A few days had passed since Finn had been given the offer to beco stronger in a short amount of ti.
To enter the Labyrinth.
To venture into a place with an uncertain ti of return—or perhaps no return at all.
It was an opportunity he desperately wanted.
However, if he chose to enter the Labyrinth and sohow managed to survive, returning to the military academy a day or even two days later, how exactly was he supposed to explain all that?
If he tried, most people would simply write him off as insane.
And even if they sohow believed him, he would have to reveal the existence of Estes and the Primordial Library.
That was far too risky.
Which was why Finn had decided to wait through the week.
At least until the weekend, when there were no training regins to attend.
Going during that period was his safest option.
So throughout the days of waiting, Finn and the other recruits were ground down by trendously brutal training sessions.
Climbing steep walls.
Scaling jagged trees.
Running laps around the entire barracks with steel balls chained around their legs.
Even with his improved attributes, Finn still found it difficult to persevere through so of the exercises.
Sure, he might be stronger than what was considered humanly possible.
But that didn’t an he was ntally tougher.
That was why, despite his increase in strength, people like Artemis, Frey, Terrence, and several other recruits still managed to outperform him during the latter half of the endurance runs.
Apart from the physical exercises conducted by Lieutenant Harold...
There were also the Corrupted Monsters classes taught by Sir Antonio.
This was one class Finn never took lightly.
For Grey Knights, understanding Corrupted Monsters was considered even more important than learning how to fight them.
After all...
Even the slightest mistake on the battlefield could kill the greatest warrior.
And the greatest warrior still couldn’t always kill the most cunning rat.
It was better to be a living rat than an honorable corpse.
Finn found himself completely absorbed as Antonio described what it was like encountering a Corrupted Monster.
What to do.
What not to do.
How to survive.
Antonio constantly emphasized caution.
Study the monster before approaching.
Observe its behavior.
Remain alert at all tis.
Never rush into battle blindly.
And if the creature notices you...
Play defense and study its abilities.
Or better yet...
Run.
Sir Antonio made sure to emphasize that point more than any other.
"No matter how small or harmless a Corrupted One appears, running will serve you better than fighting. Unless battle becos absolutely necessary... then may God help your soul."
Every lesson left Finn fascinated.
At tis, he even found himself looking forward to Antonio’s classes more than the physical training itself.
Unfortunately, story ti always ca to an end.
And whenever it did...
Sergeant Harold was waiting.
With sothing terrible.
Finn and the other two sat inside the cafeteria, exhausted beyond belief.
His entire back felt like it had been beaten with hamrs.
He collapsed face-first onto the table and released a long, pained sigh.
The agony was the result of today’s training.
Lifting massive boulders.
Sprinting with them.
Dodging spears hurled by fellow recruits while carrying them.
Just another one of Sergeant Harold’s "necessary" training exercises.
The other two boys looked no better.
Terrence groaned loudly as he reclined fully in his chair.
anwhile, Doram sohow looked even deader than usual.
"My body..." Doram muttered loudly enough for the other two to hear. "Does it still even exist?"
Terrence clicked his tongue.
Then imdiately groaned from the pain the action caused.
The suffering was mutual.
Most recruits throughout the cafeteria wore exhausted expressions.
So groaned openly.
Others had their heads resting on the tables rather than eating.
The entire room felt like a gathering of walking corpses.
Finn’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Tomorrow was finally the day.
The day he would enter the Labyrinth.
The day he would begin his journey toward becoming stronger.
He could only imagine the horrors waiting inside.
The monsters.
The trials.
The suffering.
But he could also imagine the power he might gain.
As he pondered the possibilities, a commotion erupted from another section of the cafeteria.
The noise imdiately drew the attention of most of the recruits.
A large boy and several others were surrounding a girl seated at her table.
They mocked her.
Taunted her.
Even shoved her around.
It wasn’t pleasant to watch.
Eventually, another recruit stood up and attempted to defend her.
That decision did not end well.
One of the boys moved at an incomprehensible speed.
Before anyone could properly react, his fist slamd into the recruit’s stomach.
The poor boy doubled over instantly before collapsing onto his side, groaning in agony.
Considering the brutal training they had already endured throughout the day, that single punch probably felt like hell itself.
Finn narrowed his eyes.
He recognized every single mber of the group.
Edmund.
And the sa recruits who had visited him in the hospital.
’How impeccable.’
Only a few days ago, Edmund had finally been released from the academy clinic.
Since then, he had quickly beco a terror among the recruits.
He bullied anyone he deed unworthy.
Especially those with lower ratings.
Finn hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Mainly because Edmund had avoided him entirely ever since their previous encounter.
At least...
Until today.
After Edmund’s group had finished harassing the girl, they began walking toward Finn’s table.
Edmund arrived first.
Placing one large hand against the table, he stared down at them.
The three boys imdiately locked onto him.
Their eyes sharpened.
Watching.
Waiting.
Judging whether they would need to fight or simply endure whatever ca next.
"Hello."
Edmund directed the greeting specifically toward Terrence.
Then, without warning, he shoved a hand into his trousers.
After several suspicious movents, he withdrew it and casually plunged it straight into Terrence’s bowl of soup.
The cafeteria seed to grow quieter.
Terrence didn’t react imdiately.
He simply stared at the larger recruit.
A murderous look settled into his eyes as his fist slowly tightened.
Edmund’s lips curled upward.
Satisfied.
Then he turned toward Finn.
"Next week..."
His grin widened.
"We might as well be holding a burial."
He winked.
Then turned and walked away.
The rest of his group chuckled as they followed behind him.
Only after they had disappeared into the crowd did Terrence and Doram turn toward Finn.
Both wore curious expressions.
Finn’s own expression darkened.
He understood the ssage perfectly.
No misunderstanding.
No hidden aning.
A direct threat.
’He really is serious...’
Finn’s eyes narrowed.
’Dying next week might no longer be an option.’
Because if Edmund had already decided Finn was going to die...
Then surviving the coming week was no longer sothing Finn could take for granted.
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