Chapter 309 – Cadets Not So Small
The group of hunters had finally drawn closer.
They were… unexpected.
Three children, barely twelve years old, walked at the center.
Two twins with bright orange hair — one a girl with curious, luminous eyes, the other a more reserved boy, hands often in his pockets.
Beside them, a third boy with yellow hair and blazing orange eyes, unable to stay still.
Behind them stood two figures far more… imposing.
A woman with black hair, red eyes, her face and arms covered in old scars.
Her aura slightly crushed the air around her.
A rank S‑ hunter, without a doubt.
At her side, a man with white hair, upright posture, absolute calm.
A solid, experienced rank A+ hunter.
Aeris descended slightly to float at the group's height.
— Ah… perfect timing.
He turned to Llan and Nyra.
— Let me introduce people from the Northern Pantheon guild.
He pointed to the orange‑haired girl.
— This is Lyane.
Then her twin.
— Him, Kaor.
Finally, the yellow‑haired boy.
— And this little hyper one… Solan.
— Hey! protested Solan.
Aeris smiled.
— These three were my juniors at the academy.
He then turned to the two adults.
— And here are two people who taught me there.
Professor Ravna.
The red‑eyed woman slowly nodded.
— And Professor Eldric, Aeris added.
The white‑haired man inclined his head slightly.
At that precise moment, Solan leapt.
— AERIIIIIIS!!
He literally jumped onto Aeris, clinging to him as he floated in the air.
— It's been ages since we last saw each other!!
Aeris barely had time to stabilize his levitation.
— Solan… get down.
You're not six anymore.
Nyra watched the scene, perplexed.
— Honestly… how old is Aeris?
Llan answered without hesitation:
— Sixteen.
Nyra blinked.
— …What?
He's young, then.
Ravna crossed her arms.
— Today, we're here to test these kids' abilities.
Aeris grew serious.
— And what are their skills?
Eldric replied calmly:
— All three are rank A.
— …What?! Llan choked.
Solan puffed out his chest.
— Normal.
Aeris placed a hand on his chin.
— And you, Solan… still an elemental mage?
— Yep!
— Ah… Aeris said with a smile.
So you still have completely broken abilities.
Solan grinned proudly.
Aeris turned to Lyane.
— And you?
— Blessing of healing and light, she answered softly.
Aeris nodded.
— Simply put, he explained to Nyra and Llan,
her power can heal, strengthen, and even purify negative effects.
The more focused she is, the more her blessings can affect multiple targets at once.
— She's literally a walking life insurance, Kaor added.
Lyane elbowed him.
— And you, Kaor?
— Dark magic.
Nyra raised an eyebrow.
— Classic… but effective.
Aeris smiled broadly.
— You're seriously boosted.
Solan pointed at Aeris.
— And you, you've changed.
— I grew up, he replied simply.
Ravna nodded.
— Well.
Let's go in.
The professors and the children crossed the entrance to the dungeon's first floor.
Barely had they disappeared when a heavy noise echoed behind the group.
**CLANG.**
A massive man, holding a huge axe, approached, accompanied by several hunters.
His smile was wicked.
Recognizable anywhere.
The brute from the Smoky Bowl restaurant.
He fixed his gaze on Llan.
— Hey…
Been a while, Llan.
His smile widened, sly.
— So?
Did you enjoy the surprise we gave you?
Llan rose slowly.
His eyes were filled with anger.
— …You.
Nyra calmly placed her hand on the hilt of her katana.
Aeris sighed softly.
— Great.
We didn't even get time to breathe.
The dungeon itself already seemed ready for chaos.
Chapter 310 – Poisoned Gifts and XXL Ego
The brute fixed Llan with a twisted smile.
— So… how did you like my gift?
Llan frowned.
— What gift?
The brute burst into a greasy laugh.
— Ohhh… you haven't seen the one I left for your mother yet?
A guy behind him snickered.
— House trashed.
— Bonus trauma, added another, laughing.
— You should've seen her face, continued the first. Terrified. She begged us to leave her alone.
He tilted his head, mock‑compassionate.
— Poor old lady… all because her son is a useless failure.
Llan's fist trembled.
The brute stepped forward.
— Seriously, these days you hang around with strong people…
He swept his gaze across the group.
— How can they even stay with you?
Then his eyes stopped on Nyra.
— Well, now there's even a woman.
He smiled.
— And she's pretty, too.
Silence.
Nyra tilted her head slightly.
— Who is this retarded bastard?
The brute's smile vanished.
— Who are you calling a retarded bastard?
Their gazes clashed.
Black against black.
Cold against void.
— You're lucky you're a woman, he growled.
Aeris sighed.
— So on top of being an asshole, you're a massive bdg.
The brute slowly turned his head toward him… and suddenly remembered the crushing pressure from the restaurant.
He swallowed.
— That… that must've been luck.
He pointed at Aeris.
— Kid, you'd better stay quiet.
He straightened, puffing out his chest.
— I'm Brakk, rank B.
He gestured to his group:
— Rorn, rank C+, double‑axe specialist.
— Mysa, rank C, shooter.
— Keld, rank C, support.
— Even if you're not weak, the four of us are more than enough to crush you.
**Fwoosh.**
Llan's fist ignited.
He stepped forward and—
**BAM.**
His punch slammed straight into Brakk's face.
The brute staggered, stepped back twice, then spat a thin stream of blood.
— …I felt that one.
He smiled, wicked.
— That's your punch, miserable?
He raised his axe, ready to strike—
**BOOM.**
A monstrous pressure crashed down on the area.
The air bent. The ground groaned.
Someone grabbed Brakk's axe with one hand… and shoved him back like a sack of potatoes.
— You insects dare make noise here?
A man stood there.
Dark hair, haughty gaze, crushing aura.
Valor.
Aeris blinked.
…It's Valor.
He's even more arrogant in person.
Brakk growled.
— You're lucky that—
— No, Valor cut him off calmly.
— You're the ones who are lucky.
He turned to Aeris.
— I suppose you're Aeris.
Aeris's eyes gleamed.
— Valor… it's you?
— The aura you give off… you're really strong.
Valor smiled, satisfied.
— Of course. The great Valor just came to see who Aeris was.
He looked him over.
— I'm not disappointed… but you're still far from the great Valor.
He glanced at Nyra.
— Who's this woman? I don't know her.
Nyra crossed her arms.
— Pretentious.
— Huh?
Valor straightened.
— Do you know who you're talking to?
— You don't know the great Valor?
Llan coughed lightly.
— Excuse her… she comes from the Labyrinth.
Valor froze for a second.
— …Ah.
He straightened even more.
— Very well.
— The great Valor will let it slide this time.
He turned away.
— On that note… I'll leave you.
He vanished in a gust.
Silence.
Nyra tilted her head.
— What was that?
Aeris shrugged.
— A secondary boss with an overly long cutscene.
Llan sighed.
— Feels like my day just started.
Chapter 311 – First Monsters, First Egos (and First Faceplants)
Vareth finally stepped out of the Labyrinth in a slight distortion of reality, as if space itself sighed in relief at letting him through.
— I'm finally here.
Aeris, floating calmly a few centimeters above the ground, tilted his head.
— You took your time.
Vareth shrugged.
— I was settling two or three existential details.
He smiled.
— But everything's sorted now.
Llan sighed.
— I'd really like it if, just once, "details" didn't rhyme with "potential cosmic catastrophe."
Vareth patted his shoulder.
— You exaggerate.
— A little.
🌲 **Meanwhile — First Floor of the Labyrinth**
The first floor was nothing like a dark corridor or a classic dungeon.
Here, the Labyrinth had chosen the open‑terrain mode.
A vast forest stretched as far as the eye could see.
Massive trees with twisted trunks, thick roots jutting from the ground, a light mist drifting between the foliage.
The ground was covered in moss, damp leaves, and ancient stones carved with symbols almost erased.
One could almost forget it was deadly.
Almost.
Between the trees moved the monsters of the first floor:
— Minor Sylvan Lycans: small bipedal creatures, greenish‑brown skin, elongated muzzles, fangs too large for their faces.
— Their eyes glowed a dull red.
— Their claws were short but fast.
— Dangerous for novices.
— Ridiculous for rank A.
The Labyrinth had clearly thought:
*"Alright, let's traumatize them… but not too much."*
Ravna stopped and turned to the children.
The scar‑covered rank S‑ huntress inhaled deeply.
— Well, kids.
— First experience against real monsters.
Solan's eyes were already shining.
Lyane and Kaor trembled slightly in place.
Eldric calmly adjusted his gloves.
— Be careful.
— Move forward. We're right behind you.
Eldric, in thought:
*…Honestly, I don't see what could worry rank A here.*
The three children looked at each other.
Then—
— LET'S GO!
They dashed forward.
Ravna blinked.
— …I didn't say "sprint."
A rustle in the bushes.
A Sylvan Lycan leapt out, growling, drool dripping from its fangs.
Solan stopped dead.
He raised his hand as if holding an invisible bow.
— Hm hm.
He struck a pose far too dramatic for a twelve‑year‑old.
— Fire… Arrow.
**FWOOOSH.**
A flaming arrow materialized and shot through the air.
It struck the monster square in the chest.
— GRAAAAAH!
The flames engulfed it.
The Lycan screamed for two seconds… then collapsed, lightly smoking.
Silence.
Then Solan began hopping in place.
— YES!
— Did you see that?
— Too easy!
Ravna pinched the bridge of her nose.
— …What kind of terrible child is this?
Lyane and Kaor's eyes sparkled as if they had just witnessed a living legend.
— You did it!
— That was so cool!
Solan puffed out his chest.
— Of course.
— I did it, pfff.
He took two steps back, raised his fist.
— I'm too strong—
**PATA BOOM.**
Solan crashed face‑first into the ground.
Absolute silence.
Lyane blinked.
— …Is he dead?
— NO! Solan shouted, voice muffled by the moss.
— I just… slipped!
Kaor burst out laughing.
— The great elemental mage defeated by the ground!
Solan got up, sulking.
— It was strategic.
Lyane placed a hand on Kaor's shoulder.
— Well.
— The next one's ours.
Another Lycan burst from the thicket, bigger, more aggressive.
Kaor smiled.
— Creation.
The ground before them cracked.
A stone spear formed instantly.
Lyane added calmly:
— Blessing of Light.
A golden glow enveloped the spear.
— Destruction, Kaor concluded.
The spear shot forward like a missile and obliterated the monster mid‑air.
Solan stood frozen, mouth agape.
— …Okay.
— Maybe I'm not that strong after all.
Ravna crossed her arms, satisfied.
— They're excited…
— But they're handling it.
Eldric smiled faintly.
— Yes.
— As long as they don't fight each other before the end.
Then, thoughtful: *Kaor didn't use his dark magic… but creation and destruction instead.*
Ravna: *These kids are strong.*
Far away, the Labyrinth watched.
Silent.
Curious.
And for the first time in a long while…
Almost amused.
Chapter 312 – When the First Floor Decides to Cheat
The professors' footsteps echoed softly behind the children, crushing damp leaves and moss.
Ravna watched the scene, arms crossed, gaze attentive.
Despite the unknown forest.
Despite the monsters.
Despite the Labyrinth.
They were smiling.
— …They weren't even afraid, Ravna murmured.
— Pure excitement, Eldric corrected calmly.
Ahead of them, Solan was still laughing after his slip, Kaor was testing the density of a shadow blade between his fingers, and Lyane advanced with a calm that was almost unsettling.
— If all young hunters were like this, Ravna continued, our guild would probably have three times as many rank S.
Eldric nodded slowly.
— Perhaps. But even in our guild, there are already several elite hunters.
He paused.
— And… there is also that unknown member.
Ravna frowned.
— The one who applied…
— And was never seen again?
— Exactly, Eldric replied. No reports. No contracts. No missions. Just… a name on a register.
Ravna chuckled softly.
— Who knows? Maybe he's stronger than Blackstar, the most powerful in the guild.
Eldric shook his head.
— Mystery doesn't automatically mean strength. And you know how monstrous Blackstar is.
— …You're right, Ravna admitted. I got carried away.
Then she smiled faintly.
— But I still hope that guy's a beast.
🌲 **Ahead — The children in action**
A Sylvan Lycan leapt out of the bushes.
Kaor raised his hand. Shadows condensed, stretched, then became a smooth black blade.
— Clean cut, he murmured.
**FSSHHK.**
The monster was sliced apart before it even understood what had happened.
— Classy… Solan whispered.
Another Lycan appeared.
Solan snapped his fingers. The monster was instantly frozen, a thin layer of ice covering its body.
— Final kick!
**CRASH.**
He shattered the ice with a sharp blow, then added, a little too proudly:
— Compact wind!
Sharp gusts sliced the remains.
— Hey! Kaor protested. You stole my style.
Lyane calmly raised her hand.
— Judgment of Heaven.
A ray of light descended from the sky like divine sentence.
The Lycan was vaporized — no cry, no resistance.
Solan blinked.
— …Okay. That was overkill.
Lyane tilted her head.
— It was effective.
Ravna inhaled slowly.
— They're rank A. But they already fight like veterans.
Eldric smiled slightly.
— And they're having fun. That's what worries me.
⚠️ **Labyrinth Alert**
Suddenly, the air vibrated.
A cold, mechanical voice resonated everywhere:
**WARNING.
OVERPOWERED HOSTILE ENTITY DETECTED.
SUPERIOR BEING ATTEMPTING INTRUSION.**
Ravna paled.
— …This doesn't sound good.
Eldric immediately turned to the children.
— We're leaving. Now.
But—
**BOOOOOM.**
The ground shook.
A colossal throne erupted from the earth, cracking roots and stones.
A figure sat upon it.
Its aura made the Labyrinth itself tremble.
The figure raised its head.
Long red hair, tied back.
Incandescent eyes.
Heat so intense the air rippled around him.
— I am Agniryos, he said calmly. The incarnation of primordial flames.
Ravna whispered:
— …A superior being.
— In truth, Agniryos continued, I was only a fragment. A shard of a far greater entity.
His smile twisted.
— And I remember very well the humans who faced me.
His eyes burned brighter.
— Kae. Oris.
Ravna clenched her teeth.
— He's talking about Oris and Kae… from our guild.
Agniryos chuckled.
— Two arrogant humans. Especially Oris.
He rose slowly.
— They humiliated me. They erased my master's domain.
His voice turned icy despite the heat.
— I will make them pay.
Eldric immediately signaled the children to stay silent.
*Eldric's thought:*
*For mercy's sake… don't say you know them.*
Agniryos burst into laughter.
— But you see… being a fragment of a Void entity, I had… some trouble resurrecting.
He raised his hand. An image appeared in the flames.
Kael.
— You can thank this boy. His flames were so intense…
He smiled, almost grateful.
— That they allowed me to locate the Labyrinth. To regain my power. To return to life.
— Hahahahaha!
He descended from his throne.
And in an instant, he was before the children.
Crouched. At their height.
His aura crushed everything.
— So… he said softly. Who are you, children?
Solan swallowed. Kaor clenched his fists. Lyane slowly raised her head.
Ravna thought:
— …Why did the first floor turn into a final boss?
The Labyrinth itself remained silent.
As if it were watching.
Curious.
And perhaps… slightly embarrassed.