VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

The small ray within the Little Loach Pendant began to slowly shine brighter, as though it was gradually pushing away the darkness under the black dome of night. The pendant pulsed in Light's hand, a faint glow that resonated with an ancient energy, guiding him through the oppressive maze. He could feel it; the pendant was more alive than ever before, its power intertwined with the chaotic aura of the Shadow Beast.

The starlight was very weak, barely noticeable amidst the dark and twisted labyrinth, but as Light began to move forward, it strengthened. If he strayed too far from the correct path, the glow dimmed, a clear sign he was heading in the wrong direction. Following the guidance of the Little Loach Pendant, Light pressed forward with cautious determination.

Passing through the solid walls of the maze with ease, Light's body flickered like a ghost, seamlessly blending with the shadows. The maze was a treacherous place, but for someone who commanded space magic, its boundaries were insignificant. Moving like this, slipping through stone as if it were air, made it much easier for him to find the elusive Shadow Beast.

However, something strange was happening. "Why is the direction changing all the time?" Light murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as the pendant flickered again, its glow fluctuating erratically. It was as if the Shadow Beast was deliberately misleading him.

Just as he began to question the pendant's guidance, a grey shadow swept past him, quick and silent. The creature moved like the wind, its body barely visible, blending into the darkness. Its form was that of a leopard, sleek and agile, but its tail glowed faintly, illuminating its silhouette in the inky blackness. Light's heart skipped a beat.

The Shadow Beast had broken free of its magical restraints and was now running wild within the maze. It darted through the labyrinth's twisting corridors, barely visible except for the faint light trailing behind it.

Then came a sound. A horrifying, guttural noise that sent a chill down Light's spine.

It was a Dark Beast.

The Black Vatican was here. Somehow, they had summoned their vile creatures to track down the same prey as Light. The stench of corruption and death filled the air, and Light realized immediately why the Shadow Beast was fleeing so desperately—it was being pursued.

"Of course. No wonder the Shadow Beast is running. It's being hunted by those foul creatures." Light's lips curled into a smirk. "It seems that if I follow the Shadow Beast, I'll be able to catch all of them in one stroke."

With that, Light melded into the shadows, using his magic to slip between the walls of the maze. His presence became undetectable, nothing more than a cold breeze in the darkness.

In another part of the maze, a man in grey robes moved silently along the walls. Hui Zhu, a high-ranking member of the Black Vatican, had already located the Shadow Beast. His Dark Beasts slithered through the narrow passages, blocking all possible escape routes. The Shadow Beast, panting and exhausted, had no idea that it was being surrounded.

Hui Zhu waved his hand, signaling his Dark Beasts to advance. They crept forward, their black bodies blending into the shadows, their glowing green eyes locked on the prey. The Shadow Beast, unaware of its imminent demise, rested briefly, catching its breath.

The Shadow Beast finally realized its predicament when it turned around, its golden eyes widening as it saw a group of black-skinned creatures crawling along the walls. Their eyes gleamed with malevolence, and their sharp teeth glistened in the dim light.

"Shit, you blockheads dared to ruin my good moment!" Hui Zhu roared in frustration, his anger directed at the unwelcome group of students who had wandered into the maze. He cursed under his breath, clenching his fists as he realized his perfect trap was in danger of being spoiled.

"Isn't this Senior Li Tong? What a coincidence! Seeing you is great!" A girl with a ponytail beamed innocently at Hui Zhu, completely unaware of the tension in the air. "Did you see those creatures crawling on the walls? They were so scary!"

Hui Zhu barely managed to suppress his fury, forcing a smile as he addressed them. "Oh, so it was you guys… No, you just scared away the Shadow Beast I was about to capture."

The girl with the ponytail blinked and then smiled apologetically. "Senior Li Tong, why don't you team up with us? Our team is just missing one person."

Hui Zhu's mind raced. He knew he couldn't let these idiots ruin everything. He needed to play along for now. "Fine. I'll help you," he said, his voice tight. "But stay close. We don't want to lose the beast again."

Not long after, they found the Shadow Beast once more. The creature was at its limit, too exhausted to run any further. Hui Zhu's lips curled into a twisted grin. "Hahaha, the opportunity to enter the Three Step Pagoda will be ours!"

"Yeah, the Shadow Beast is completely drained," one of the students chimed in, but then he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ugh, what's that smell?"

"I smell it too. It reeks!" another one said, gagging at the foul odor that filled the air.

Hui Zhu smiled coldly, knowing the stench came from his Dark Beasts. As the others pinched their noses in disgust, he stood at the back, his gaze sharp and calculating. The moment was almost here—just a little longer, and the Shadow Beast would be his.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the walls, sharp and urgent, "Be careful!"

Light's voice cut through the shadows like a knife.

"Isn't this the Great Demon?!" one of the students exclaimed in shock, their faces turning pale as they recognized him.

Light stepped forward from the wall, his eyes locked onto Hui Zhu. He had no interest in the others. His target was the man in grey. "So you're the one they call Li Tong?" Light's voice was cold and menacing.

Hui Zhu reacted quickly, his expression hardening. "You think you can steal from us?"

Light didn't respond. His eyes flickered with cold amusement. "You can drop the act now. Take a look at your Dark Beasts."

Hui Zhu's heart skipped a beat. His gaze darted toward his Dark Beasts, only to find that his strongest one had somehow been pinned to the wall, struggling desperately but unable to move.

A cold sweat broke out across Hui Zhu's forehead. How had this happened?

Light's presence was overpowering, his aura crackling with suppressed power. He took a step forward, his hand glowing faintly as the Little Loach Pendant pulsed with energy, guiding him toward the true source of the disturbance.

The Shadow Beast whimpered, caught between two opposing forces, while the students stood frozen, realizing they had stepped into a battle far beyond their comprehension.

In the suffocating tension, the real hunt had just begun.