Void Evolution System

August actually landed on his feet in an open space despite being swallowed by a wall.

What he found was a secret corridor that led him deeper into the maze.

It wasn't infested with a single beast and was actually quite different from the rest of the labyrinth.

The walls were cleaner. It looked like somebody had been working to manage the space for many years.

August didn't have time to admire it all. He dashed through the tight space trying to get as far away from Eris as possible.

If he could vanish from her radar before returning to the maze, then his life would become a lot easier.

'It would be better if I could just use artifacts, but there's no way I'm not being watched right now.'

The entire event was being televised. If a path like this was placed in the labyrinth, it would also be riddled with cameras that let them see what he was doing.

The path continued for quite a long time. There was a steep decline towards the beginning, which must've put August underground. Otherwise, the amount of distance he'd covered was nonsensical.

At the end of the path, it opened up into a small room with two doors on the left and right. Against the back wall was a desk with a book and several stray pieces of paper on it, illuminated by a small flame that rested on a side table nearby.

There was nothing else present. August walked over and looked through the contents of the papers.

Most of them were unintelligible scribbles that didn't mean anything to August, but the diagrams they contained looked interesting.

'Hmm…'

August furrowed his brows.

He turned to the book and flipped through it, trying to see if it could give him anything.

'The same. I can't tell if his handwriting is bad or if it's written in a completely different language.'

Whatever it was, August decided to store the papers and the book in his spatial ring so he could go over them later.

'They might just be a whole bunch of nothing, but if they do end up showing me something magical…'

That was all August could hope for.

Since he was young, he'd loved research. A challenge presented to him like this was welcomed with open arms.

Nevertheless, the room didn't have anything else of note. August tried to see if there was anything in the walls or any other hidden mechanisms that could take him into other hidden corridors.

Unfortunately, his efforts were pointless.

'It's disappointing since this seems like a reward area, but I can keep my hopes up and assume that these pages are the reward…for now.'

It was best for August to return to the labyrinth now that he was a ways away from where he left Eris.

He chose the door on the right side, since that was the one that would give him more of an advantage. M

At least, that was if his position was as he expected it to be, but that was something for him to worry about when he was back.

'Now, as long as I don't run into that crazy woman again…'

August swung the door open.

He was immediately back in the maze. It was probably some kind of spatial magic.

That part was fine.

The real problem was…

"There's actually no way."

BOOM!

August's body abruptly shot back and slammed into the adjacent wall.

Darkness turned into a web that blocked his movements, and a suppressive aura locked onto him, making his mana sluggish.

"Khhh…!"

August gritted his teeth and glared at the woman who had just entered the room.

He really did a good job escaping. He thought he did, at least. He knew that anyone else wouldn't have been able to track him after he disappeared, but as he was learning now, this woman was different.

"You're quite rude."

Eris Noct closed the door behind her and glanced at August.

"Did you truly think you could escape?"

It was a question that was posed more out of curiosity than gloating.

"Imean, yeah. I thinkit'sweirder that you caught me."

Since his fate was sealed anyway, August spoke freely.

"Bold,"Eris replied, a small smile risingup her lips.

"However, I am not as hostile to you as you believe."

Shewasn'tlying. She may haveoriginally approachedhimwith hostile intentions, but now thatshe'dseenhimin action, her intent had changed.

"Boy, how do you feel about working together?"

August'seyes immediately widened.

"What?"

"You heard what I said."

"Yeah, butalso,there'sno way you said what I think I just heard."

"Idid."

August'sexpression became even more stupefied.

"You? Want to team up with me?"

It justdidn'tmake any sense.

But, with Eris nodding to confirm his thoughtsyetagain, he was forced to accept it.

"Why…?"

That was all he could ask.

Aside from theirclearpower differences and the other factors that led to his confusion, August did have a previous perception of Holy Clan geniuses that…wasn'tthe best.

Seeing how he was a commoner, he only expected them to ever discriminate against him. For one to ask for his cooperation was not in his cards.

Eris shrugged as if shecouldn'tunderstand his confusion at all.

"The reason is simple. You have a good brain. I need the help of someone who has a good brain. The others were stupid, but since youactuallyhave worth, I want to form an alliance to challenge the central boss."

Eris was strong enough. She wassmart enough as well, but"smart enough"wasn'tenough for a challenge like this.

So why had she decided tocreate an alliancewith August instead of destroying him?

It was precisely because of how fast he located a trap and activated it to distract her while he ran away. He was even able to create a way out of a situation that she thought was sure to entrap him.

The fact that there were hidden corridors in the wall was something even shedidn'tknow.

That led her to only a single conclusion.

August had a better understanding of the maze than she did, and he wassmarterin exploiting it.

Ina challenge where both brains and brawn were necessary, shecouldn'tjust push through everything alone.

More importantly, the heir warsweren'tjust a stage for individuals to shine.

There were times when geniuses would need to work together. At times becausetheycouldn'tdo things alone, andat timesbecausetheyneeded to show the crowd that they were benevolent or agreeable.

Putting it clearly, Eris had no idea who August was. Shedidn'tbother to learn about her opponents in this round since none of the geniuses on her level were participating.

But, even if she knew he was a commoner, itwasn'tlike she cared.

To enter this stage meant one was leagues aboveone'speers.

Anyone who was here competing had an ounce of her respect.They would only lose it if they proved to herthatthey were never worthy enough to stepfooton this holy stage.

August had done the opposite. He had shown her why he, a mere 3rd class,was able toarrive at a place where nearly everyone was several lengths ahead of him in power.

Matters of who the final winner would be or what came next could be handled later.

Eris had seen the central boss with her own eyes,andshe knew thatshewasn'tenough to defeat it by herself.

Gathering a team was out of the question, but if it was just a single genius who could fill in the places where she was lacking…

Anyone in her positionwould'vemade the same decision.

So, in her opinion,August'sconfusion and surprise werecompletelyunjustified.