced ease. They crumbled like brittle statues, their remains scattering at his feet. The battlefield grew chaotic as six more gargoyles dove at Marie and Isaki. Working in tandem, their strikes were flawless, each gargoyle reduced to rubble before it could land a hit.

High above, the remaining gargoyles swooped down in unison, their stone wings creating a cacophony of ominous sounds. The air was thick with tension, but their attack proved futile. Isaki and Marie moved like a synchronized storm, their blades dancing with unrelenting precision. Piece by piece, the gargoyles were destroyed, their fearsome appearances betraying their fragility.

Jared and Ethan, wounded and exhausted, watched from a distance. Jared managed a weak smile, his body slumped against the wall. "They don't need us," he muttered, glancing at Ethan, who nodded in agreement.

Once the last of the gargoyles was vanquished, Isaki and Marie approached the massive stone door. Marie pressed her hand against it, her brow furrowing. "Why won't it open?" she asked, frustration creeping into her voice.

Isaki pushed against the door with all his strength, but it refused to budge. A strange sound echoed behind them, causing them to turn sharply. The shattered remnants of the gargoyles were floating back into the air, their fragments reassembling before their eyes.

"They're reforming," Isaki said, his voice tight with realization.

Marie's face darkened. "That's why they were so easy to destroy. They'll keep coming back."

From the corner, Jared struggled to his feet, his expression grim. "So, what do we do now?"

Isaki tightened his grip on his sword. "We keep fighting. That's all we can do."

The gargoyles reformed and launched themselves at the group with renewed ferocity, Marie and Isaki met the onslaught head-on. This time, Jared and Ethan joined the fray, their injuries forgotten in the heat of battle. Stone claws and wings lashed out from every angle, landing painful blows that began to take a toll on the team.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Isaki and Marie, unable to use the second level of their Aura without completely draining themselves, fought with diminishing strength. The gargoyles seemed endless, their fragments reforming over and over again.

Jared and Ethan, recognizing the toll on their companions, stepped forward. Jared raised his sword, shaky but determined. "You two rest for a moment. We've got this."

Marie and Isaki hesitated, but their bodies gave them no choice. They fell back to catch their breath, watching as Jared and Ethan fought valiantly. However, their strength was insufficient. Blows rained down on them from every side, and the two crumpled to the ground.

The sight of their fallen friends reignited Marie and Isaki's resolve. Despite their exhaustion, they rose once more, fending off the relentless assault. Then, as suddenly as it began, the gargoyles stopped reforming. One by one, the shattered fragments remained still.

Breathing heavily, Isaki lowered his sword. "They're not reforming anymore," he murmured, relief tinged with disbelief.

Marie sank to her knees, sweat dripping from her brow. "Is it… over?"

Her question was answered when the scattered remains of the gargoyles began to glow faintly. The light intensified as the fragments converged, fusing together into a single, monstrous entity. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the massive gargoyle emerged, towering over them. Its wings were like those of a bat, Its face bore the fierce features of a lion, and its tail lashed like a serpent.

The group stared in stunned silence. Jared's voice broke the tension, trembling with despair. "This… This is the end. We can't beat that thing."

"No," Isaki said between heavy breaths, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly as he knelt on one knee. His voice, though strained, carried determination. "It's just stone, like the others. I can destroy it with a single strike… but I need time to gather my strength."

Marie, battered and bruised, glanced at Isaki. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice tinged with both doubt and hope.

He nodded firmly. "Yes trust me, but I'll need a few minutes."

Marie clenched her jaw and turned to face the towering beast. Her arms ached, and her legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but she straightened her back, raising her sword. "I'll buy you that time," she declared, her voice firm.

Jared and Ethan exchanged glances, their bodies equally worn from the endless battle. They nodded at each other, then at Marie. Jared took a shaky step forward, gripping his own blade. "We'll hold it off with you… somehow."

Ethan added, his voice hoarse, "No way we're letting you do this alone."

As the gargoyle let out an earth-shaking roar, the three of them stepped forward, determination burning in their eyes. Behind them, Isaki dropped to one knee, gripping his sword tightly as he began to focus his energy.

The battle was far from over.