Trust none
In a desolate, people-less expanse, two colossal earth walls pierced the ground, their towering forms reaching skyward.
They stood as silent sentinels, forming a long pathway that stretched endlessly before them.
However, at a certain point, this singular path splintered into several others, each leading to unknown destinations.
This was the maze, an imposing structure of earthen barriers that formed the crucible for the second stage of the assessment.
The very air around it seemed to hum with an unspoken challenge, a test of will and wit.
Suddenly, and seemingly out of thin air, two figures materialized. One possessed a short, flat-top hairstyle, while the other's hair was dark and curly.
They were holding hands, a silent testament to the tumultuous experience they had just shared.
These were Johnson and Fai, and they found themselves disoriented yet determined, standing at the heart of the labyrinth, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Their arrival was not a gentle one; it was a jarring transition, a sudden shift from one reality to another, a testament to the strange powers at play in this assessment.A mutation ability
Before this moment, Fai and Johnson had been embroiled in a precarious situation within the general hall.
It was the starting point for all participants, a vast space where the rules and instructions for the second stage were laid .
The directives were simple enough on the surface, yet their implications were profound: navigate the labyrinth and reach the other side within forty-eight hours.
However, merely escaping the maze wasn't enough. Each participant had been entrusted with a single golden coin after successfully completing the first stage, and the primary objective was to emerge from the maze with a minimum of five such coins.
The rules explicitly stated that any means necessary could be employed to acquire these coins, with the sole exception of killing..
This provision, allowing for aggression and manipulation, immediately set a tense and predatory tone for the assessment.
Despite the clear instructions, a question lingered in their minds: what exactly was this stage truly designed to test? The first stage had unequivocally focused on raw strength, demanding physical prowess and combat ability.
But this second stage, with its labyrinthine structure and coin-gathering mandate, presented a more ambiguous challenge.
At first glance, it appeared to be a straightforward maze race, suggesting that success was solely on reaching the exit before anyone else.
This interpretation implied that the fastest or the luckiest would prevail.
It was true that some paths would undoubtedly lead to dead ends, frustrating and delaying progress, while others might even loop back to the beginning, forcing a tiresome retrace of steps.
In such a scenario, speed would be the ultimate determinant of success, a race against time and fellow competitors.
However, a deeper analysis of the rules revealed a more intricate and demanding test. It wasn't just about speed anymore; their strength, both physical and mental, was also being rigorously evaluated.
How strong were they to obtain the coveted coins from others, and more importantly, how strong were they to protect the coins they had already acquired until the very end of the maze?
This added layer of complexity transformed the assessment from a simple race into a high-stakes game of survival and acquisition.
Furthermore, a critical question arose: what if they managed to acquire the required number of coins but failed to exit the maze within the stipulated time frame?
Would that still be considered a loss, rendering all their efforts futile? The ambiguity of this rule added another layer of anxiety and strategic consideration.
The nature of the test remained perplexing, making it difficult to pinpoint the primary attribute being assessed: was it strength, speed, luck, or perhaps a cunning combination of all three?
The organizers had crafted a genuinely enigmatic challenge, one that demanded adaptability and a sharp mind.
Immediately after the instructions were delivered in the general hall, a chaotic scene erupted.
Fai, whose watch emitted a distinct red glow, instantly became a prime target among his peers.
The glow, likely an indicator of him still being an ordinary human , marked him as vulnerable.
Fortunately, Johnson, ever vigilant, intervened swiftly, pulling Fai out of the immediate danger and away from the grasping hands of their fellow participants.
This quick action was a testament to Johnson's protective instincts and his willingness to act decisively in a crisis.
As soon as they appeared in the maze, the sudden, disorienting effects of Johnson's mutant ability overwhelmed Fai. He couldn't hold it in any longer.
He abruptly released Johnson's hand, stumbled to the side, and immediately began to throw up, the violent expulsion of his stomach's contents.
Fai felt incredibly dizzy, his insides churned violently, and a profound sense of unease settled over him, culminating in the involuntary act of vomiting.
It was a normal reaction, one that spoke volumes about the unpleasantness of their sudden transportation.
Witnessing Fai's distress, Johnson couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
He slowly approached Fai, his footsteps hesitant, and offered a gentle tap on his shoulder.
It was a small gesture, perhaps not one that would magically alleviate Fai's nausea, but it was Johnson's earnest attempt to offer comfort and show his concern.
"Err… don't worry,"
Johnson began to speak , his voice a little unsure, "you'll get used to it." He genuinely struggled to find the right words to reassure Fai, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a rare awkwardness.
At that moment, Fai, still reeling from the effects, suddenly snapped.
With a surprising surge of energy, he pushed Johnson away with his hand and, in a swift movement, jumped back himself, creating a significant distance between them.
Johnson, completely caught off guard by this sudden and aggressive reaction, stood utterly confused.
He even instinctively spun around, scanning their surroundings for any sign of an attack, but there was none.
This only deepened his confusion . If he had been at a loss for words before, he was now truly speechless.
"Stay right where you are! Don't come any closer!" Fai declared, his voice firm and his gaze locked onto Johnson's eyes.
He had adopted a defensive fighting stance, his body tensed and ready for conflict.
Having just experienced the unsettling effects of their sudden teleportation and the initial aggression from other students, Fai was taking no chances.
He wasn't going to trust anyone, especially not someone whose ability caused such profound disorientation.
While he acknowledged that Johnson had undeniably saved him from a dangerous situation earlier, preventing him from losing his golden coin to the other students, a seed of doubt had been planted.
What if Johnson's actions weren't entirely genuine ?
What if his plan was to isolate Fai, transport him to a remote location, and then, without the need to contend with other students, seize his coin for himself?
After all, the rules explicitly permitted such acts; in fact, they seemed to actively promote them, fostering an environment of self interest and awareness .
"Hey dude, chill," Johnson said, slowly raising and lowering his hands in a placating gestue.
"I know what you're thinking, buddy, and trust me, I have no intention of hurting you."
He tried to explain his true motivations, his voice earnest and conciliatory.
"The reason why I even brought you here was to protect you from all those crazy students, trust me."
Johnson continued, hoping to convey the sincerity of his intentions.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm not buying that," Fai retorted, his voice laced with skepticism.