"The Match—"

"—Begin!"

At the command, all teams sprang into motion simultaneously.

Miriam stood with a group of teachers atop a high platform at the maze’s center, her gaze sweeping clearly across every squad. Drones overhead streamed live footage onto the stadium’s giant screen.

"Hey, old man," Miriam mumbled around a chocolate bar she was chewing, "Are those kids from your class *really* as strong as you say?"

The "old man" she meant was Teacher Moran.

Though Moran smiled amiably, his eyes never left the maze.

"Don’t worry. These little guys will surprise you."

Miriam nodded. "Then I’ll watch closely. Perfect chance to check Xiao Chengcheng and Ming Yi’s progress—I’ve pinned high hopes on them. Don’t fail me."

Moran spotted something and chuckled helplessly. "As you wish. Look—Ming Yi’s team just met their first Resident Branch squad."

—

—

Ming Yi and his two companions had been sprinting deep into the maze.

This was part of their strategy. They understood the core rule:

Speed.

The maze’s active zone shrank over time. Late-game, all teams would be forced toward the center—to prevent hiding. But this hid a critical advantage: the earlier you reached the center, the sooner you could aid allied squads. Defeat enemies fast, rally comrades, build momentum—until a tidal wave swept the arena.

Especially vital now. The Third Generation Branch was weaker overall. To win, they had to ignite that wave *before* their own teams fell.

So from the start, Ming Yi’s trio raced ahead. At the first junction, they met a Resident Branch squad.

The squad’s leader’s eyes lit up with delight.

"Ha! Freshmen from the Third Generation Branch!" the arrogant man pointed. "Heaven itself grants us this opening victory—"

"Sorry. We’re in a hurry."

Xiao Chengcheng—staff already in hand—swung the Hundredfold Forged Staff mid-sentence.

"Holy crap!"

Before the man processed it, the staff’s shadow filled his vision. Panicked, he tumbled backward clumsily, eating dirt.

"Pah! You despicable outsiders! Attacking mid-speech? Shameless!" Face flushed with outrage, he waved to his comrades. "Brothers—get him!"

"Which is why—" Xiao Chengcheng spun the staff, a trace of ferocity in his eyes. He shot forward like a cannonball.

"—*this young master* has no time for your chuunibyou nonsense!"

Too fast to react. The man hastily summoned his Corruption Artifact across his chest—but the moment it met the Hundredfold Forged Staff, it shattered like tofu hit by steel, bursting into crimson droplets. He flew backward.

*How is he this strong?* His last thought.

The remaining two gaped, jaws slack enough to swallow eggs whole. But shock lasted no longer than a breath.

A whoosh—*thud!* The left one flew back as if slammed in the chest.

The right turned. Saw his last teammate blasted away by an ink-black bird. Ice flooded his veins; cold sweat drenched him. *We stumbled on something terrifying—*

A gentle whisper brushed his ear:

"Sorry. Take a nap."

Ming Yi’s murmur faded. Darkness swallowed his vision. He collapsed.

—

—

"Whoa! Strong move—wiping out a whole squad in one go," Miriam murmured, pink cheeks showing genuine surprise.

"Eh, that squad’s just an appetizer," Moran said calmly. "The real show starts when they reach the maze center." He smiled mysteriously. "Honestly? Watching the rest of *our* class’s teams is far more interesting."

Intrigued, Miriam scanned the maze for them.

—

—

"Ning Si! Stop slacking!" Yang Zijie yelled from a corner, firing his Blast Revolver—a Corruption Artifact—while twisting toward Ning Si.

Silence answered.

"Damn. Knew this otaku’d bail at crunch time," Yang muttered.

Their opponents were skilled: two wielded ranged Corruption Artifacts. Suppressive fire pinned Yang’s trio flat.

"Lao Yang—cover me?" Beside him, chubby Xu Fan’s eyes gleamed with calculation.

Yang nodded. "I’ll use my Artifact’s blast to suppress them. Max five seconds. Move fast."

"Five seconds… enough!" Ruthlessness flickered in Xu Fan’s gaze. "Signal given—you unleash full fire."

"Ready—fire!"

Yang roared, leaned out, fired five shots. Two pinned the enemies’ heads behind cover. Three struck the corridor floor—two near cover, one dead center.

*BOOM!* Dust erupted. Visibility vanished.

Enemies fired blindly into the haze.

Xu Fan lunged. Chubby frame moved with shocking agility—rolls, leaps, dodging shots by inches.

Four seconds. He closed the exposed corridor.

"Holy crap—the fat guy’s here!" A lanky man fired a crossbow bolt.

Point-blank. No dodge. *Thwack!* Left shoulder. Xu Fan grunted, teeth clenched, pain sharpening his glare.

Arms shot out. Grabbed both collars. Yanked them close.

"Soul-Devouring Bracelet!"

A dark red bracelet on his wrist glowed faintly. Strength drained from the two men in seconds. They slumped, limp and spent.

Xu Fan confirmed they were down, sucked a sharp breath, yanked the arrow free, and flashed Yang a bloody grin.

"Mission accomplished!"

"Damn right! Awesome!" Yang shot him a thumbs-up.