Chapter 133: Trial 1.2
The deeper they moved into the maze, the quieter it became, not in peace, but in tension. Feng Jiao Xue didn’t trust the stillness. The kind of silence that dropped like a blade just before the killing blow. Even the wind no longer rustled the leaves, and the air was heavy, as if the forest itself held its breath.
Mo Tianze was only a few steps behind her, sharp-eyed, ears twitching beneath his hood. They’d made progress through the maze, fending off enchanted vines and avoiding the snarling beasts camouflaged in roots and bark. His presence, so calm and unwavering at her back, had become a quiet anchor in the madness of this test.
Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze flicked to the side. Something was off.
The moment she shifted her weight forward, the trap sprung.
A ripple of movement came from the trees four shadows leaping from above, cloaks swirling, the gleam of blades catching what little light pierced the canopy. Mo Tianze moved first, intercepting a dagger with a harsh clang, the impact sending a jolt up his arm.
"Cowards" Feng Jiao Xue hissed, sidestepping a bolt of fire aimed directly for her head. It seared past her cheek, scorching a line across the mossy ground.
A snarl echoed from the shadows. "It’s nothing personal, sweetheart. There’s limited space in that Academy, and you’re just one less competitor."
She didn’t answer with words. Her fingers flicked, and ice burst upward from the ground in jagged spears, forcing two of the attackers to leap aside. The temperature around her dropped several degrees, frost crackling underfoot. Mo Tianze took her cue and moved with silent efficiency, flanking her like a loyal shadow, blade in hand, tail flicking with focus.
One of the attackers, a tall boy with wild black hair and a blood-red sash, landed directly in front of them, his sword gleaming with runes. "Two-on-four. Seems a bit unfair for you, doesn’t it?"
Mo Tianze bared his fangs. "I like those odds."
The boy lunged. Mo Tianze met him in a clash of metal and strength, ducking low to sweep the attacker’s legs and forcing him to crash into the thick roots. A second foe tried to capitalize on the moment, charging toward Feng Jiao Xue with twin daggers. She stepped back, lifted her palm, and murmured, "Zharnae velora."