Eren's vision swam as he struggled to push himself up from the cold crystal floor. The aftermath of using his newly unlocked ability left him feeling drained and disoriented.

"Easy there," Jin said, helping Eren to his feet. "You pushed yourself too hard with that new trick of yours."

Aria looked concerned. "Maybe we should rest for a moment? You look pale, Eren."

Eren shook his head, forcing himself to stand straight. "No time. We need to keep moving. Other teams will be catching up."

As if summoned by his words, the sound of footsteps echoed through the labyrinth's twisting corridors. Eren's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword – a masterpiece crafted by Valestria's finest blacksmith, its blade humming with latent shadow mana.

"Looks like we've got company," Jin muttered, falling into a fighting stance.

From around the corner emerged three figures, each as distinct as they were formidable.

The first was a young woman with vibrant, multicolored hair and eyes that seemed to shift hue with every blink. She moved with a fluid grace that spoke of the chaotic magic of the Wonderlands.

Beside her stood a man with a shaved head and robes that marked him as a disciple of the Shaolin Temple. His eyes were calm, but his body radiated a coiled energy ready to explode into action.

The third member of the group was a young man who couldn't have been older than sixteen. Despite his youth, he carried himself with regal bearing, a circlet of gold nestled in his dark curls marking him as Astarian royalty.

"Well, well," the Wonderland mage said, her voice lilting with barely contained mirth. "Looks like we're not the first to make it this far after all."

The Shaolin monk bowed slightly. "I am Brother Chen of the Jade Mountain Monastery. These are my allies for this trial – Zephyr of the Whimsical Glade, and Prince Caspian of Astaria."

Eren nodded curtly. "I'm Eren. This is Jin and Aria." He didn't bother with further introductions. The tension in the air was palpable.

Prince Caspian stepped forward, his youthful face set in determination but his eyes betraying a hint of wariness. "We've heard about your performance in the previous trials. You two," he gestured to Eren and Jin, "are not to be underestimated."

Brother Chen nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Your skills are most impressive. However, I'm afraid we can't let you proceed further. The secrets at the center of this labyrinth are too valuable."

Jin snorted. "Chen, this labyrinth doesn't belong to anyone. It's a neutral ground for the trials."

"Neutral?" Zephyr laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. "Oh, you poor, deluded souls. Everything here is up for grabs. And we intend to grab it all."

Without warning, she flicked her wrist, sending a wave of kaleidoscopic energy surging towards Eren's team.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Eren's exhaustion evaporated in an instant. His hand tightened on his sword hilt, and in one fluid motion, he drew the blade and swept it in an arc before him. To everyone's surprise, instead of shadow mana, a brilliant light erupted from the edge. The Blade of the Falling Star technique, a complete opposite of his usual shadow abilities, met Zephyr's spell head-on and dissipated it in a shower of radiant sparks.

"Impossible," Brother Chen murmured, his stance shifting subtly. "Both shadow and light mana? However, how will you fare against this?"

The monk's fist shot out, and the very air seemed to ripple with the force of his strike. Jin barely managed to deflect the invisible blow, skidding back several feet from the impact.

As the two groups clashed, the crystal labyrinth around them came alive with the interplay of diverse magics and martial techniques. Aria's arcane bolts collided with Zephyr's chaotic spells, creating dazzling explosions of color and energy. Jin and Brother Chen engaged in a furious exchange of blows, their movements almost too fast for the eye to follow.

Prince Caspian, for his part, proved to be more than just a figurehead. Golden light blazed from his hands as he conjured spectral weapons, forcing Eren to constantly adapt his swordplay to counter the ever-changing threats.

But it was Eren who truly shone in the battle. Azar's training came flooding back to him, each movement fluid and purposeful. His sword danced through the air, alternating between ribbons of shadow and bursts of brilliant light. With each strike, he pushed his opponents back, his blade finding gaps in their defenses that they didn't even know existed.

"How?" Prince Caspian gasped, barely parrying a blow that would have ended the fight then and there. "That sword... those techniques... You wield both shadow and light?"

Eren didn't reply. He was lost in the flow of combat, his earlier exhaustion forgotten. The mana coursing through his blade felt like an extension of his very being. He moved like smoke and struck like lightning, insubstantial one moment and lethally solid the next.

As the battle reached its crescendo, Eren felt something click inside him. Time seemed to slow, and for a brief instant, he could see every move his opponents would make before they made it. It wasn't the Observer's Eye – this was something different, something born from the perfect harmony of his training, his weapon, and his innate talents.

With a final, decisive series of strikes, Eren disarmed Prince Caspian and sent him stumbling back. At the same moment, Jin managed to break through Brother Chen's guard, and Aria's spell caught Zephyr off-balance.

The three opposing team members found themselves backed against the labyrinth wall, breathing heavily and clearly outmatched.

"It's over," Eren said, his voice calm but firm. "You fought well, but this isn't your path to take."

Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "This isn't the end, dual-wielder. We'll come back for you guys later."

Prince Caspian's face was a mix of frustration and grudging respect. "You've bested us today, Eren, but mark my words – I'll surpass you. The next time we meet, the outcome will be different."

Brother Chen simply bowed, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "Until we meet again. Your mastery of opposing forces is truly remarkable."

As the defeated team retreated down a separate corridor, Eren finally allowed himself to relax. The adrenaline of combat faded, leaving him once again aware of his earlier exhaustion.

"That was... incredible," Aria breathed, looking at Eren with newfound admiration. "I've never seen anyone wield shadow and light mana like that before."

Jin chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You bastard, Eren. You were holding back, weren’t you?"

Eren smirked, shaking his head slightly. "I could say the same to you. You weren’t fully trying against the Shaolin Monk either."

Jin grinned wider, but his tone remained light. "Fair enough. But don’t get cocky. We’ve still got a long way to go."

Eren allowed himself a brief smile before his expression grew serious. "You’re right. That was just the first real challenge. We need to keep moving. Who knows what else is waiting for us in the center of the labyrinth."