The clay golem rushed forward, raising its fist to crush the minotaur, but the latter was clearly quicker. The enormous double-sided battle axe swung through the air, tracing a chilling arc before landing with a heavy thud on the golem's head.

  If it were any other creature, such a powerful strike would most likely split its skull in two, killing it instantly. But the clay golem was different; it was merely a puppet, devoid of life.

  The battle axe sank deep into the golem's head, making a dull thud as if cleaving through solid clay. The minotaur felt no cruel satisfaction of bones snapping and flesh splattering, which only fueled its rage further. With a mighty pull, it withdrew the axe, ready to strike again.

  The clay golem moved slowly, its right fist, raised for attack, happening to block the path of the minotaur's axe. With a lagged sound, the golem's massive fist was cleanly severed at the wrist and fell to the ground.

  "Roar!"

  "Woof!"

  The roars of the minotaur and the golem mingled together. The golem, devoid of life and sensation, wouldn't feel pain from its injury. But that didn't mean it was a heap of clay to be bullied. When created, the clay golem was programmed to enter a frenzy state upon sustaining such heavy damage.

  "Woof! Woof-woof-woof!"

  From its perpetually closed, ugly mud mouth, a muffled growl emerged. The golem's previously sluggish movements suddenly doubled in speed. Its remaining left fist pounded heavily into the minotaur's face.

  The minotaur, never expecting the clumsy golem to suddenly become so swift, had no time to dodge. "Crack!" The sound of bones breaking was followed by the minotaur being knocked backward, its face seemingly distorted.

  "Spit!"

  Not a sign of disdain, but to expel the blood and teeth from its mouth, the minotaur regained its composure and prepared to counterattack. But it saw the golem charging at it like a madman, moving fiercely yet without any skill.

  This minotaur was a seasoned warrior with extensive combat experience. Seeing the golem charge, it sneered and sidestepped, raising its double-sided axe to slash diagonally at the golem's shoulder.

  The axe was both massive and incredibly sharp. If it hit, it would surely sever the golem's arm. Though the golem was lifeless and insensitive, it still had a humanoid form. With one arm already lost, another chopped off would render it harmless.

  Timing was perfect, yet the minotaur failed to land the blow. Its body seemed suddenly burdened by an invisible weight, slowing its movements. Before the axe could descend, the golem was already upon it, crashing into the minotaur and bringing it to the ground.

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  This was no accident; the minotaur had been hit by a spell.

  Leoric hadn't been watching from the sidelines. At the most opportune moment, he unleashed his last powerful spell. A master of the Transformation school, he excelled at altering the states of things, including the ability to suddenly slow a person's movements.

  The golem was no longer underLeoric's control, punching and headbutting whatever was closest to it—in this case, the minotaur. They fought, rolling on the ground, with the minotaur clearly struggling. Its double-sided axe had been dislodged in the melee.

  Fortunately, they were gradually moving away from the platform where the iridescent ring lay.

  Leoric handed his staff to Freya and was about to seize the opportunity to grab the ring. But the minotaur roared, its muscles bulging, its already impressive upper torso swelling even more. With a sweep of its arms, it lifted the golem by the waist.

  Its eyes turned bloodshot, its mouth gaping open, revealing a fleshy tongue as it panted heavily. The golem, suspended in the air, struggled awkwardly, but its arms were too short to reach the minotaur. "Roar!" The minotaur roared again, using all its strength to slam the golem away.

  Leoric was quickly approaching to grab the ring, but suddenly felt a gust of wind. "Watch out!" Freya screamed from behind. As a third-year student, she could only watch from the sidelines, unable to assist much.

  At the last possible moment,Leoric dove to the side, rolling as his back thudded against the wall. Before he could curse, he heard a loud thud, feeling the entire ground tremble as the clay golem was heavily slammed to the earth by the minotaur.

  Before the golem could rise, the minotaur picked up its axe and charged, resembling a Spanish bull seeing a red cloth—which it somewhat did. It roared and swung the axe repeatedly. The clumsy golem, once knocked down, struggled to rise and couldn't defend itself. In the blink of an eye, it was chopped into fragments of clay.

  Dammit, this golem was definitely substandard.

  Leoric cursed in his mind as he watched the murderous minotaur dispatch the golem with a few axe swings, then turn to face him.Leoric felt panicky. In the maze, he had used up most of his prepared spells. Without the golem and facing a frenzied minotaur, fighting was akin to suicide.

  But did he have any other choice?

  The minotaur panted heavily, advancing towardsLeoric.Leoric retreated, gesturing to Freya on the side. The girl nodded and crept forward a few steps. She wasn't planning to sneak attack the minotaur; she was going for the ring.

  As long asLeoric could get the ring, they could win. Defeating the minotaur wasn't necessary.

  The minotaur didn't notice Freya behind it. It looked down on the skinny human in front of it, weighing the axe in its hand, as if calculating how much force it needed to splitLeoric in two.

  Freya had reached the ring, but at the same time,Leoric was cornered by the minotaur.

  With a whoosh, the massive axe sliced through the air.

  At the same instant,Leoric whispered a single word. On his left index finger was a ring, a magical item issued by the school that could store a low-level spell.

  Leoric had stored a Flash spell.

  A blinding white light erupted, causing the minotaur to instinctively close its eyes, slowing its axe's descent.Leoric seized the opportunity, diving to the side and rolling out from under the minotaur's feet.

  Years ago, he trained martial arts under Tian Boguang, failing to master swordsmanship and only achieving mediocre "fist and foot skills". After entering the wizard school, he hadn't practiced anymore, letting it all fade. Except for his lightness skills, which he had honed to perfection, like this rolling escape maneuver.

  Freya reached for the ring, andLeoric hastily got up. "Give it to me!" he said, but the little girl stood frozen.

  Leoric was puzzled. "Give it to me!" he urged, rushing forward.

  Freya shook her head slowly, retreated, and handed the ring to someone.

  Someone who suddenly appeared from the air.

  Kuken.