Author: M_W Cancer 

Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

Veronica and the others had eliminated 15 members of the Naughty Elves organization out of the dozens or so that they had found, which honestly speaking, was already considered as a good outcome for them. After all, they weren't the only ones eliminating other teams during that time. 

As a result of that, they have eliminated 12 teams in total. While the other teams had only roughly eliminated one to three teams at most, they, on the other hand, had more or less eliminated half of the required teams to be eliminated in the game of 'Hide and Seek'.

Therefore, everyone cheered loudly in excitement when it was announced at the end.

In spite of that, though, it didn't really come out as much surprising to everyone. If it was any other team, then that would have been next to impossible to achieve. But for them, it is a completely different story since Veronica and the others have basically run all over the entire map of the miniature replica of the Mountain Wall range.

All the remaining participants were given half an hour to prepare for the second game called 'The Maze'. While those eliminated participants left their respective rooms feeling disappointed and disheartened as they have lost the chance to participate in the latter games and possibly win prizes.

After stepping out of the miniature replica of the Mountain Wall range, Veronica and the others quickly went to their respective rooms to rest and catch up with the others.

Leo, Orcborg, Bagley, and Selina also left the command room to Luke and returned to their rooms, as they still need to make some important and further preparations for the second game. During the game and before the game are two totally different things, since the latter would be all about planning for possible situations, while the former would be to execute those plans.

Even though they have the advantage compared to the other teams since they could still communicate with one another during the game, this still doesn't prove that they could take the Emerald Elven Battle Competition lightly and not be serious about it.

Everything is possible to happen before and during the game, so it is of utmost importance to be safe about it than be sorry later. At that time, they absolutely couldn't blame anyone anymore aside from themselves due to their lack of preparation.

While every participant was preparing, Elmont, Tifa, and Tila used this opportunity to brief everyone about the second game 'The Maze', just like the previous time.

"That was such an exciting and thrilling scene we have watched just now from all of our remaining participants! Don't you also agree everyone?" Elmont turned to look at all the people watching from the spectator stands.

Instantly, Elmont received a loud exclamation response of agreement from everyone, making him smile in triumph.

Tifa continued, "For the second game of this year's Emerald Elven Battle Competition, we present to all of you, 'The Maze'!"

Boooom! Booooom! Boooom!

As soon as Tifa's voice died down, the miniature replica of the Mountain Wall range immediately began crashing down, as if there was an earthquake or something similar to that. A huge cloud of dust erupted from the ground, covering everything on the stage.

Whoooosh!

The dust spread out as the shaking and destruction continued erupting, but due to the Magic array of the Victory Arena set up in front of the spectator stands, it came to a halt after hitting a barrier and didn't continue spreading further on.

Everyone sitting on the spectator stands can't help themselves from feeling shocked and thinking that something has gone wrong in the Emerald Elven Battle Competition, especially those people that had long heard rumors about the war against the Naughty Elves organization. Some even stood up from their seats while wearing wary and cautious expressions on their faces, in particular those members of the Naughty Elves organization. 

Fortunately, with a teasing smile on her face, Tila calmed down everyone by saying, "No need to freak out everyone, this is just part of the formation of the next map for the second game 'The Maze',"

Tila's words immediately caused everyone to heave a sigh of relief and calmed down. They soon laid back on their seat while waiting for the cloud of dust to settle down.

From time to time, they could see the same Mages who had built the miniature replica of the Mountain Wall range and had also acted as the Seekers of the game 'Hide and Seek' as they began constructing something under the cover of the cloud of dust.

After tens of minutes, the dozens of Mages left, implying that the construction of the maze is now finished. Despite that, the cloud of dust still didn't settle down.

As if understanding the curiosity of everyone and their desire for an answer, Elmont didn't waste any time as he explained, "No need to worry about the cloud of dust blocking your sight, because it would only settle down as soon as the second game 'The Maze' started,"

Evidently, this was deliberately arranged in order to not let the participants analyze the map of the maze, thus allowing them to easily find the exit. If they allow such a case to indeed happened, then it would completely eliminate the excitement and thrill of this game 'The Maze'.

"The rules and mechanics of the game are fairly simple." Elmont paused as he pointed towards the covered stage, "The same as the first game 'Hide and Seek', the remaining 75 participants would send out three people each from their respective teams to participate in the game 'The Maze',"

Tifa then further explained, "These three people would be sent out in the same location in the map together so that they can cooperate and help each other to easily look for the exit of the maze. Doing this would also avoid them from losing themselves in the maze and getting eliminated in the early stages of the game. No one wants that to happen, right?"

"There are different traps laid out in the maze, which are not limited to instantly killing the participants. So better watch out," Tila continued, she then quickly added, "Likewise, there are also helpful items that could provide the participants some help when they find it,"

"Technically speaking, eliminating other teams would be difficult to do in the maze, since finding other people is going to be a lot challenging compared to the first game of 'Hide and Seek'. But it doesn't necessarily mean as well that it is impossible. I will not hide it from any of you anymore, like the last time in the first game, killing is allowed! This has always been how the previous Emerald Elven Battle Competition has operated, and it would not change nor do we have any reason to do so for this year's Emerald Elven Battle Competition," Elmont informed with the hidden intention of giving an explanation to what Veronica and the others had been doing during the first game 'Hide and Seek'. Hence, hoping to further lessen the Naughty Elves organization's suspicion.

Turning to look at the participant's direction, Elmont asked, "We have pretty much given everyone enough time to prepare already, so please send out your team members on the stage so that we can finally begin the show,"

Inside the room of the Mischievous Lion Guild, Leo nodded his head towards Ahmed, Brad, and Illiad as he said, "It's time,"

"Yes, Guild Leader Loki." Ahmed, Brad, and Illiad nodded their heads in unison before walking out of the room one after another.

Before they could finally leave the room, Cassandra and the others didn't forget to express their encouragement and to remind them to be careful, which the three acknowledged with all of their hearts.

Initially, they were supposed to be sent out in the first game 'Hide and Seek' by Leo. That was because this group was much more weaker than Veronica, Vannessa, and Jessica, or the rest of the team of the Mischievous Lion Guild in general. In this group's composition, only Illiad is a peak 1-Star Mage, while Brad is an intermediate 1-Star Mage only, and lastly, Ahmed being a beginner 1-Star Mage.

However, due to the case of the maze being greatly compatible with their group's composition, Leo decided to put his trust in them and sent them to the second game 'The Maze'. Aside from that reason, he was also fairly confident with Ahmed's capability that he could pull the group to victory, especially considering that he had gone through the Consciousness Labyrinth in the past, just like him.

Although the Consciousness Labyrinth that Ahmed had experienced back then wasn't comparable to Leo's, since it was as if he was merely recollecting the fragments of memories that he had lost due to an accident in his past, it still further strengthened his capability after experiencing all of those. In fact, ever since that day he was released from the Consciousness Labyrinth, he had started working extremely hard. And in just a few month's time, he had finally broken through to the 1-Star level. This was even with Vox greatly causing him more difficulty in his cultivation.

It is far no doubt unimaginable for other Mages in the same level and age as Ahmed to invest the same hard work, dedication, and effort as him in their cultivation. It might even be highly possible for them to give up completely and believe that it would be impossible for them to breakthrough to 1-Stat level in their lifetime, or worst, ultimately kill themselves, especially if they were in the same situation as Ahmed in the past where a few of his fellow villagers were stealing Vox's fruit of labor to help him, thus hindering his progress in cultivation for many years.

Feeling slightly nervous deep inside, Ahmed, Brad, and Illiad slowly walked inside the stage still covered with a cloud of dust.

"Let the game begin!"