Time was slipping away quickly, and Ajin pushed forward through the dimly lit corridor, carefully dodging hidden traps and scanning the walls for any clues that might illuminate the right path ahead.
Amidst the eerie silence, a faint sound of struggle broke through the stillness. Ajin halted and strained to listen more intently.
— "Please... help me…"
The desperate voice resonated from somewhere nearby, sending a jolt of urgency through him.
He moved cautiously down the narrow corridor, the flickering overhead lights casting ominous shadows around him. After a few steps, he spotted her. A girl was trapped beneath a heavy pile of rubble, her leg pinned and visibly bruised, her face contorted in a mix of pain and fear as she tried to wiggle free.
— "Stay still; I'm coming to help you!"
Ajin rushed toward her, his heart racing, and began to clear away the stones with frantic determination. Dust and debris flew in the air as he worked.
— "No! You mustn't stop! You need to reach the exit before time runs out!"
Ajin clenched his teeth, feeling the weight of her words. He could choose to abandon this rescue and focus on his own escape, but the thought of leaving her behind was unbearable.
Without a moment's hesitation, he bent down and lifted the girl into his arms, cradling her against his chest like a fragile treasure.
— "Ajin! But you don't have time…!"
— "I'll have enough if we move fast!"
With immense effort, Ajin started running, the girl's weight pressing down heavily on his shoulders. He felt every muscle in his body scream as he sprinted through the labyrinth, determined to save them both. Suddenly, the voice of Olga, the announcer, crackled through the loudspeakers, her tone a mix of surprise and admiration:
— "Incredible! One of the contestants has chosen to risk his own chance to help another candidate! A brave move, but will he finish in time?"
Ajin could feel fatigue starting to seep into his bones, but he fought through it, his breathing growing ragged. The girl whispered,
— "My name is Sidonia... And if we get out of here, I'll owe you."
Ajin didn't respond; words felt insignificant in that moment. There was no time for promises or reassurances. The only thing that mattered was reaching the exit before the timer ran out. His legs felt heavy, each step a painful struggle against the increasing weight of exhaustion. The labyrinth around them felt like it was closing in, the air thickening with tension, as if it mocked their desperate escape. Time was slipping away quickly, and Ajin continued to move forward, dodging obvious traps and searching for any clues that might guide him on the right path.
Suddenly, a faint sound of struggle caught his attention. He paused and listened carefully.
— "Please... help me..."
Ajin froze. The voice was coming from nearby.
He moved cautiously down the dark corridor and, after a few steps, saw her. A girl was trapped under a collapsed structure, desperately trying to free her leg.
— "Stay still; I'm coming to help you!"
Ajin rushed toward her and began removing the stones pinning her down.
— "No! You mustn't stop! You need to reach the exit before time runs out!"
Ajin clenched his teeth. He could choose to move on and save himself, but how could he leave her there?
Without hesitation, he bent down and lifted the girl into his arms.
— "Ajin! But you don't have time…!"
— "I'll have enough if we move fast!"
With immense effort, Ajin started running, carrying the girl on his shoulders. From the speakers, Olga's voice rang out again:
— "Incredible! One of the contestants has chosen to risk his own chance to help another candidate! A brave move, but will he finish in time?"
Ajin felt every muscle burn, but he didn't stop. The girl whispered,
— "My name is Sidonia... And if we get out of here, I'll owe you."
Ajin didn't respond. There was no time for promises. The only thing that mattered was reaching the exit in the final seconds of this trial. His legs felt heavy, each step a painful struggle. His breathing grew ragged, and Sidonia's weight pressed down harder on his shoulders. As they advanced, the labyrinth seemed to grow more hostile.
— "Five minutes left!" Olga's voice rang out sharply through the speakers, cutting through the thick tension in the air.
The crowd watching the live broadcast held its breath, eyes glued to the screen as the main camera zoomed in on Ajin. He was straining against the weight of Sidonia, whom he carried securely in his arms as they navigated the treacherous maze. In the top left corner of the screen, a bright red timer ticked down mercilessly, its numbers glowing ominously.
— "Incredible! This young man is demonstrating remarkable altruism in such a fiercely competitive environment! But will it work to his advantage, or will it ultimately cost him his place at the Academy?" Commentator Elian mused, his voice laced with excitement.
— "It's a risky move, Olga. If he doesn't make it out in time, no one will care how noble his actions were," he countered, concern creeping into his tone.
Sidonia lifted her gaze to study Ajin's face, noting the tightness in his jaw and the beads of sweat collecting at his brow, a testament to the effort he was exerting.
— "Ajin… put me down. I'm slowing you down!" she urged, her voice tinged with anxiety.
But Ajin ignored her plea, determination etched across his features. He tightened his fists and pushed his body to move faster, adrenaline fueling his every step.
Ahead, a dark corridor stretched ominously, leading toward what seemed to be the heart of the labyrinth. It appeared deceptively safe, but Ajin knew better than to trust appearances in this relentless competition. The walls throbbed faintly, almost as if the structure itself was alive, observing their every move.
— "Four minutes left! Oh, wait! Rafael has just activated… the final fire!" Olga exclaimed, urgency filling her voice.
Ajin felt intense heat wash over him from behind. He glanced back to see enormous flames surging through the maze's corridors, their bright orange tongues flickering menacingly and urging the candidates to hasten their pace.
— "Really, Rafael? Was that necessary?" Olga snapped, irritation evident in her tone.
Calm and imposing, Rafael replied, "The competition must be interesting."
The screen shifted to show an overhead view of the labyrinth. The walls were closing in slowly but steadily, forcing all candidates toward a central path, the pressure mounting.
— "Only three minutes left! Contestants must make their decisions quickly!" Olga announced, her voice a mix of tension and excitement.
Ajin clenched his teeth, his mind racing. If he were running solo, he might have had the luxury to analyze the labyrinth's intricate design more thoroughly, but now, every second counted.
— "Hold on tight," he instructed Sidonia, his voice steady despite the chaos.
He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with air as he braced himself.
— "Supplementum: Rapidiatis," he murmured, invoking the spell as energy surged through him like a live wire.
In an instant, Ajin launched forward, propelling himself at breathtaking speed. The walls whirled past him in a blur, and the sharp, cool air whipped against his face, heightening the thrill and urgency of their escape.
— "Oh, look at that! We have a Supplementum user! But will it be enough to reach the end in time?" A voice rang out, filled with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Sidonia closed her eyes tightly, feeling the wind whip around them as she gripped Ajin's neck, her heart racing with fear and hope.
— "Two minutes left! And only seven contestants have reached the exit so far!" came the urgent announcement, echoing through the tense atmosphere.
Ajin felt the power of the Supplementum waning, a familiar warmth turning to a dull ache. His muscles screamed with exertion, each step a battle against the burning agony that coursed through his body.
Ahead, the exit materialized—an enormous gate framed in pulsating blue light that sparkled like stars against the darkness of the labyrinth.
Just as a surge of hope filled his chest, a translucent wall of energy suddenly erupted from the ground, blocking their path with an ominous shine.
— "What?!" Ajin shouted in disbelief, his voice filled with desperation as dread coursed through him.
He charged at the barrier with all his strength, the impact jolting him backward like hitting a solid wall. Sidonia was flung from his arms, her small figure passing through the shimmering barrier, while Ajin remained trapped, helpless.
— "Ten seconds left!" The countdown echoed ominously in his ears.
Determined, Ajin scrambled to his feet, urgency fueling him as he pounded the barrier with his fists, each blow ringing out like a battle cry.
— "NO! SHE HAS TO PASS!" he cried, his heart pounding wildly, echoing the chaos in his mind.
The labyrinth's every twist and turn was now vividly displayed on the crystal orb, millions of viewers across the realm watching breathlessly, their eyes glued to the unfolding drama.
— "Five seconds!" The countdown continued, and Ajin felt a surge of adrenaline rushing through his veins.
He clenched his fists, rallying every last drop of energy into a final desperate strike, channeling pure willpower.
— "TELL ME HE CAN BREAK THROUGH!" Olga shouted from the crowd, urgency lacing her every word.
In that instant, a wave of brilliant light erupted around him, cracking the barrier like glass. Gathering all his remaining strength, Ajin forced himself forward in one last push.
The wall shattered into fragments of light, cascading around him like brilliant fireworks.
But the victory was short-lived; Ajin collapsed to the ground, breathless, overwhelmed just as the final bell tolled loudly, signaling the end of the trial. Silence engulfed the arena.
In the crowd, his mother held her breath, eyes wide with anxiety. On the other side of the barrier, Sidonia stood frozen, staring at him in shock, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief.
In the observation tower, Rafael raised a curious eyebrow, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events.
Meliora, usually stoic and impassive, unfolded his arms slowly, a faint smile creeping across his face as he muttered,
— "Interesting."
The camera zoomed in on Ajin, lying on the ground, gasping for air, a picture of exhaustion and triumph.
— "DID HE MAKE IT?" the crowd buzzed, a mixture of hope and suspense hanging heavy in the air.
At that moment, Rafael leaped from the balcony with practiced agility and landed near Ajin, his expression serious yet welcoming. He looked down at Ajin for a few heartbeats before raising his hand in a gesture of affirmation.
— "Welcome to the Academy."
The crowd erupted in ecstatic applause, relief flooding the atmosphere.
On the screen, the names of the ten who had successfully passed the trial appeared in bold letters. The last name, glowing brightly, was:
Ajin.