Chapter 64: To Focus In Chaos

    Meanwhile...

    The knights advanced cautiously through the dense jungle maze, their boots crunching softly on the damp, leaf-littered floor.

    The massive trees loomed above them, their twisting vines and thick canopy blocking out almost all light.

    Mist coiled at their feet, creating a suffocating atmosphere that seemed to swallow even the sound of their whispers.

    Kael raised his hand, signaling the group to halt. His voice was low but firm. "Stay vigilant. The emperor said this maze would test us. Don''t trust the ground, the trees, or even the air."

    Esten nodded, his sharp eyes looking around the surroundings. "Flankers, spread out but stay within sight. We need to secure the sides in case something may be lurking for an ambush."

    Laris, standing at the head of the group, tightened his grip on his sword. "Vanguard, eyes forward. If anything moves, we strike first."

    Lionel trailed near the center, gripping his sword tightly. He muttered to Darian, "Doesn''t this place feel... wrong to you? Like it''s alive?"

    Darian nodded with a grim expression on his face. "Alive or not, it''s definitely out to kill us."

    Suddenly, the faint rustle of leaves caught everyone''s attention. One of the knights, stationed toward the back, took a cautious step forward to investigate when the ground beneath him gave way with a sickening crack. He let out a blood-curdling scream as he plummeted into a hidden pit.

    "NO!" Kael shouted, rushing to the edge of the gaping hole. He peered down, his heart sinking at the gruesome sight below.

    The knight had been impaled on jagged spikes, his body twisted unnaturally, blood pooling around the cruel wooden stakes.

    The faint gurgling sound of his last breath echoed upward before fading entirely.

    "Fall back from the edge!" Esten yelled. "Flankers, close ranks. Everyone, watch your step!"

    The group panic but manged to calm themselves as more knights began to tread carefully, only for another section of the ground to collapse beneath three more men.

    Their cries were brief as they were swallowed by the darkness below, followed by the sickening sound of bodies meeting their violent end.

    "We can''t stay here!" Esten shouted. "RUN! Forward! It''s our only option!"

    The knights broke into a sprint, their armor clanking as they pushed through the dense jungle. Lionel''s breath came in sharp gasps as he glanced at Darian beside him. "This place isn''t a test; it''s a death trap!"

    A sudden snapping sound tore through the air. Without warning, a massive log, studded with jagged spikes, swung down from the shadows, slamming into one of the knights with a deafening thud. His body crumpled against the wall of the maze, his armor caving in as blood sprayed across the nearby vines.

    The group froze in their tracks, horrified by the gruesome scene. Laris turned, his face pale but serious. "We don''t have time to mourn! Keep moving, or we''ll all end up like him!"

    "But what is this place?!" one of the knights cried, his voice trembling. "It''s like the maze itself wants us dead!"

    "Exactly!" Laris snapped. "Which means standing still is suicide. Move, now!"

    The group hesitated only a moment longer before pressing on, their nerves frayed and their senses heightened. Every step felt like a gamble, every sound a potential harbinger of death.

    Esten, running beside Kael, muttered through gritted teeth, "We''re going to lose everyone at this rate."

    Laris, leading the vanguard, slowed his pace and raised a hand to signal the group to stop. He turned, his stern face glistening with sweat under the filtered sunlight.

    "We won''t survive if we keep stumbling blindly into these traps," he said. "The only way we''ll make it is if we can predict where they are and avoid them entirely."

    Esten, wiping sweat and grime from his face, glanced around at the unassuming greenery. "And how exactly are we supposed to do that? Everything here looks identical—just leaves, vines, and shadows. Nothing stands out."

    Kael, standing beside him, took a deep breath, his tone calm yet resolute. "We''ll need to calm our nerves and focus."

    Esten and Laris exchanged glances before looking back at him, confusion and skepticism etched on their faces. "Focus? What is that supposed to mean?" Laris asked.

    Kael''s green eyes narrowed, his voice steady. "His Majesty empowered us before we entered this maze. I''m certain he did it so we could make it through this trial. What other purpose could there be in granting men who''ve already proven their resolve a blessing, only for them to die without using it?"

    Laris frowned. "And how exactly do you suggest we focus in a situation like this?"

    Before Kael could respond, a sharp snap echoed through the jungle.

    In an instant, a massive log swung down from the canopy, its deadly momentum aiming straight for him. Kael caught the motion in the corner of his vision, the log practically inches from slamming him into the wall and turning him into a mangled heap.

    Time seemed to slow as his instincts sharpened. His teeth clenched, and his emerald eyes blazed with mana.

    In the next instant... The log thundered into the wall with an explosive...

    BOOM

    Sending dust and debris billowing through the air.

    The knights froze in shock, their eyes wide as they stared at the dust cloud. Laris and Esten yelled out simultaneously, "Kael!"

    When no response came, Laris gritted his teeth, anguish and frustration flashing across his face. "Damn it... We need to keep—"

    "Haha!"

    A sudden laugh rang out. The knights turned toward the dust cloud and saw Kael emerging unscathed, his eyes glowing with his green mana. He adjusted his stance, his grin fierce as he met their astonished gazes.

    "By the gods! He lives!" one of the knights said in shock.

    "We just need to focus," Kael repeated, his voice firm and unwavering. "His Majesty granted us power that our bodies aren''t yet accustomed to. As long as we concentrate, we''ll sense the disturbances around us before the traps activate."

    He said, gazing down as his hands as he flexed his fingers.

    Laris stared at him, with a look of awe on his face, before breaking into a grin of his own. "If you''re right, Kael, then we might just make it out of here."

    Esten nodded. "Let''s test your theory, then. Everyone, steady yourselves. Let''s see if we''ve been given the means to survive this madness."