pages of rebellion

Noah felt something tapping his shoulder and jumped in fear, turning around to see Noctis behind him.

"H-He's the man who opened the gate!" Noah thought as he relaxed slightly.

"Why are you alone? Where are the others?" Noctis asked.

"The other guy pushed me through the gate," Noah replied, his expression still showing some concern.

Noctis thought to himself that this was definitely something Rail would do. "Let's wait for everyone before we start the test. Do not wander into the labyrinth alone!" Noctis warned, his tone serious.

Noah nodded, feeling even more anxious.

Noctis then sat on the ground, leaned against the labyrinth walls, and fell asleep.

"...Did he really just fall asleep?" Noah thought, looking at him in confusion and concern.

A few minutes later, Noah was sitting against the wall like Noctis when the rest of the students began entering. When he saw them, he stood up.

The students were shocked and amazed by the sudden change in their surroundings.

"W-What is this place?!"

"A-Are these really the ruins of the school?!"

"This place is huge! Don't tell me we're taking the test here—we might actually get lost!"

More students entered, and at last, Rail stepped in.

"Alright, everyone gather around before I beat you all up!" Rail shouted, his voice echoing through the labyrinth.

The students quickly gathered around him, but before he could speak again, he noticed Noctis was asleep. He walked over and kicked him.

"Wake up, for God's sake!"

Noctis stirred and yawned. "Is it morning already?" he mumbled aloud.

"You idiot, the test is about to start! Get up!"

"Alright, alright..." Noctis replied sleepily as he got up, stretching his back.

Rail turned back to the students.

"We're starting the test now, so I'll explain the rules..."

He paused, looking confused, and turned to Noctis. "Wait... what were the rules again?"

"I don't know," Noctis replied with another yawn.

Suddenly, laughter echoed from the gate. The students turned to see the headmaster, Edgar Vaughn, laughing heartily.

Edgar appeared to be in his fifties, with a tall, strong build that commanded respect. His slightly pale skin bore wrinkles that hinted at years of experience in education. His sharp, dark gray eyes seemed to see through the students' intentions before they even spoke. His black hair was streaked with white at the sides, giving him a refined yet stern appearance. Dressed in a dark formal suit with a neatly tied tie, his presence exuded authority. His deep, steady voice carried both strictness and fairness, making him a figure admired by all at the school.

"As expected from you two—you always make a hilarious duo," Edgar chuckled, stroking his short white beard.

The students immediately started whispering.

"I-It's the headmaster!" one student said excitedly.

"Did he come to watch us?"

"If he's here, I have a guaranteed pass!"

Noah, watching the headmaster, thought silently, "Edgar Vaughn... the headmaster of Kaisel Academy. An A-rank hunter who dedicated his life to defending the nation. After retiring, he founded Kaisel Academy, and it didn't take long before he became famous again, bringing the school into the spotlight. The students love him because he treats them like his own children. He personally teaches the first-year students and takes great care of them. Even... even with me, he was kind."

Edgar turned to Rail and Noctis, standing beside him.

"May I announce the rules? With your permission, of course," Edgar said with a playful smile.

"Go ahead. We forgot them anyway," Rail admitted.

Edgar stepped forward and scanned the students with his sharp yet kind gaze. He let the tension settle before speaking in a calm but confident voice.

"I know you've all worked hard to reach this stage, and I am proud of you. But now… it's time for your true test."

"Today's test is called 'Echo of the Tides.'"

"You will be sent into the Daedalus Labyrinth—a place that is not just a simple maze but a living entity. The labyrinth constantly changes, and its paths will never stay the same. You may see a clear way forward, only for it to disappear the next moment. Inside, you will face various challenges, from traps designed to test your intelligence to creatures that will not hesitate to attack you. But the greatest challenge… is the Echo.

The moment you enter, each of you will face a reflection of yourself. A copy that looks just like you. It may seem easy at first, but do not underestimate it. The further you go, the more your Echo will learn from you… and evolve… until it surpasses your expectations."

Edgar paused for a moment, observing the students' reactions before continuing.

"The goal? Survive and escape. You have six hours. If you fail to find the exit before time runs out, you will fail the test. However, the longer you stay inside, the greater the rewards.

Now, here's the ranking system for this test:

Bronze: Escape the labyrinth without suffering serious injuries.

Silver: Defeat at least three creatures.

Gold: Overcome one of the Labyrinth Guardians—stronger foes than regular monsters.

Platinum: Find and retrieve a rare artifact from within the labyrinth.

Diamond: Confront and completely defeat your Echo.

Edgar smiled warmly before his voice turned more serious.

"But there are rules you must follow:

1. Combat between students is allowed, but fatal injuries are forbidden.

2. Anyone caught using external tools or receiving unauthorized help will be disqualified.

3. And most importantly... do not rely on memory alone—the paths will shift constantly.

Traps will not always be obvious, and some will only reveal themselves when it's too late. The creatures are not random—they are intelligent… and will adapt to your strategies. Deep within the labyrinth, you will face your greatest fears. It may be an illusion… or it may be real. How you handle it is for you to discover."

Edgar looked at the students with a reassuring smile and spoke with unwavering confidence.

"I believe in all of you. This test may be difficult, but it is not stronger than your determination. Do not fear failure—use it as a lesson to grow. Now… let's see how ready you are. Good luck."

A heavy silence followed Edgar's speech. Not a silence of fear, but of contemplation. Each student felt something different—some were excited, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, eager to prove themselves. Others were anxious, realizing how difficult the test would be. Facing monsters, deadly traps, and these so-called "Echoes" sounded terrifying. The ranking system also seemed harsh. But some felt both fear and curiosity, intrigued by the unknown challenge ahead.

Among them stood Noah—feeling nothing at all.

He did not fear failing the test. He did not feel excited for the challenge. He did not feel curious about the new experience or dread the unknown ahead. His mind was completely devoid of any emotions that might distract him from his goal.

"This is just another step forward."

His eyes darkened, his pupils nearly consumed by blackness.

"I should also mention," Edgar added, "we will be watching from here. If any student is in life-threatening danger, we will intervene. Oh, and we have some guests observing from the outside—so prove to them that you are the future of hunters!"

With those words, all eyes turned toward the labyrinth's gate. As the students moved toward it, whispers filled the air.

"Six hours... that's more than enough time," one student said confidently.

"The Echo... what if it's stronger than me?" a girl murmured, biting her lip.

"There's no room for failure. I'll reach at least the gold rank," another student vowed, clenching his fist.

"The headmaster believes in me... I won't let him down," one thought, taking a deep breath.

Then, the sound of the gate unlocking echoed through the air—

The test had begun.

Everyone rushed forward, and as soon as they stepped into the maze, the ground shook, and everyone suddenly stopped. The ground continued to shake violently.

"W-What is this?!" said one of the anxious students.

"It seems the labyrinth has changed its structure! Stay still!" shouted another student.

The walls of the maze began to move, and the ground shifted in a separate way, pulling them apart and making the walls move until everyone was separated. Each person was left alone, with no one around. Noah remained alone, trapped between the solid, sturdy walls of the maze.

"I'm alone..." Noah thought in silence. He hadn't planned on staying with the group because he would just be seen as an obstacle, and this would make him hide his progress. So, being alone gave him an advantage to act on his own. Noah surged forward, diving deeper into the maze.

Elsewhere, Blake was alone, trying to punch the walls to break them, but it was to no avail—he couldn't even scratch them. He decided to stop.

"Damn, I'm alone now!" Blake thought to himself, showing an expression of frustration. He began walking deeper into the maze, noticing black feathers falling. He looked up and saw a crow flying above him.

"This must be the headmaster's and the examiners' way of keeping an eye on us," Blake thought in silence as he looked up. He looked down and smiled a wide smile, hiding it with his hand as a cover.

"If they're watching us, then we need to prove ourselves quickly so they don't get bored from us!" Blake thought, stopping his smile and dashing forward, excited and filled with exhilaration as he delved deeper into the maze.

At the gate, where the headmaster "Edgar," Rael, and Noctis were, a screen made of darkness hovered before them, branching out and splitting into hundreds of pieces, as if it were a broken mirror reflecting what was happening to everyone inside the gate.

"It seems some of these damned ones got excited after your long speech," Rael said.

"Well, encouraging them is one of my duties as the headmaster" Edgar said with a slight smile.

"...By the way, there was a strange boy," Noctis said, changing the subject.

"A strange boy?" Edgar asked, feeling puzzled.

Noctis nodded his head. "Yes, he was the first to enter here," Noctis said.

"Ah, you're right, there's something strange about him," Rael added, supporting Noctis.

"When I touched him, I pumped my mana into his body to check him, but his body seemed strange compared to the others," Noctis said, looking at Edgar, waiting for a response, then added, "His body... doesn't resemble that of a human."