Draven's crimson eyes narrowed—cold, unyielding.
—
He didn't slow his stride.
"…Move," he said flatly, his voice sharp as a blade.
"…Either go through **now**… or get the hell out of my way."
—
The words carried weight.
No hesitation. No negotiation.
—
The boy stiffened for a brief moment, then nodded, understanding instantly.
"…Right behind you," he muttered, falling into step.
—
The fox girl's ears flicked, her tail twitching once.
"…Understood," she said calmly, stepping closer to Draven, her aura humming faintly in readiness.
—
The man swallowed, his voice shaking slightly.
"…I—I'm going… just—just tell me when."
—
Draven didn't answer.
—
His eyes remained locked on the portal.
—
The corridor narrowed.
The other teams froze, instinctively recognizing the certainty in his presence.
—
Crimson eyes.
Calm—but lethal.
Unyielding.
Advancing.
—
"…Now," Draven repeated.
Just a whisper—
—but sharper than any shout.
—
The others didn't hesitate.
—
They moved.
—
Because with him leading—
there was only one choice.
—
The portal shimmered faintly, its surface rippling like liquid glass.
—
Draven stepped forward first—calm, steady—his crimson gaze sweeping once across the threshold before he slipped through without hesitation.
—
The boy followed immediately, quick but controlled, trusting Draven to set the pace.
—
The fox girl moved next, fluid and precise, her aura humming softly as she passed through, leaving only the faintest trace of energy behind.
—
The man hesitated for a fraction of a second—
then forced himself forward, stepping through as well, leaving the corridor—and its suffocating tension—behind.
—
Behind them, the remaining teams understood.
—
There was no point in delaying.
—
No point in posturing.
—
One after another, they moved.
—
No challenges.
No confrontations.
—
Only a shared realization—
that wasting time here meant death.
—
The portal swallowed them all.
—
The hum of energy faded.
—
Silence returned to the corridor.
—
For a moment.
—
Then—
Faint footsteps echoed once more.
—
From around the bend, the team Draven's group had faced earlier appeared, moving cautiously but with clear intent.
—
Their eyes scanned the corridor.
Measured.
Calculated.
—
They had followed at a distance.
Watching.
Waiting.
—
Now, seeing the portal—
they relaxed.
Just slightly.
—
Relief flickered across their faces.
—
No hesitation.
No second thoughts.
—
They moved forward as one—
and stepped through.
—
The corridor fell silent again.
—
Completely.
—
On the other side—
—
The moment they emerged, the air felt heavier.
—
A vast, open space stretched before them.
—
Crowds of participants poured out from other portals—some cautious, some hurried—each one scanning, measuring, assessing the others.
—
Tension filled the air.
Thick.
Oppressive.
—
Draven remained still.
—
His crimson eyes swept across the crowd like a predator observing prey.
—
The boy's jaw tightened beside him, his muscles tensing as he took in the sheer number of people.
"…There's… a lot of them," he muttered under his breath.
—
The fox girl's ears flicked sharply, her tail twitching once.
She extended her senses—
then paused.
—
Her expression shifted slightly.
"…Mana's sealed again," she murmured, calm but edged with frustration. "…They're keeping us from overextending."
—
Draven didn't respond.
—
He didn't need to.
—
His presence alone spoke of control.
Of precision.
Of quiet, lethal certainty.
—
"…Looks like," the fox girl continued, her gaze sharpening as she scanned the surroundings, "…the prison we came from isn't the only one. Others were held elsewhere."
A slight pause.
"…That explains the numbers."
—
The man's eyes widened, his pulse quickening.
"…So… this isn't just our fight anymore…"
—
Before anyone could respond—
a deep, resonant voice echoed across the entire space.
—
"…Time is up."
—
The portals shimmered briefly—
then sealed shut.
—
No one else would be coming through.
—
"…Those who did not arrive have been eliminated," the voice continued, smooth and controlled. "…As you can see, you now stand among the remaining participants from multiple prisons."
—
The fox girl's ears twitched again as she adjusted her stance instinctively, flexing her hands.
She could feel it clearly now—
the restriction.
—
"…We're exposed," she said softly, her eyes scanning the crowd. "…But for now… the path is clear."
—
Draven shifted his weight slightly.
—
Then stepped forward.
—
As if the crowd didn't exist.
—
The boy followed immediately, tension in every step, his nerves tight but controlled.
—
The fox girl moved alongside them, her awareness sharp despite the suppression.
—
The man trailed just behind, trying not to fall out of step.
—
For the first time since entering the maze—
they had a moment to breathe.
—
A fragile one.
—
Because beyond the crowd—
uncertainty waited.
—
And it wouldn't stay quiet for long.
—
Draven's gaze swept across the mass of participants again.
—
Then, without slowing—
he spoke.
—
"…Hey, kid."
—
The boy looked up slightly.
"…Yes…?"
—
Draven's eyes shifted, scanning a cluster of figures ahead.
"…This… must be what she was talking about back then."
—
The boy's jaw tightened.
"…Yes…"
—
Draven's voice remained flat.
Unchanging.
—
"…Start looking."
A brief pause.
"…If your sister's still alive, she'll be here."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
"…If not…"
—
His gaze didn't waver.
"…Then she's already dead."
—
The boy's face paled slightly.
"…No… she can't be…"
—
Draven didn't react.
Didn't soften.
—
"…Then get looking."
—
The words landed hard.
Final.
—
The boy clenched his jaw, his determination hardening into something unbreakable.
—
Without another word—
he moved.
—
Pushing through the crowd.
—
His eyes scanned everything.
Every face.
Every movement.
Every detail.
—
Hope—
then doubt—
then hope again.
—
The fox girl's ears twitched as she watched him go, her head tilting slightly.
"…He's serious," she murmured to the man beside her, her eyes narrowing faintly.
—
The man swallowed, unease creeping into his expression.
"…What's he… looking for?"
—
"Someone," she replied quietly.
Measured.
Certain.
—
"…His focus isn't on the fight—not yet. He's looking for one person."
—
Draven continued forward at the same steady pace.
—
Unhurried.
Unstoppable.
—
Giving the boy space—
without ever saying it.
—
The boy's breathing grew heavier as he pushed deeper into the crowd.
—
His heart pounded.
—
His hands twitched slightly at his sides.
—
Every face he saw—
he searched it.
—
Every figure—
he measured.
—
The fox girl and the man followed, weaving through the mass, staying close enough to support—
but far enough not to interfere.
—
"…Why isn't he panicking?" the man whispered under his breath.