Nameless King

'Hmm... How do I start the challenge?'

Wain realized that Spirit hadn't lied about his role, he had to somehow help Erza out of the maze, but he didn't know how to do it.

"Hello." Suddenly a voice came from behind him.

Wain turned around and saw another spirit, but this time white with black eyes and mouth.

"I'm sorry about what happened." The Spirit bowed low, "I was supposed to explain the test to you, and my partner was supposed to follow the maze and the girl below. However, it seems the opportunity to get out of here and into the treasury has turned his head."

"Are you being kept locked in here?"

"It's only part of the Spirit Temple, never mind, I can't talk about it, and you don't need to know. Are you ready to begin the ordeal? I'll be here all the time and help you if necessary."

"Okay, I understand." Wain nodded, "Go."

"Whatever you say."

The Spirit snapped a finger, and a glass table with a crystal sphere in the center appeared before Wain and the walls of darkness restraining Erza disappeared.

"Can you hear me?" Wain said.

"What, Wain? Is that you?" Erza looked around, trying to find him.

"Yes, I'm upstairs, and I can see you. These are the conditions of the challenge. Your job is to go forward, and mine is to help you find your way out, but I don't know everything yet."

"I see." Erza nodded and looked up, "What took you so long? Have you been enjoying my helplessness?"

"You know, it's not much fun watching someone beat the walls. I had some problems I had to solve. Okay, go ahead, we've wasted too much time." Wain said seriously.

"Okay."

Erza turned and walked down one of the four passageways. She walked a few meters, and suddenly the walls began to change, from dark, they turned to stone, worn and sprouting moss, as if in a dungeon.

Bam.

Erza tried to get out and hit the wall with all her might, but not even a crack appeared on it.

"Huh, this girl has quite a temper, but that doesn't make sense. The energy of the Spirit Temple powers this place, and she doesn't have the strength to destroy it." White Spirit said.

"Erza, just go ahead. You've already hurt your hands badly enough."

"Okay, but it's freaking me out!"

Erza took a few turns on Wain's advice and reached the massive steel gate.

"Am I sure it's this way?"

"Yes."

Wain couldn't see where the maze ended because it was too big, but a white star shone on the side of the exit, and he guided Erza there.

"Okay." Erza's fist went up in flames, and she punched a hole in the door in a few strokes and walked on.

She found herself in a spacious room in the center of two altars. On one table was a crystal sphere, and on the other, a magical circle was drawn.

Erza looked around and touched the crystal sphere.

Whoooosh.

A huge, empty chart appeared in front of her.

"What is it?" Erza and Wain asked simultaneously.

"This is the Table of Exchange. Touch the sphere, and you'll understand everything."

Wain nodded, and a table appeared in front of him as well, but it was completely full, and it was as if it had no end.

"Regeneration Potion... Energy Recovery Pills... Protective Barrier Scroll..." Wain read a few lines on the chart.

"If you want, you can help your partner, for example, she could use an ointment or some simple potion. Nothing complicated."

"What do I have to do? Pay?"

"No, your role is not just to guide her. You can make her life easier, but you'll have to try harder. Just pick something. The first time won't be dangerous." White Spirit smiled slyly.

Wain frowned. There were different numbers of stars next to the items on the table, and it stressed him out.

'It's probably a difficulty. Okay, I have to try anyway.' Wain thought and clicked on the one-star potion.

"Hey! What did you do?" Erza exclaimed as a large magic circle appeared on the ground.

"I'm trying to help you."

A massive skeleton with a sturdy shield and a curved sword slowly emerged from the magic circle. The skeleton's eyes glowed white, and he headed toward Erza.

"Bastard! Are you trying to kill me?" Erza screamed in rage.

'Skeleton? What the hell is going on here?' Wain frowned. He didn't understand why Spirit said he was helping Erza, even though she, not him, had to fight.

'All right, the hell with you. Some skeleton can't stop me anyway!" Erza exclaimed and attacked the skeleton.

The monster didn't dodge, and Erza smashed his left arm, his shield flew aside, but the skeleton instantly counterattacked, and the sword came down on Erza's shoulder, it was a direct hit.

"What?" Erza looked puzzled at the sword, which seemed to hover a millimeter above her skin.

Whoooosh.

A small magical circle appeared beneath the blade, and the skeleton jumped aside.

"Argh!" Suddenly Erza heard Wain's painful shriek.

"Wain? What happened?!"

"Nothing much, just kill the asshole." Wain said holding onto the shoulder that was bleeding.

The skeleton didn't miss, but it wasn't Erza who took the damage, it was Wain, that was his role and the price for helping his partner. The more Erza makes mistakes, the more wounds Wain will receive.

"Got it." Erza nodded and blew the skeleton apart with the next blow, and its bones flew apart.

"Yes... I thought it would be a good idea to check the new features and heal your hands simultaneously. Be more careful next time. Your wound passed on to me, and it looks like if the sword had hit your neck, you and I wouldn't be talking..."

Erza looked at the potion, opened it, and drank it.

"Don't think I'm going to thank you!" Erza said proudly, but she failed to hide her slightly flushed cheeks.

"Of course."