Swamp 3

Derek and Kane hurtled through the labyrinth's winding passages, their boots echoing against the cold, damp stone. The memory of the creature's roar was fresh in their minds, driving them forward with fear. The labyrinth seemed to stretch endlessly, its narrow corridors and sudden turns disorienting even the most seasoned adventurers.

As they rounded yet another corner, they came to an abrupt halt. Before them lay the bodies of three massive wolves, their forms twisted and broken. The air was thick with the scent of blood and earth. Kane knelt beside the nearest wolf, examining the wounds with a practiced eye.

"What do you make of this?" Derek asked, his voice low and tense.

Kane's brow furrowed in concentration. "These injuries... they're not from any weapon I've seen. It's almost as if the earth itself crushed them."

Derek's eyes narrowed. "There's only one person we know who can manipulate the earth like this."

"Jaxon," they said in unison, the name a bitter taste on their tongues.

"We can't be too sure," Kane added quickly. "Maybe someone else has a similar ability."

Derek shook his head, his mind made up. "No, it's him. Jaxon did this. He's the only one who could have taken down these wolves so effortlessly. Remember what he did to my friend."

Kane didn't argue. The evidence was compelling, and Derek's conviction was hard to ignore. They pressed on, their senses heightened, wary of what lay ahead.

A few minutes later, they spotted a group in the distance. The figures were huddled together, their postures tense and alert. One of them lay on the ground, motionless. As they drew closer, the details became clearer. A figure amongst the group was unmistakable.

"Jaxon, you bastard!" Derek yelled, his voice echoing through the cavernous space.

Arya, with Jaxon now awake, walked towards Kane and Derek. Her eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the scene. The tension was palpable, like a storm about to break.

"Where's Eldon?" Kane asked, his voice edged with concern.

Jaxon glanced back at Eldon's lifeless body sprawled on the floor of the labyrinth. His expression was unreadable, a mix of guilt and frustration.

"I knew he was weak," Derek scoffed, a sneer curling his lips.

"Derek, shut up!" Kane snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. He turned back to Jaxon. "What happened?"

Arya's gaze hardened as she looked at Derek, her patience wearing thin. "He used a Spirit Crystal," she answered Kane angrily.

Kane's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "A Spirit Crystal? But why would he—"

"Wait, wait," Derek interrupted, turning his suspicious gaze towards Jaxon. "Are you the one who killed those three wolves, Jaxon?"

Jaxon shook his head, his brow furrowing in confusion. "I... I don't know. I was unconscious when it happened."

All eyes turned to Arya, the unspoken question hanging in the air. Arya hesitated, her mind racing to piece together the events. But before she could speak, a low growl echoed through the cavernous labyrinth.

The sound sent a shiver down their spines. It was the creature, the one that had been following Derek and Kane. The growl came from behind them, a sinister promise of danger.

Derek and Kane instinctively reached for their weapons, their faces pale with fear. 

"What is that?" Arya questioned, unable to see what it was. It was as if it was invisible.

"It's a creature that's been following us," Kane replied, his voice tight with tension.

"Why didn't you two think of mentioning it? You're putting us all in danger," Arya said, her frustration evident.

"We thought we lost it," Kane replied, his eyes scanning the darkness behind them.

The growl reverberated through the labyrinth, a chilling reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows. 

Arya's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. "We need a plan," she said, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her heart.

"We need to find a way out of here," Kane replied, his eyes darting around the dimly lit passageway.

Jaxon's gaze flickered between the others, his mind spinning with thoughts of Eldon's lifeless body and the mysterious events unfolding around them. "We can't just leave Eldon behind," he said, his voice tinged with desperation.

Derek scoffed, "He's dead weight. We need to focus on getting out of here alive."

Before Jaxon could respond, a low rumble echoed through the labyrinth, followed by the sound of shifting earth. The walls trembled, sending debris raining down around them.

The creatures' growls became louder and louder, echoing through the labyrinth-like an ominous symphony of doom. Jaxon's heart pounded in his chest as he stared into the darkness, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. But amidst the chaos, one thought remained clear: they couldn't abandon Eldon, not like this.

"I'm not leaving Eldon," Jaxon declared, his voice firm despite the tremor of fear within him.

"We're not leaving Eldon behind. We have no choice but to fight," Kane asserted, his eyes flashing with determination.

Without hesitation, Kane and Derek activated their Adapt skills, merging with their spirit beasts in a seamless dance of power and strength. Arya watched in awe, her disbelief evident as she struggled to comprehend the extent of their abilities.

"Can everyone in your school use Adapt?" Arya asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

But amidst the chaos and urgency of the moment, her question fell on deaf ears. The group was focused on a much larger threat – the looming presence of the new creature that stalked them in the darkness.

"Hurry, use Adapt," Derek urged Jaxon, his voice urgent with the weight of their impending peril.

But Jaxon's spirit energy was depleted, drained by Gaia's earlier intervention. He felt a sense of helplessness wash over him, his body weary and weakened.

.....

Outside of the labyrinth, the Beaster Council was still watching the students. The instructor, Seven, was concerned for his students, especially Eldon, whom he had grown fond of in the past weeks. "What creature is that, Eight?" the instructor asked, his voice tight with worry.

"I'm not sure, Dwalin—I mean, Seven," Eight replied, his brow furrowed in concern.

Elder Samael, who was listening in on their conversation, interjected, "It's a Level 3 spirit beast, a Dark Hollowgast."

"What?" Seven exclaimed, his anger evident. "A level 3 beast? They're too young, far too young!"

Elder Samael regarded the instructor with a steady gaze. "Seven, you need to believe more in your students. They will eventually become your allies. Do you want your allies to be weak or people you can rely on?"

The instructor couldn't find a response, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty and doubt. Silently, he returned to his seat, the weight of Elder Samael's words heavy on his mind.

Meanwhile, Eight couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "Who knew we had someone who could shut the great Seven up?" he remarked, his laughter echoing in the chamber.