As Nova and Kai ventured further into the outer depths of the Labyrinth, with new and old paths opening and shutting, Nova smelled the faint scent of cologne. He tracked the cologne until they found another opening, where there was a freshly lit fire that had now dispersed, meaning that there was definitely someone there.

Kai inspected the area, realizing that there were faint traces of blood lingering on the floor of the labyrinth, suggesting that whoever was here was either being hunted and needed a place to hide and rest, or had suffered some damage previously and set up a temporary camp. Another option that he could think of was that they had just fought in this opening, and the freshly lit fire was from a fire manipulator, who might have suffered some injuries.

As they walked, Nova explained his story to Kai, who agreed to help him out. Even Kai didn't like the leader of the French Guild, who had on multiple occasions insulted his guild and country, and after the previous President of the French Guild, the guild had been on a steady downfall ever since. It was a miracle that they were even able to participate in this tournament.

"Did any of the Adventurers in the French Guild have the ability to manipulate fire?" Kai asked Nova.

"Not that I remember from my encounter. The lady who stole it, I think she was the leader, had wind affinity, with the others creating decoys, manipulating the ground, and something else. But not fire, from what I remember."

"This opening has a lot of secrets to it, and I have a gut feeling that the French could be nearby. The smell of the cologne and the smell of all that French stuff, it gives me the feeling of France."

"Huh." Nova had no idea what Kai was yapping about. Though he inquired about how Kai had such a good English accent. So he asked him: "How do you have such a good English accent, like if I were to be blindfolded, I would never, in a million years, determine that you are from South Korea."

"My grandfather was from England, studied in America temporarily, then came to South Korea for some research, and then found my grandmother, and my mother also married my father, who is South Korean but studied in America. So, I can speak both Korean and English fluently, along with German and Spanish, and I can even comprehend Sanskrit."

"Damn," Nova didn't realize that Kai was about to present all of his achievements in terms of languages, that he didn't even know the a in.

"Anyway, the French can't be that far off. Let's hunt them down." Kai responded coldly, that predator spark in his eyes firing up.

Nova stayed quiet, as though he didn't want to upset Kai. Which was for the best, considering how cold-hearted and formidable Kai could be. Kai let the path, and Nova simply followed him.

Thanks to Kai's green mana crystal, Nova was feeling much better, almost able to fully feel like himself, gaining his B-rank status back. His energy and mana were nearly restored to his former self. He cracked his bones, especially the neck, feeling some of the tension go away as he followed in the footsteps of Kai.

As the labyrinth twisted and shifted around them, Nova moved cautiously, letting Kai lead with an almost predatory precision, like a tiger. The faint scent of the cologne grew stronger, and they both knew they were close.

Eventually, the sounds of a conflict reached them, an eerie mix of snarls, growls, and screams, with explosions echoing off the labyrinth's stone walls. Peeking around a bend, Nova and Kai saw the French Guild in a battle.

A massive creature, covered in rough scales, with glowing dark energy surrounding it, towered over them. Its limbs were grotesquely long, ending in claws sharp enough to rend, and every swing of its tail shook and cracked the ground beneath.

The French Guild members were scattered, each trying to coordinate attacks, but the monster was fast, too fast for their formation to hold. Nova could see their leader at the center, her wind ability cutting through the air in sharp, precise arcs, trying to damage the beast. Other members created decoys or altered the floor to impede its movement, but the monster's resilience was very high.

Nova and Kai stayed in the shadows, moving silently along a side passage that gave them a full view without being seen. Every instinct told them to intervene, but both understood the advantage of watching first. They observed the French Guild's tactics carefully, gauging their strengths, weaknesses, and how injuries were distributed.

The monster's attacks left deep gashes in the labyrinth floor, with blood smeared across its scales, suggesting that it had already been wounded in previous encounters.

Kai's blood tingled as he wanted to join in on the action, but he kept himself at bay. "Interesting," he whispered under his breath. "They're currently capable, but extremely disorganized. That creature won't last much longer if they can stay coordinated."

Nova nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he studied the fight. The French leader's movements were precise, her wind attack was elegant, but her fatigue was visible. Her breath seemed heavy, and her stance was starting to wear off.

The others had sustained minor injuries, cuts and bruises here and there, forming across their bodies as they exchanged blows with the monster.

After a coordinated push, the French Guild managed to trap the creature against a narrow section of the labyrinth. Wind and fire combined, striking the monster from multiple angles simultaneously.

With a deafening roar and a final thrash of its tail, the monster collapsed, shaking the ground as it fell. The deafening silence followed.

Kai exhaled slowly and turned to Nova. "That's our opening."

Before Nova could respond, they stepped from the shadows. The sudden presence of two observers caused the French members to tense, hands gripping weapons defensively. The leader's eyes narrowed, recognizing the danger instantly.

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