Reincarnation of the Last Magus Emperor

The second half of the lesson took the disciples to a sprawling pit maze conjured by Elder Magnus, a 5th Circle Master renowned for his mastery of Defensive Augmentation techniques. Known as a Warden, his command over Earth Mana allowed him to craft terrains of remarkable complexity and durability.

The maze was a testament to his skill—a labyrinthine network of walls, traps, and obstacles, with sections of unstable ground, narrow ledges, and steep inclines. However, what truly set the challenge apart was the presence of Automaton Puppets, formidable creations forged from the parts of Dire beasts.

The puppets were humanoid constructs, clad in patchwork armor made from the bones and scales of powerful beasts. Each carried a weapon—swords, spears, or maces—that shimmered faintly with elemental energy. Their movements were smooth yet unnervingly precise, powered by intricate mana arrays etched into their forms. At their core lay mana crystals, pulsating with faint light, serving as their energy source and heart.

"These puppets were the work of Dunam," Elder Magnus explained, his voice echoing across the maze. "A scholar of the sect from 500 years ago. He combined array crafting, alchemy, and beast materials to create these tools of combat training. They're as strong as an adept warrior and will push you to your limits. Destroy their mana cores to disable them."

Elder Fergus added to the explanation: "Your task is to navigate the maze, neutralize the automatons, and reach the central platform. Work as a team, use the terrain, and conserve your mana wisely. Each of you will face three automatons, but be warned—they are adaptive and will counter your fighting styles if you're predictable."

The disciples exchanged glances, their excitement mingled with apprehension. Automaton Puppets were legendary in the sect, rarely used due to their complexity and the toll they took on mana reserves. For many, this would be their first time facing such opponents.

Merlin studied the maze intently, already strategizing. His Lightning Mana would normally give him an edge against mechanical foes, but he knew this exercise demanded finesse. Using raw power or his full Lightning Veins technique might drain his mana prematurely.

He silently admired the brilliance of the automatons' design, noting the way the mana arrays glowed faintly, synchronizing with their movements. "Dunam must've been a genius," Merlin thought. "These things are practically alive."

Merlin's partner, Nia, a reserved disciple with Earth affinity, approached him. "We'll need to balance offense and defense," she said, her tone calm but firm. "I'll control the terrain to slow them down, and you can use your speed to strike their cores. Agreed?"

Merlin nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Sounds like a plan. Let's see how well these puppets hold up."

As the disciples prepared, Elder Magnus raised a hand, his mana flaring briefly to life. "Remember, the automatons are not mindless. They adapt. Underestimating them would be a grave mistake."

With that, the exercise began, the maze trembling as the automatons activated, their cores glowing brighter as they came to life. The first echoes of combat filled the air as pairs of disciples entered the maze, each facing their own unique challenge.

Merlin and Nia exchanged a glance and stepped into the labyrinth, ready to face what awaited them.

Merlin's saber, though simple and unadorned, had been with him since the very beginning of his journey in the sect. Its slightly curved blade bore no intricate engravings or embellishments, yet it gleamed with a well-kept luster, a testament to Merlin's meticulous care. For others, it might have seemed like an outdated or unimpressive weapon, but in Merlin's hands, it was a trusted companion. Its size and weight complemented his tall, muscular frame perfectly, becoming an extension of his body during combat.

Nia, on the other hand, was a striking figure. At nearly 6 feet tall, she radiated the quiet confidence of someone forged by the harsh environment of the northern mountains. Her skin carried the sun-kissed hue of someone who had spent decades under open skies, while her dark hair contrasted sharply with her piercing, iron-grey eyes. Her people, known for their connection to the Earth, Water, and Wind elements, were as resilient as the landscapes they hailed from.

Her weaponry reflected her roots—practical and powerful. She carried a kite shield, its surface marked with faint runic etchings for reinforcement, and a large battle axe with a double-edged head that seemed almost too heavy to wield with ease. Yet, in Nia's hands, the axe moved with deceptive grace.

Despite whispers from some about her "unladylike" demeanor, Merlin couldn't help but smirk internally at such shallow judgments. Myrddin's memories had revealed to him what true brutality and gracelessness looked like. Compared to the warrior-women of those times, Nia was almost saintly.

As the two stepped further into the maze, their differences in demeanor complemented each other. Merlin's relaxed gait and sharp eyes marked him as a combatant who calculated every move, while Nia's firm strides and steady grip on her shield exuded the confidence of someone who could weather any storm.

"You seem oddly at ease," Nia remarked as they paused at a fork in the labyrinth. Her voice was calm but carried a hint of curiosity.

Merlin glanced at her, the faintest hint of a grin on his face. "Experience," he replied cryptically, shifting his saber slightly. "What about you? You don't seem too worried about the automatons either."

"They're just machines," Nia said with a shrug, hefting her axe onto her shoulder. "Hard to intimidate someone who's wrestled snow bears in the northern passes."

Merlin chuckled softly. "Fair point."

The brief moment of levity passed as the distant sound of grinding metal echoed through the maze, signaling the approach of the automatons. Both warriors shifted into combat stances, their expressions sharpening.

"Let's see what these puppets are made of," Merlin muttered, his grip tightening on his saber as the first automaton emerged from the shadows.

Nia moved forward with a confidence born of countless battles. Her kite shield, brimming with a soft brownish-gold glow of Earth mana, absorbed the automaton's attention as it advanced. The puppet swordsman, though a construct, moved with an unsettling fluidity that mimicked human motion. Its arming sword glinted in the dim light of the maze, and the clawed manica covering its left arm scraped against the stone floor ominously. Its Direbuck legs, powerful and agile, allowed it to maintain a low stance that promised explosive speed.

"Wait for the opening," Nia murmured again, her tone calm and focused as she glanced at Merlin from the corner of her eye. Her voice betrayed no fear, only resolve.

The automaton lunged. Its arming sword lashed out in a calculated thrust, aiming for the gap in Nia's defense. She shifted her shield deftly, meeting the strike with a resonating clang. The Earth mana in her shield absorbed the impact, dispersing the energy harmlessly into the ground.

The automaton's Direbuck legs tensed, and it pushed off with incredible speed, circling around to her side in a blur. Its clawed manica swung out in a heavy swipe, aiming to overwhelm her defense. Nia stood firm, pivoting with surprising grace for her size, her shield meeting the attack with a resounding crash. Sparks flew as her Earth mana flared, anchoring her to the ground and weathering the automaton's relentless assault.

"Now!" she barked.

Merlin moved like lightning—without actually using it. His movements, honed by the Thunder Steps and the 8 Angles of Attack, were precise and deliberate. He darted in from the automaton's blind spot, his saber flashing in a controlled arc. The blade struck the joint connecting the automaton's clawed arm to its shoulder. The saber's edge bit into the reinforced metal, sparks flying as the automaton stumbled.

The creature shifted its attention to Merlin, its glowing eyes locking onto him. Its Direbuck legs tensed again, propelling it forward in a sudden, predatory leap. But Merlin was already moving, his footwork smooth and deliberate, evading the automaton's blade by a hair's breadth.

"Don't get too far ahead!" Nia called, stepping in with her axe raised high.

As the automaton turned to face her again, she brought her weapon down in a crushing blow. The glowing Earth mana in the axe flared as it connected with the automaton's midsection. The force of the strike sent cracks spidering across its torso, and the puppet staggered, its movements slowing.

Merlin didn't waste the opportunity. Closing the distance in a single step, he thrust his saber into the automaton's exposed core, where the mana crystal lay embedded. The blade pierced through with a shattering sound, and the automaton froze, its glowing eyes dimming as it collapsed into a heap of motionless parts.

The maze fell silent, save for the faint hum of residual mana dissipating from the defeated construct.

Nia lowered her axe, her breathing steady. "Not bad," she remarked, looking at Merlin with a faint grin. "You don't fight like someone at the 2nd Circle."

Merlin sheathed his saber, his expression unreadable but calm. "And you don't fight like someone who only wrestles snow bears."

Nia chuckled, shaking her head. "Stick with me, rookie. We've got more of these things to break."

With a nod, the two moved deeper into the maze, the next challenge awaiting them just around the corner.

The air in the maze was damp, filled with the faint tang of earth mana lingering from Elder Magnus's handiwork. The ground shifted beneath Merlin's boots as he and Nia ventured deeper into the twisting passages, the walls of compacted dirt humming faintly with latent energy. The defeat of the first Automaton had only been the beginning; the true challenge lay ahead.

"This place feels alive," Nia muttered, gripping the haft of her axe as her shield stayed ready in front of her. Her grey iron-colored eyes scanned the narrow path ahead. "Elder Magnus isn't holding back."

"Not that I expected him to," Merlin replied, his saber resting in a loose grip. "He's testing our ability to adapt. Stay sharp—there's bound to be more traps."

They took cautious steps forward, the silence punctuated only by the distant hum of mana and the occasional shifting of earth. Then, as they rounded a corner, the ground quaked beneath them.

"Move!" Merlin barked, grabbing Nia's arm and pulling her back as a series of sharp earthen spikes erupted from the floor, forming a wall of jagged obstacles that cut off their path forward.

"Traps are one thing," Nia grumbled, "but this is ridiculous."

Merlin examined the spikes carefully. They weren't just ordinary earth—they glowed faintly with an intricate mana array etched into their surface. "It's a reactionary defense," he said, running his hand over the cool surface without touching the glowing lines. "Triggered by movement. We'll need to disrupt the array."

Nia frowned. "How do you suggest we do that without getting skewered?"

Merlin didn't answer immediately, his eyes narrowing as he traced the flow of mana through the array. The spikes weren't just physical; they were reinforced with Elder Magnus's mana, making them unyielding to brute force alone.

"Cover me," Merlin said, stepping closer to the spikes.

"Cover you from what?" Nia asked, exasperated, but she readied her shield anyway.

Merlin crouched and placed his palm just above the base of one spike. His mana flowed outward, carefully probing the array. It was complex but not impervious; the key was finding the core line of the inscription where the mana converged.

"There," he muttered. With a precise pulse of mana, he disrupted the flow, and the array flickered. The spikes retracted with a sharp hiss, melting back into the ground as if they'd never been there.

Nia lowered her shield. "Nice work. Let's hope the rest of the traps aren't as—"

Her words were cut off by the sudden sound of grinding stone. From the walls on either side, earthen discs shot out like spinning saw blades, carving through the air with deadly precision.

"Go, go!" Merlin shouted, shoving Nia forward as he activated Thunder Steps, his movements a blur as he dodged the first blade. Nia raised her shield and sprinted ahead, the blade deflecting off the enchanted surface with a loud clang.

They darted through the corridor, avoiding the whirling blades and the shifting terrain beneath their feet. As they reached the next section of the maze, the blades abruptly stopped, the walls sealing shut behind them.

"Is he trying to kill us?" Nia panted, leaning against her shield. "This feels excessive."

Merlin smirked. "He's trying to teach us. Painfully, maybe, but it's effective."

The next chamber was vast and open, with a large circular platform in the center. Suspended above the platform was a glowing mana crystal, its surface etched with countless runes. Around the edges of the room were four large pillars, each inscribed with a unique symbol.

"A puzzle," Merlin said, stepping cautiously onto the platform. "The crystal is the key."

Nia frowned. "And the pillars?"

"They're part of the array," Merlin explained. "We need to align their symbols correctly to unlock the crystal's mana."

As they examined the symbols, Nia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "These symbols—this one represents the Earth element, and that one looks like Balance."

Merlin nodded. "It's a sequence. Elder Magnus wants us to figure out the correct order based on their meanings."

They worked together, deciphering the symbols and shifting the pillars into position. Each movement required careful mana control to interact with the inscriptions, the pillars resisting any physical force. After several tense minutes, they aligned the final symbol, and the mana crystal flared brightly.

The platform beneath them rumbled, and a hidden passage opened in the wall ahead.

Nia exhaled in relief. "If that's his idea of a warm-up, I don't want to see what he has planned next."

Merlin chuckled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Something tells me the next part will make this seem easy."

They pressed forward, the challenges growing more intricate and dangerous with each step. Elder Magnus's earth magic was relentless, forcing them to adapt and push the limits of their mana control. For Merlin, it was a chance to refine his techniques, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, evaluated for weaknesses.

By the time they reached the next phase of the maze, their bodies were worn and their mana reserves taxed. But they stood taller for it, their teamwork and perseverance carrying them through every challenge Elder Magnus had thrown at them. They had survived the traps, solved the puzzles, and emerged stronger for it.