Maya and the others immediately got ready to attack, but Vale hastily stopped them.

Vale reassured everyone. "It's alright. It appears to be a water monster, probably some sort of amoeba. Let me take care of this quickly."

Though the others didn't fully understand what Vale was saying, they watched as he swiftly assessed the situation and moved into action.

With determination and confidence in his eyes, Vale located the core of the monstrous entity. With a wave of his hand, he summoned four old and weary ghostly hands, which materialized to drill through the monster and crush its core.

Crash!

It happened too quickly!

With a resounding splash, the pond monster was vanquished, its existence reduced to nothingness.

Just like that, the path leading to the next challenge lay open before them, beckoning the group to continue their journey through the labyrinth.

***

Steven, one of the officials entrusted with overseeing the safety protocol of the Labyrinth of Secrets Contest, found himself assigned to the task of repairing traps and formation circles as soon as the students cleared them.

He's a middle-aged man with a distinguished air, exuding an aura of experience and authority. His brown hair was neatly combed, reflecting his meticulous attention to detail. His short beard and mustache were well-groomed, adding a touch of sophistication to his appearance.

After completing his task of clearing the paths of the previous students He turned his attention to the next group that was about to enter.

"Let's see what these kids would do this time." He muttered as he found these fourth-year students a bit too weak to his liking. He could immediately tell that difference when this contest was for sixth-year students.

Anyway, it was his responsibility to ensure that the labyrinth remained in optimal condition for each group.

Additionally, in the rare event that the students became trapped for an extended period, he would be in charge of closing off the path they had come from to prevent any complications for the next group of students.

While the likelihood of such an occurrence was slim, he understood the importance of being prepared.

As the last group entered the labyrinth, Steven prepared himself for another routine repair job. However, he soon sensed something unusual.

A sensed surge of mystical energy emanated from two distinct sources.

"Hmm? Are they from the Summoning Arts Academy? But didn't they already pass through?" Steven murmured to himself.

He was a bit confused by the unexpected presence of summoners.

However, upon closer observation, he realized his initial assumption was incorrect. These individuals were not summoners; they were Dark Arts Practitioners.

'Interesting'

Curiosity piqued, Steven focused his attention on the group's progress. He noticed that the two summons that had gone ahead were acting as scouts, guiding the Dark Arts Practitioners through the labyrinth. A tactic often employed by summoners, it was intriguing to witness the same strategy utilized by practitioners of the Dark Arts. After all, their summons don't typically share sense!

Steven couldn't help but be intrigued by these 'scouts' they summoned.

Then, to his surprise, the group swiftly dispatched the Slime Monster that blocked their path.

"I didn't expect Corruption and Ghost Hand to be so effective against those creatures" Steven mused, impressed by their unconventional methods.

After watching two groups barely killing the Slime Monster a while ago, he could easily tell how good these current students are.

As he continued to follow them, he was amazed by how these students effortlessly cleared the paths before them.

'Isn't this a bit too quick?' Steven muttered to himself.

They displayed remarkable skill as they defeated monsters, destroyed formation circles, and skillfully navigated through traps. Evidently, they possessed an innate ability to discern the most suitable paths, making remarkable progress toward the end of the labyrinth.

However, Steven couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and curiosity when, in their final round, the group inexplicably veered towards the most challenging path to exit.

"What bad luck..." Steven muttered, realizing that he could've witnessed a record-breaking time if the group had selected a less difficult path.

'These guys You almost had it! Why choose this difficult path?! Tsk' Steven couldn't help but shake his head. It was unfortunate, but it seemed that the scouts they summoned weren't as capable as he thought.

"This is where true strength and ingenuity are tested..." Steven sighed as he decided to stay and watch them clear the final stage.

***

"We're here But Vale, I can feel something off in this cavern" Luna commented as her eyes trailed from wall to ceiling.

"Yes There's an Evil Creature here. We just have to kill it, and we'll get to the other side. The other paths will take a bit too long. They seem to be mazes. This is the quickest path that my Dark Spirit could find."

Their eyes widened as they heard Vale's words. To be honest, they expected his Dark Spirit to find a path where they could avoid this Creature!

As they were about to question Vale for his decision, the air suddenly grew thick with an oppressive aura.

Growl~

The sheer presence of the Creature weighed heavily on them, causing even Luna, known for her unwavering composure, to falter momentarily.

Sensing their unease, Maya reminded them to stay focused and protect themselves with their Darkness Manipulation Spell.

"Stay strong!" Maya shouted as she continued to inform them that the Creature could exploit the vulnerability of their mind to disrupt their thoughts and even invade their souls.

Her words echoed the teachings of her master

While the organizers of the contest surely did not intend for the participants to fall victim to soul control, she understood the importance of taking precautions. With potential accidents lurking in the labyrinth's depths, it was better to err on the side of safety.

Vale nodded at Maya's words before he swiftly took action.

He simply waved his hand, and the suffocating pressure surrounding them abruptly dissipated.

"Eh?"

Maya's eyes widened in astonishment. Through her sensitive Phantasm State, she could recognize that Vale had utilized a spell rather than relying on a mystical item.

However, she could not recall a Dark Spell capable of liberating them from the Creature's oppressive miasma and pressure.

Then, she noticed that Vale was about to dash forward She wanted to warn him not to be so rash but it was too late!

With a fluid motion, Vale unleashed his Lightspeed Spell, his body blurring with incredible speed as he evaded the Creature's instinctive attack