The moon waned, and the sun ascended.

  In the blink of an eye, the Trial had entered its third dawn.

  The great bell that would signal the end of the Trial held less than ten hours of sand.

  Above the mountain's peak, the myriad arcane projections that once filled the sky had dwindled to a mere score. With the reduction in quantity came an increase in clarity; the screens of the survivors were magnified, rendering every minute detail visible to the masses below.

  On the mountainside, the sea of spectators remained as dense as ever. Necks craned and eyes locked onto the sky, the crowd erupting periodically in waves of incredulous uproar.

  Just half an hour prior, an event had occurred that shook the audience to its core.

  Sanford—the scion of the City Watch, a seed candidate favored by countless mentors to claim victory—had been defeated. And not by a Titan, but by an unknown girl from the Violet Academy named Cecily. Forced to activate his teleportation ring, Sanford fled the labyrinth, suffering a humiliating elimination.

  This development triggered a tsunami of shock through the spectators.

  No one had foreseen that the seasoned veteran Sanford would fall to an obscure apprentice. The dramatic twist shattered the predictions of many.

  "That girl is a dark horse of the highest order. Even Sanford was no match for her."

  "What manner of insects were those? Why did they possess such terrifying resistance to magic? She is practically the bane of all apprentices."

  "It seems Monville and Sutherland have gained another formidable rival."

  "And do not forget Pierce. His performance is in no way inferior to the scions of the great houses."

  Exclamations rose and fell like tides.

  The sudden upheaval did not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm; rather, like oil cast upon a fire, it pushed the atmosphere to a fever pitch. The thirst for high-level confrontation grew insatiable.

  "This Cecily... is dangerous," Ingram muttered, his expression grave.

  Gwen nodded slightly, her voice solemn. "She walks the path of Radical Bio-Augmentation. She must have deep ties to Archmage Yuman of the Violet Academy. In all likelihood, she is his direct disciple."

  Ingram’s expression darkened further.

  Archmage Yuman, the Dean of the Violet Academy, was a master of Taboo Bio-Alchemy, a notorious powerhouse in Aurora City. To be the personal apprentice of such a figure meant Cecily’s aptitude and power were undoubtedly of the first tier.

  The only mystery was why her name had never been whispered before today.

  Monkay furrowed his brow, his heart besieged by irritation.

  This Trial had been plagued by variables from the start. First, the meteoric rise of Pierce, and now, this unfathomable Cecily.

  Originally brimming with confidence in his elder brother’s victory, Monkay now felt the ominous drumbeat of doubt in his chest.

  Pierce’s stunning performance, in particular, made him restless. Regret gnawed at him—had he known Pierce was this formidable, he would have had to be possessed by madness to agree to Gwen’s wager.

  But the magical contract was sealed; regret was futile. He could only pray that the others would be competent enough to keep Pierce’s hands off the crucial Prismatic Gems.

  As if the fates had heard his prayer, a sudden gasp swept through the crowd.

  Monkay snapped his head up. On the central screen, Sutherland had arrived at the labyrinth's Central Hall.

  In the center of the vast, magnificent chamber, three ancient stone pillars stood in a triangular formation.

  Hovering atop each pillar was a Prismatic Gem. Under the flickering torchlight, the gems radiated a dreamlike, seven-colored luminescence, intoxicatingly beautiful and seemingly containing infinite mana.

  Ecstasy flashed across Sutherland’s face. He dashed to a pillar and snatched a gem.

  His eyes flickered with greed as he reached for a second, only to be repelled by an invisible field of force.

  Seeing that avarice would yield nothing, Sutherland did not hesitate. He turned and sprinted out of the hall.

  The Prismatic Gems could not be stored in dimensional pockets, nor could they be taken out of the maze prematurely. With over eight hours remaining, he had to guard this hot potato until the very last second to claim true victory.

  Astonishingly, the moment Sutherland fled the hall, the participants in the other screens seemed to sense it simultaneously, accelerating their pace wildly.

  Even more shocking was their navigation. They moved without pause, casting no divination spells, yet choosing paths with unerring precision, as if a holographic map had been burned into their minds.

  And indeed, it had.

  Pierce, who had been methodically exploring, suddenly felt his teleportation ring vibrate on his ring finger. A stream of information flooded his mind, coalescing into a lucid map of the labyrinth.

  It detailed every corridor and marked three pulsating golden dots.

  Two dots sat motionless, close to his location. The third was moving rapidly away from him.

  Pierce realized instantly: these dots represented the real-time location of the Prismatic Gems.

  "So, the moment a gem is taken, the next phase begins?"

  Pierce pursed his lips, a gleam of understanding in his eyes.

  The high-ranking Magi, in their ivory towers, possessed a truly twisted sense of amusement.

  Designing a real-time tracking function was clearly intended to foster a "Battle Royale" atmosphere, forcing the apprentices to slaughter one another. Even if one obtained a gem, they would become a beacon, a target for the frantic envy of every other survivor until the clock ran out.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  However, he had to admit, this was the most effective way to sift for the strong. Those without the strength to hold their prize had no right to the glory.

  Thoughts racing, Pierce’s movements did not slow. He applied the Rune of the Gale to himself, cast Jump to enhance his agility, and shot toward the two stationary golden dots like a meteor.

  The poor, lumbering Dire Boar-kin could not hope to match his speed, left behind to wheeze and struggle in his wake.

  In less than two minutes, Pierce arrived at the Central Hall.

  Almost simultaneously, figures burst from the other three arched entrances.

  Directly opposite Pierce stood the blonde, green-eyed girl from the Violet Academy—Cecily.

  To the left, two apprentices in black robes over leather armor, their auras sharp and aggressive.

  To the right, three young apprentices wearing the crest of the Academy of Shadows.

  Pierce and Cecily locked eyes across the hall.

  A silent understanding passed between them in an instant. They sprang forward in unison—one to the left, one to the right—charging toward the two remaining pillars.

  The other two groups’ expressions shifted. Without a word, they moved to intercept.

  The two black-robed apprentices lunged at Cecily, the closest target. Their blades slashed through the air, creating ear-piercing sonic booms as two flaming arcs of Qi shot toward the girl like arrows.

  Facing the incoming assault, Cecily’s expression remained unchanged, her speed undiminished. Only when the blades of energy were about to strike did her body suddenly explode, dissolving into a cloud of countless black flies.

  The Qi blades passed harmlessly through the dark swarm, blasting deep gouges into the stone floor beyond.

  The insect cloud did not pause. It surged over the pillar, engulfed the Prismatic Gem, and whistled toward the nearest exit.

  The two black-robed apprentices cursed in frustration and chased after her without hesitation.

  Meanwhile, the three students from the Academy of Shadows blocked Pierce’s path to the final gem with menacing intent.

  The leader, a red-haired youth with three black war-stripes painted on his cheek, chanted rapidly. The air crackled as earth elements congregated wildly, condensing into a colossal boulder nearly a meter in diameter. It smashed toward Pierce like a cannonball.

  Another youth, black-haired and wearing an earring, grinned savagely as he unleashed a volley of eight Magic Missiles, arcing trickily from both sides to pin Pierce down.

  The final apprentice seized the opportunity to rush greedily toward the unclaimed Prismatic Gem.

  Pierce snorted coldly and swung his sword.

  "Begone!"

  The moment the word left his lips, a violent hurricane erupted. It manifested as an invisible shockwave, distorting the very air into visible turbulence as it swept forward!

  Tempest Cleave!

  BOOM!

  The colossal boulder pulverized upon contact with the hurricane, turning into a spray of harmless gravel. The eight Magic Missiles were swept up by the intense wind pressure, instantly crushed into nothingness.

  The raging hurricane, carrying an aura of domineering violence, slammed into the red-haired and black-haired youths.

  In their terrified gazes, their Mage Armor shattered like fragile glass, offering not even a moment of resistance. Their defensive magical items let out crisp cracking sounds, destroyed instantly as they exceeded their limits.

  In the next split second, a streak of sword light, fast as lightning, swept past their necks.

  Shing!

  Two blossoms of vibrant crimson bloomed in the void.

  The third apprentice had just grabbed the Prismatic Gem. He turned back with joy on his face, only to see his two companions clutching their spraying throats, collapsing in despair.

  His face turned as pale as parchment.

  A second later, his mind felt as though it had been struck by a warhammer, plunging him into violent vertigo.

  By the time he struggled back to consciousness, his vision was filled with a rapidly expanding, blazing fireball.

  "No—"

  The short scream was drowned out by a deafening explosion.

  The unfortunate soul didn't even have time to activate his teleportation ring before he was swallowed by the roaring flames, following in his companions' footsteps.

  Pierce caught the Prismatic Gem as it was blasted into the air. He examined it briefly, confirming it was unharmed, and rushed out of the hall without looking back.

  On the mountainside.

  Seeing Pierce seize the gem, the crowd erupted.

  "He is too strong! Those three elites from the Academy of Shadows couldn't even withstand a single exchange!"

  "Now all three gems have owners. It all depends on whether they can keep them."

  "Look! The others are chasing them!"

  The screen shifted to a large tactical map. Three golden dots were moving rapidly, while over a dozen white dots, like sharks smelling blood, closed in from all directions, forming an encirclement.

  Seeing the imminent siege, many spectators showed expressions of excitement.

  Only the apprentices of the Academy of Shadows wore faces dark as thunder. Not only had Pierce killed three of their classmates, but he had also secured a gem before Monville.

  Monkay’s face was so gloomy it looked ready to drip water.

  The worst-case scenario had occurred.

  Why did it have to be Pierce who grabbed the gem first?

  "Hee hee."

  Gwen’s crisp, melodious laughter rang out beside him. The girl lifted her chin slightly, looking at Monkay with triumph.

  "It looks like you are going to lose."

  Monkay’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot. He gritted his teeth. "The Trial is not over. The final result is unknown. Do not celebrate too early!"

  Gwen clasped her hands behind her back, smiling radiantly, not bothering to argue.

  Her calm demeanor was far more infuriating than any insult.

  Monkay was furious, ready to retort, when his peripheral vision caught something. His eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter.

  "Now, the real drama begins!"

  Gwen’s smile faded slightly. She followed his gaze and saw that behind the golden dot representing Pierce, a white dot had attached itself like a leech.

  Next to the dot was a name—Monville!

  Gwen’s expression grew serious.

  She believed in Pierce’s strength, but Monville was a renowned powerhouse. When diamond meets diamond, the outcome is impossible to predict.

  Monkay, full of confidence in his brother, cast a sidelong glance at Gwen and sneered. "Soon you will know who the true apex predator is!"

  Gwen ignored him, staring unblinkingly at the screen.

  More and more people noticed the chase, their gazes converging on the scene.

  Under the watchful eyes of thousands, the distance between the two dots closed to within a hundred meters. The screen zoomed in, revealing Pierce and Monville in a high-speed pursuit.

  Pierce sensed the relentless aura behind him immediately. He glanced back, his gaze hardening.

  "Monville!"

  Pierce was no stranger to the "Seed Candidate" widely considered the favorite to win. Especially one from a powerful Bloodline Family.

  "Hand over the Prismatic Gem, and I will spare your life!" Monville shouted coldly.

  Pierce let out a derisive laugh. These people were so accustomed to being flattered, so used to looking down from on high, that they treated everyone else as soft clay to be molded at their whim.

  He simply stopped running, turning to face Monville.

  Seeing Pierce halt, Monville stopped cautiously, narrowing his eyes to assess his opponent.

  However, Pierce merely looked at him with a faint, mocking smile, saying nothing.

  Seeing this, Monville’s eyes turned cold. He was about to speak when, from the corner of his eye, he saw a massive black shadow burst from a side chamber, smashing toward him like a runaway chariot.

  Monville’s entire focus had been on Pierce; he never expected an ambush. Caught off guard, the black shadow slammed into him, plowing him two or three hundred meters down the corridor until—BOOM—he crashed into the heavy stone wall at the end.

  Dust and debris billowed into the air.

  Only then did a high-pitched, furious roar echo from the dust cloud.

  It was the Dire Boar-kin.

  Following Pierce’s earlier command, it had lurked in the room, waiting until both Pierce and Monville stopped before launching a suicidal surprise attack.

  Of course, Pierce knew a sneak attack of this level was a fool’s dream if the goal was to kill Monville. It was merely intended to buy a moment of time.

  Seizing this interval, Pierce began to buff himself. Rune of the Gale. Rune of the Earth. And finally, he applied a Rune of Lightning to his blade, the steel crackling with electric fury.

  Just as he finished, a loud bang resonated. The Dire Boar-kin flew backward out of the dust cloud, smashing into the ground with earth-shaking force.

  Its throat had been torn open, leaving a gaping, bloody wound. The edges were jagged, marked by messy teeth marks as if it had been mauled by some terrifying beast. Blood gushed out like water from a broken dam; the creature was finished.

  Tap. Tap.

  Accompanied by heavy, oppressive footsteps, Monville walked slowly out of the settling dust.

  His appearance had undergone a heaven-and-earth transformation.

  The handsome youth of six feet had mutated into a terrifying Werewolf standing nearly three meters tall.

  His entire body was encased in a thick layer of pure white fur, resembling a suit of frost-forged armor.

  His limbs had warped into beastly claws and hooves. The razor-sharp talons glinted with a chilling cold light under the torches, a sight to freeze the blood.

  "It seems you have prepared yourself for death."

  Monville’s icy, beastly pupils locked onto Pierce, looking at him as one looks at a corpse.

  In the next instant, he lunged. Roaring, he transformed into a streak of white lightning, hurtling toward Pierce to tear him asunder.