Having finally found a safe haven within the depths of hell itself, Inari, Raya, and myself, had all agreed to make the 55th floor our new temporary base of operations after unfortunately discovering what appeared to be a world removed from the labyrinth’s challenges all together. The level was home to simple, basic dairy cows of level 55, which were not hostile in any way towards us. We were able to dispatch them without issue and butcher them for steak, which was essentially comparable to wagyu from my world in terms of quality. Fortunately, not too many of the peaceful bovines needed to perish at our hands, since large cattle can easily feed individuals for months if the entire body is used correctly. Correctly, being the opportune word here, as we were still limited by the 30 minutes respawn timer their bodies obeyed. This unfortunately meant that we could only really utilize... A quarter of the cow at best, as dressing and preparing the various cuts of meat within the allotted timeframe would be a challenge for even the most experienced of carvers. Regardless, all of us were happy having another expansive selection of high-quality meat to choose from, providing a little bit more variety for our meals, though I was starting to miss the crunchiness from a severe lack of vegetables in my diet...
Presently, I was staring out from atop one of the floating rocky landmasses on the floor, admiring the endless stream of water flowing into a simple basin below. The tranquil liquids, for lack of a better word, just “poofed” into existence from a small opening in between some boulders. Even after my best attempts to analyze the floor for magic, or the simple manipulation of mana particles, nothing could explain how this particular level functioned as a system. Water just appeared from nothing, and disappeared into nothing. The simple basin below me wasn’t deep, and, even after some crude exploratory dives, provided no useful information as to how the water was disappearing. Coileene continued to mock me for trying to find some method to explain literal magic, but I was determined!
“Hey Ko.” I heard Inari gently call out to me from behind, breaking me out of my peaceful trance observing the flowing water. “Raya’s just finishing cooking our meal. You’re... Still trying to investigate the water source, aren’t you?”
“Guilty as charged.” I mumbled back, while still diligently staring at the endless supply of water gushing out from behind the rocks. This, shouldn’t be bothering me as much as it is. But, somewhere, I had always assumed that even the most complex of magic systems, could always be broken down into logical elements and rationalized. Every fantasy world I’ve read about, always found a way to link concepts from Earth’s science, into how the world functioned. So, for as cliché and typical as this world seemed, why did mana just... Exist? Like, I could easily understand a hypothetical explanation such as “well, particles phase between different elemental planes, then cross over into this dimension by an adaptation of—”
*Boop!*
Suddenly, my thought process was interrupted by a fox’s paw lightly booping my nose. The assault was unexpected, but forced me to actually pay attention to my friend trying to get my attention.
“Boop! Hehe, come on Ko! I’ll share some of my ideas with you later, but for now, investigations can wait!”
“Thanks Inari, but... Why did you boop my nose?” I said with a slight air on confusion, while lightly rubbing my own nose in contemplation. Inari didn’t say anything immediately after I raised my question, but instead, sat down beside me, while taking out her staff to manipulate some of the flowing water into floating bubbles. Then, after swirling them around us in some circles, popped them, before giving her response.
“It... Just felt like you needed that. Come on! Our foods going to get cold at this rate.” At the end of her simple response, Inari grabbed my hand with one of her paws, then helped me onto my feet, before calmly walking towards the edge of the floating island. Not wanting to keep her waiting, I quickly joined beside her, but not before sharing some of my thoughts still lingering in my mind about our situation.
“Inari... Do you regret, being an adventurer with me? Lately, I feel like I’ve been nothing but a failure for our party. My actions got us into this mess, and... Everyone just seems to follow my ideas, even when I’m not entirely sure of them myself. I don’t even know if we will survive, and yet...”
I paused briefly, since I also didn’t entirely know where I was going with my own rambling at this point. Everything since coming to Terra has felt like a game, or a generic isekai novel of sorts. My actions had consequences to the people living in this world, and because it felt like everything was a cliché story, I didn’t think anything could possibly go wrong for me. Yet here we were, stuck inside a labyrinth, with a god sharing my body, unsure if we can even find a way back to the surface.
While I was still lost in thought, I felt Inari grab my hand, lightly squeezing it in the process, before gently tugging it towards her. Following her motion, I found myself staring into her eyes, to which she smiled, before drifting her gaze towards our hands still locked together. A tranquil silence somehow found its way between us, as water continued flowing off the ledge, landing in the pool next to where Raya was just finishing grilling our steaks. Then, as the pause continued to grow, Inari finally responded to me in a somber, yet reassuring tone.
“No. I don’t regret meeting you Ko... I, also don’t regret becoming an adventurer with you. You’ve... I’ve...
...
When I found out you were from another world, I was absolutely ecstatic. Words can’t begin to describe how I felt after meeting you in the Eldermyst forest. You were some weird, interesting abnormality that validated several unconfirmed theories from my magical studies. I love learning, and, while I have some... Weird circumstances...
...
No.
It’s... Hard to put my feelings into words, but please, don’t feel like you’re a burden, or that you’ve caused nothing but problems for me. My life has been... Unique, but I don’t regret the choices I’ve made, which includes being in a party with you. You’re one of the only people I feel I can truly be myself around. I’ve... I’ve had to live most of my life under an illusion, or, what feels like one, yet, when I’m with you, I’m not thinking about what the world thinks I should be. I can just... Be me. You treat me like I’m another person, and not some repulsive beastkin, or an animal that can “speak”. You’re always interested in learning, and, like me, love coming up with strategies for any situation we may find ourselves in. I love how you always challenge me to continue growing, to deepen my understanding of magic, and to always have fun while doing it. I feel like you’re always there for me, and... When I thought I lost you in our battle against the minotaur...
...
You’re important to me, Ko. So please, don’t feel like you’re a failure, because to me, you’ve helped me in more ways than you could ever realize. Even if we are currently trapped in the labyrinth below Solara.”
Inari’s words left me speechless. I... Wasn’t even sure what I could possibly say in response to her feelings. It honestly felt like I’ve caused nothing but problems since coming to Terra, or rather, problems seem to find me easily, and yet...
...
“Thank you, Inari. That... Means a lot to me.” I said while softly bringing her closer for a hug, resting my hand along her back. The warmth from her body was comforting, and the softness of her fur made me forget about my earlier doubts as it lightly brushed against my face. I was slightly nervous about my actions, but she thankfully accepted my embrace, loosening her grip around our clasped hands, as she too, returned the simple pressure I was providing in kind. Her tail also appeared to be happily wagging about, bringing a soft smile to my face as I continued watching it bounce around. “I... Think we both needed this.” I somehow managed to articulate, holding her even tighter in my arms.
“Agreed, Ko. We’re partners after all, right? I’m here for you, just like you’re here for me. And, while being adventurers might not always be filled with happiness and perfect moments, as long as we continue to trust each other, I’m happy being in a party with you.”
After listening to Inari, I continued to gently hold her tight, before eventually ending our comforting embrace. Both of us, just continued to stare into each other’s eyes, smiling, while the relaxing stream beside us, gleefully flowed off the ledge, providing a tranquil ambience to our shared silence. While I’ve noticed it before, staring into her emerald eyes always found a way to bring a warmth over my heart. It was easy to lose myself in them, and, right now, they were the most beautiful thing I could imagine. Perhaps, Inari is more than just a friend to me. And, thinking about her more and more, made me realize she’s someone precious, someone, that I don’t ever want to lose.
“Ko... I...” Inari’s voice softly filled my ears in a breathy tone I wasn’t used to hearing from her. My heart was racing within my chest, and I noticed my hand was unconsciously resting behind her neck, with my fingers deep within her fur. She was amazingly soft to the touch, and, while I was anxious about my actions, noticed that she too, was also resting her paws around my neck, carefully holding me close as well. Then, Inari closed her eyes, as she slowly brought her face closer to mine. I closed my eyes as well, as I felt her tail lightly brush against my hand, while she continued her earlier words to me in an even gentler tone. “I... Lov—”
“Oi!! What are you two doing up there?!? Come on! Foods ready!! I think I’ve done a great job this time! These steaks, look, perfect!”
Interrupting our moment, Raya’s voice from below loudly echoed throughout the cavern, causing both of us to jump in surprise from the sudden sound. We were still awkwardly close to one another, and I could only imagine how flushed my face looked right now to the fox I was still continuing to hold. Then, playfully realizing we should probably be joining Raya below, Inari smiled warmly at me, before lightly flicking my face with her tail. “Hehe, I’ll just have to tell you another time, Ko.” She said, before gracefully jumping from the ledge, catching herself with a carefully calculated barrier spell near the bottom.
[Ha! The look on your face Ko... You really are an easy male to tease, aren’t you?]
Coileene’s voice mockingly filled my head, as I had the frightening realization, she was also well aware of what almost happened between Inari and I... Well, it’s not like I regret anything that almost happened. But still, all things considered, it felt right, and I wasn’t going to let some goddess rui—
[Oh fine. Enough with your senseless monologuing, Ko. The commander has diligently made us a wonderful meal, and those steaks aren’t going to eat themselves. As painful as it is to admit, I’ve grown to enjoy the charred, burnt texture this “cooking” provides in a meal. Thus, I command you at once to fill your stomach with sustenance.]
Really now, as a goddess, you’ve never eaten cooked food before? I find that hard to believe...
[Regardless, I desire steak, so move!]
*Sigh*
Not wanting to annoy Coileene further, and, with Inari still on my mind, I leapt from the ledge as well, following the falling water, before breaking my descent with a powerful gust of wind. Everyone was already around the makeshift camp, and when I landed, Coileene decided to materialize herself around it as well, devilishly grinning at me in the process. I was truthfully worried about what mischief she was looking to cause, since she seated herself next to Raya, but I would just have to deal with... Whatever it was.
Looking at the meat Raya had just plated for me, I had to admit, she did an amazing job frying the wagyu this time around. The end product was a beautiful medium-rare, with a perfect crossed sear to feed the eyes, while the marbled fats melted within my mouth to create a wonderful harmony of succulent flavours. My teeth and tastebuds happily enjoyed the riveting meal, which could have only been made better with some simple roast vegetables. While we were all enjoying our food, Raya asked Inari and I what we were talking about on the floating island, after some encouraging pokes and prods from the serpent beside her. Both of us didn’t help when answering her simple question, due to our... Awkward and conflicting responses. Coileene’s snickering didn’t help the situation either, which caused Inari to begin fidgeting with her paws while biting her lip. Wanting to quickly change the topic of conversation, I ended up hastily suggesting we review the information we had learned about the later floors, which Raya thankfully agreed to.
During our stay on floor 55, we had already cleared the next two floors without issue, and finally managed to reach level 61 across the party. While floor 58 was still unexplored on our end, we continued to build our food supply while finalizing our plans going forward. After this meal, we were going to continue delving deeper, with the hopes the end of the labyrinth was near. Coileene was kind enough to inform us we were really close to her fragment of power, though she couldn’t give us an exact depth, it wasn’t much further in her opinion. I did try to confirm what her “opinion” meant in terms of a depth, since gods and mortals would clearly have different perspectives, but she unfortunately never clarified her answer...
[Spoilers Ko! It would be spoilers if I revealed that information. You need to use the correct word!!!]
...
Regardless, all of us felt confident we could continue deeper today. We imagined there was the potential for another safe floor, and, with how easily the challenges had become, had a little more confidence in our capabilities as a group. Thus, finishing up our delicious meals, and putting our supplies away into our spatial storage spells, we formally set off towards the deeper levels.
After entering the 56th floor, we easily dispatched the kobold commanders and assault squads sent our way. The theory that each floor seemed to pose a consistent challenge appeared to be holding rather well, as the kobolds always attacked us from the right tunnel, then the left, then the centre. Basic offensive magic was more then enough to eliminate them as they approached, while barriers deflected their arrows coated in star frog poison. Finally, once the commander would enter the fray, we simply lured it into our own pitfall trap masked with an illusion spell before dispatching it.
For floor 57, the wolves present were rather interesting. They were apparently named “Psychic Wolves” according to appraisal, and there were no known records of their existence either in Inari’s adventuring journal. They attacked in well coordinated packs, with some staying in the rear to cast basic healing and elemental spells towards our group. I was slightly surprised when I learned they could manipulate light mana particles though, since no other monsters had shown any affinity for this particular spell school before this encounter. After playing careful defense, the wolves were easily toppled once their supporting backline faltered from our own ranged counter attacks.
As we continued past the recently defeated wolves, traveling down the spiraling staircase towards the 58th floor, we were thankfully met with what appeared to be a simple, open floor with ogres and their respective variants. The terrain was as basic as basic could be, being only simple dirt, and the ogres themselves appeared to be led by “Ogre Commanders” of levels 58 or 59. Ogre mages, archers, and fighters completed the mix, and I even laughed slightly when I observed an ogre “thief” attempting to sneak up on our group from behind. The cause of my amusement, was that their version of “stealth” apparently involved holding a large bush in front of their face, implying that if it couldn’t see us, then we, couldn’t see it. Unfortunately, my flaming spear spell aimed straight through its skull bagged to differ, as we easily cleared the floor in full.
On floor 59, we came across marbled golems, which were thankfully not hostile. The behaviour seemed similar to the ones we encountered on the 9th floor with the mud golems, so we were careful to keep our distance from them, and passed by without issue. We did attack one near the exit though, just so we could observe and document its attack patterns, just in case they appeared as a summoned monster later. Of additional note, was the floor only contained marble golems. No other variants of the species were present, which was odd, but we didn’t think too much about it. However, once we reached floor 60, things started to get more complicated.
Flying around near the ceiling in erratic patterns, was a large bat-like creature, sharing many features often associated with wyverns, such as scales, two legs with razor talons, and a reptilian head containing a scrunched-up bat-like snout. Brilliant blue and gray fur also covered the torso of the creature, as it happily continued flying laps around the larger than usual room, oblivious to our observance of its behaviour and status values. Additionally, no other creatures appeared to be present on the floor, as we could only detect the singular mana signature for the creature apparently named a “Desmovyern”. I didn’t notice any additional runic lettering indicating this was a boss floor, but we also couldn’t eliminate the possibility these deeper levels wouldn’t inform us of such an upcoming challenge.
“Of all the creatures on Terra...” Raya softly mumbled, as she diligently watched the desmovyern peacefully land on a nearby rocky outcrop. “That’s... No... It... Valoria speaks of such a creature in their ancient texts, but it was all believed by our scholars to be an exaggeration, or a myth.”
“You, know something about that creature?” I curiously replied the commander’s stern words, mixed with disbelief and unease. “Unfortunately, yes. Solara’s history with Valoria has been rocky during the best of times, and it was said eons ago, a colossal creature with the fur of a wolf, and the head of a wyvern, single handedly razed Valoria, before their god, Perfectus, descended from the heavens to save them in their time of need. It was called “The Grey Calamity”, and defined their origin as a kingdom built around “The Perfect Faith”.”
“And, you believe this creature matches these historical texts?”
“Almost certainly. Solara has always kept careful records of any potential calamity type monsters. If only I could show you the images, they are frighteningly accurate in their depiction.”
“The commander’s correct, Ko. That creature, while not the same, is in fact the being which destroyed that pitiful kingdom... 104,293 years ago, according to your mortal calculations of time.”
Materializing from my shield, Coileene happily confirmed Raya’s words of caution, while providing helpful contextual information about the creature before us. Apparently, it was a being capable of utilizing all elemental magic, along with ethereal particles, while also possessing unbridled strength.
“However, it is no match for the strength we currently possess. You have the most powerful god on Terra by your side. And, it would look rather bad on my part should you fall to such a lesser creature like a desmovyern.”
Coileene’s words were filled with confidence and arrogance, as she lightly followed the being’s movements with her fingers. The desmovyern appeared to be calmly grooming itself, unaware of the god beside us, when suddenly.
*SHRIEEK!!*
The creature let out a blood curdling shriek, as it gripped its chest in what looked like excruciating pain, before crudely toppling over from its perch, plummeting into the ground below. A modest cloud of dust blanketed the floor from the creature’s impact, as I brought my gaze towards Coileene, who was happily cackling with her fist tightly clasped in front of her. Checking my radar for enemy mana signatures, the desmovyern’s presence was now absent, as the serpent hissed and licked her lips in satisfaction of her actions. “Consider it... Reparations for my earlier behaviour, Ko. Now come, we are close, and I desire my fragment sooner, rather than later.”
“What the heck did you do to it, Coileene?” I eventually managed to ask her, as the goddess happily returned herself to her home inside my shield. “I simply crushed its core. I don’t know why I felt the urge to do so, but one look at that creature, and my heart was set ablaze, screaming to tear its life asunder. Speaking of, you’re welcome, by the way.”
Looking at Raya and Inari, both of them were shocked at how easily such a creature fell to the hands of the god living inside me. Inari was already in the process of sketching the creature in her journal, along with marking all of its unique capabilities, but nearly drop her pencil when its death bellow startled us. “So, I take it you’re willing to do more with regards to helping us in combat then?” I said with a heavy sigh. “On the contrary. I’ve already been more than enough for aid, as far as the divine would go. But... Perhaps if you were to grovel before me, I might just consider it.”
“Pft. As if.” I angrily retorted. Seriously, I don’t think I’ll ever understand—"
[My intentions? Naturally. Now move.]
Rolling my eyes, I motioned for the others to follow me, as I carefully stepped onto the floor, half expecting something unexpected to happen. Fortunately, Coileene really did eliminate the only threat on the floor, leaving me somewhat disappointed we couldn’t learn about its capabilities ourselves. Taking out a calamity from this world’s history would have been a pretty nifty bragging right, but it appeared we would be denied that triumph, for now. Regardless, we cautiously entered the stairwell and began our descent towards floor 61.
Thankfully, since we were about to start a new floor multiple of 10, that meant we were potentially up against goblins again, assuming the labyrinth continued to follow the usual monster spawning patterns. After finally reaching the bottom of another excessively long staircase, all of us took a short break on the landing, while we peered into the open floor to examine our next challenge. Dead ahead, was a similar composition of goblins to the ones on floor 51, but this time, no basic goblins were present. Each of the creatures were level 61, so we decided to utilize the same strategy from earlier, which worked perfectly.
Covered in a shimmering vale of light, we all skulked around the room, eliminating the hobgoblins with stealth, and replacing them with image replicas. Then, after all of the basic minions were eliminated, easily dispatched the goblin shamans and kings that still remained. We did, for consistencies sake, loot the wooden crates which happened to be in the same spots as the 51st floor, but only took the sun melons, as we had more than enough meat in our spatial storage spells.
Next, on floor 62, it was remarkably similar to 52, in that greater liches were present, patrolling the parameter, but no skeletons existed for detectable mana signatures. We easily dealt with this floor using the amplified purify disk combo, then swiftly carried on. Floor 63 was slightly more challenging, but still easily managed by us. It thankfully didn’t contain any spiders, but instead, was only filled with giant praying mantis-like creatures. Their arms were like scythes, and they exhibited an impressive display of agility in their maneuvering. Each slash from one of the mantises brought a flash and crack of lighting with each strike, sending thundering shockwaves throughout the ground on impact. As such, we utilized plenty of fire and terrain modification spells to limit their excessive mobility and eventually emerge victorious. That said, as remarkable as our recent progress had been, leaving the 55th floor only a few hours ago, all of the pleasantries that were afforded to us quickly vanished once we reached level 64.
This level, much like the slime puzzle room on 54, was also a puzzle of sorts. However, while it was once again a simple problem with a simple solution, all of us, felt an eeriness gripping our chests when we formally entered the floor.
The room, was already solved.
Making matters worse, to the already aptly solved orb placing problem, was the fact the slimes within the room, were already dead as well. The gelatinous blobs, lay scattered around the floor in messy, goopy puddles, with their central cores efficiently shattered and broken nearby. From a mana signature perspective, the signatures were still quite strong, indicating that they were very recently killed. Glancing at Inari, she was able to confirm an approximate time of death to be only 1 minute ago.
“Shit...” I lightly cursed under my breath at the scene before me. Someone, or something, was potentially down here with us, and it possessed the intelligence to place square pegs, in square holes. “These slimes... Couldn’t have killed each other... Right?” I jokingly floated the idea to the group, to which Inari and Raya shook their heads in the negative. Examining the bodies, each of their cores contained trace particles of an opposing element, or, a precise slash rending the core into clean halves.
*Schroon*
Jumping back, I noticed Raya quickly erected a barrier around us, to which I reflexively drew my sword and entered a combative stance. I wasn’t detecting anything on my radar, but perhaps it was something currently masking its presence. Quickly, I began scanning the vicinity with my eyes, but failed to locate anything abnormal. “Apologies Ko, but I felt a sharp pressure aimed towards us and activated a barrier in response. I... Also thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye and wanted to be safe.”
Raya’s words were filled with a serious and determined expression. She had many years of combat experience, and if her instincts were telling her to be on guard, I wasn’t going to doubt her. “No, that was the correct decision Raya.” Inari confidently added to the commander’s words, while also collecting mana particles around her paws to launch spells at a moment’s notice. “I briefly felt a disturbance in the mana particles near the floor’s exit, then heard something quickly fleeing after you formed the barrier.”
“Coileene, care to offer your insights on our... Mysterious guest?”
Strangely, the serpent was being ominously silent when I asked her for any kind of input, only worsening my anxiety about the situation. Based on what we just observed, we’re potentially trapped down here, with something else that could move between levels. Inari and I had clearly determined monsters couldn’t pass through the floor barriers of their own free will, so was it really a monster? Or something far, far worse?
...
“Everyone, I... Think we should return to the 55th floor. I’m getting a bad feeling about this an—”
“Oh please, you pathetic excuse for a mortal. I tried to give you an opportunity to grow beyond your excessive caution, and yet you still chose to retreat when faced with an unfamiliar situation. Clearly you haven’t been listening to my advice about balance in your actions...”
Unamused at my decision to retreat to evaluate the new information that something else appeared to be down her with us, Coileene appeared beside us, while staring towards the floor’s exit with a sour tone. “Fortunately, Raya’s barrier scared it off, but don’t be fooled, you will surely encounter it again should you continue deeper.”
“And? You still haven’t told us exactly what that thing was.” I mumbled while tightly clenching my fists. “Why should I? You haven’t exactly been... Reciprocating of my advice, have you, Ko?”
...
“Look, if you’re really concerned about that inferior being, don’t be. Your group can more than easily best it in battle. It fled the moment your “knight” activated a basic barrier spell, since it was concerned for its own, insignificant survival.”
Still annoyed at her attitude, I eventually sheathed my weapons before asking Inari and Raya for their input as well. Both of them seemed willing to continue our expedition, so I decided to place my trust in them and press forward. As we reached the end of the floor, the already solved stone wall did contain a slot for the thunder element, which was filled with a faintly pulsing yellow glow. However, just before entering the stairwell, I saw a similar set of runic letters reading we were about to challenge a boss floor.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
All of us, quickly shared glances with one another. Floor 65, was clearly going to be a struggle, and I could only imagine whatever boss we were about to encounter, might have possibly been the mysterious creature which solved the slime puzzle room. A minotaur was fitting, as it could easily move the orbs with its hands or magic capabilities, and I’m sure if it was enhanced by the labyrinth’s magic, could possess enough intellect to solve such a simple puzzle as well. Walking down the stairs, I felt Inari tightly gripping my armor. The traumatic events of my death were still fresh in our minds, but, having already conquered a potentially similar boss, I wasn’t about to make the same mistakes again. That was, until we actually entered the floor proper.
“It’s... Already cleared...?” Inari quietly mumbled as we all entered the floor in astonishment. The layout was an exact copy of the 15th floor, and, by the looks of things, had already undergone the transformation sequence as well. “Translocation!! We’re... We’re saved!!!” Raya excitedly exclaimed, before quickly dashing towards the marble alter in the middle of the room. If... If this is exactly like the shortcut we unlocked on level 15, then, we might finally be free from this hell of a labyrinth!
Joining Raya, Inari and I also broke into a sprint across the floor, where we eventually joined the commander between the stone columns. Unfortunately, or hopes were brutally crushed when we saw the pair of pink disks that transported us earlier, cracked. “They’re... Broken.” Clamored Raya as she slammed her gauntlet into the nearby pedestal. “Our... Our way back...”
My chest ached at the commander’s words, while I continued looking over the scene before me. The pristine marble altar had clearly seen better days, as most of the stone had several obvious chips missing along their columns. Some even contained cruel gashes and claw marks throughout their sturdy exterior, indicating potential signs of a battle long past. A few of the pillars also appeared to be toppled, along with moss, or what was simple vegetation growing across them as—
“This... This isn’t recent.” I quietly mumbled to myself, as more and more of the floor’s environment, was leading me to believe this room had already been cleared a long time ago. “What do you mean, Ko?” Raya snapped her response to me in an aggressive tone after processing my comments. “The pillars are cracked, there’s moss growing along their base, and... It looks like thick layers of dust are present as well. If... We assume this floor transformed just like the one from level 15... Then this is indicating whatever happened, occurred a long time ago.”
Looking at Inari, she also appeared to be examining our surroundings in greater detail, focusing on the pink disks and scanning the environment with magic instead. “I... I think Ko’s right, Raya.” She said, turning a piece of rock around in her paws, while a calm blue light filled the stone from within. “The alter that appeared when we beat the boss on floor 15 was startling new, and yet, these columns appear to have been present for enough time to erode and support basic plant life. Also, these disks, they appear to have been purposefully destroyed. There are claw and... Potentially fang marks embedded within the outer layer of the glass.”
Picking up on her comments regarding claw marks, it was then I noticed, scattered off to the side, were what looked like bones from large bovines, picked clean. Carefully walking towards one of the remains, I could see freshly stained blood adorning the dirt, and several pieces of the skeleton missing as well. “Hey guys... I think you should take a look at this.” I called out to my group, who quickly turned to join me by my discovery. In what looked like they were hastily thrown into a corner, were the cleaned remains for... Who knows how many cows. “We... We haven’t observed what happens on the 15th floor yet, but, these remains look really fresh. Would... Could the labyrinth perhaps be spawning cows on the checkpoint as well?”
Inari and Raya both looked at me with concern at my comments. We had been expecting dairy cattle with stronger variants, but never actually came across them, other than the minotaur boss. If these checkpoints started spawning monsters after they were cleared... Could these respawns have destroyed the altar? “Damn it.” I scoffed after kicking some nearby rubble with my feet. “Too many questions, and not enough information. Trying to extrapolate anything is dangerous without concrete facts.”
“Well, we could always wait here for... 15 more minutes.” Inari softly replied to the group after finishing her own scanning. “Their signatures match those of the cows from level 55, and, based on the degradation, they will probably respawn if we wait that long.”
“But what about that mysterious creature?” Raya calmly added to the fox’s comments. “If there is something down here with us, and it can move between levels. Wouldn’t it make sense, this floor is a valuable source of food for it?”
My eyes widened at the startling connection Raya made about this entire situation. I liked the hypothesis she had just proposed, but hated the implications if what she said was real. Thinking about it more, it did make sense that if some creature managed to develop the ability to travel between the levels, they would probably do exactly what we’ve been doing, make a “nest”, then hunt from known food sources to survive. Wanting to change the subject, I returned my gaze to the cracked disk-like orbs near the centre of the altar. While I didn’t know how they worked, I did know someone that might.
“Coileene, is it possible to repair these transportation orbs? If... We can somehow—”
“And why would I do that, Ko?” The serpent said as she suddenly appeared resting against one of the marble columns, while carefully examining her excessive nails. “While I am more than capable of repairing such a... Basic artifact, doing such would go against my very reason for saving your pitiful existence in the first place.”
“Your fragment...” I softly uttered, while the goddess calmly walked towards me with her arms confidently crossed across her well-endowed chest, before stopping uncomfortably close to my face, lining up her chained and bound eye with my own. “Preeeeeciously.” Came her simple response, as her tongue continued to flick around from her rolled response. “You seriously doubt we wouldn’t come back after returning to the surface?” I somehow managed to respond while doing my best to ignore her flirtatious nature.
Unamused, Coileene cupped my face in her right hand, before giving her response in a sharp and bone-chilling tone. “I simply have no compelling reason to, especially since what I desire is... So... Close...”
Fed up with her attitude, I smacked the goddesses’ hand away from delicately holding my face, before heading towards the next set of stairs. Coileene’s actions were really starting to get on my nerves, and it was clear we only had one option for our survival. I hated the fact my fate was bound to such an unreasonable god, and the only person I could blame, was myself for dying in the first place. If only I was stronger, then perhaps...
...
“Come on, lets go. We’ll eventually have to confront... Whatever it is down here, and this “god” is more than adamant we won’t be able to leave until she gets her powers back.” My words were filled with frustration, and I could only imagine the annoyance amongst Inari and Raya as well, when they learned Coileene could have easily freed us from this hell, but chose not to as it went against her own goals and desires.
[Am I really in the wrong for prioritizing myself, Ko?]
...
No, I hate the fact that you’re right, Coileene. You’ve been trapped in this prison for far longer than I could ever possibly comprehend. But your methods... Surely you would understand how we—
[I have no need to understand or consider your feelings. You will do what you must, because your survival, depends on it.]
And that’s exactly the problem. Just... Leave me alone. I’m done talking with you for now.
At the conclusion of my inner thoughts, my mind became filled with the sound of snakes hissing in annoyance at my wishes, before gradually fading into nothing. I had other problems to contend with, and continuing to get angry at a god wasn’t going to help me in the slightest. To think I was even beginning to feel Coileene possessed some level of empathy...
...
My footsteps continued echoing throughout the floor in defiance as I eventually made it to the next stairwell. Entering without hesitation, I could hear Inari and Raya jogging to catch up to my pace, as I continued down the spiraling set of stairs in anger. Little light accompanied my descent, but I was able to catch glimpses of etchings which appeared recent alone the walls and stone slabs for stairs. The labyrinth was known to repair any damage it received after roughly 30 minutes of sustaining the wound, so these “marks” were probably from... Whatever creature was here with us. It clearly felt like I was walking into a trap, and the back of my mind kept alerting me to the feeling of eyes scrutinizing my presence. Shadows appeared to bend and twist around corners, and I was almost certain I was being watched meticulously with my actions.
“If I’m right... Then we might just see some kobolds respawning.” I quietly mumbled, mentally preparing myself for another floor already cleared in advance. If we truly caused some monster to retreat, and the slimes were only just killed when we arrived, this floor might just have kobolds ready to respawn at a moment’s notice due to our travel time. “Ko!! Wait!!” I paused after hearing Inari frantically call out to me, still several paces behind on the stairs. I had already reached the landing, and decided to wait for them to catch up. I was still incredibly angry, and as a result, not thinking like I usually would in dangerous situations. But, if Coileene said we could handle this creature without issue, who was I to doubt an arrogant, all-knowing god.
Wait... Didn’t she say to not blindly believe everything we hear, even if it’s from the divine? Am I... Should I...
...
Slightly out of breath, I heard Inari let out an exasperated sigh as she finally reached the landing with me. Raya was close behind, also looking peeved, to which I quickly realized why in her agitated response to me. “What the hell is your problem Ko? I know you’re frustrated, but you’re not acting like yourself. Anger can wait, but we need to stay focused. If something really is down here, then we need to stick together.”
Raya’s words stung, as I brought my gaze towards the gravel underneath my boots. Was this really who I was? Someone who would get agitated at the slightest blight from an arrogant know-it-all? No, I’ve... I’m better than this... So why am I...
...
“I’m sorry Raya. I... I feel like...”
...
“Believe me, I’m... Also annoyed at Coileene’s behaviour, but... While it’s easier said than done, don’t let her antics get the better of you. I misjudged you from when we first met, and I know you’re better than this. After all, it was your words that helped me when we first became trapped here, so don’t lose sight of your own goals and desires, just because some “god” seems keen on trampling them every step of the way. To throw it back at you, this isn’t the Ko that believed in our survival, the hero that defeated the minotaur, and made it possible to thrive in hell, despite our perilous situation.”
Still staring at the ground, I jumped slightly, as the knight’s gauntlets lightly bumped my left shoulder in a friendly gesture on comradery. “You’re right Raya, it’s just—”
“No justs about it. We’re a team, and I know you’re better than this. I’ve seen it.”
“Thanks Raya... It’s just... You tell someone they’re a failure enough times, and they start to believe it themselves. As you’ve probably already figured, Coileene can speak directly to me in my mind, and... Well, you can probably guess how most of those conversations have gone.” I did my best to respond to Raya’s words of encouragement, despite my own shortcomings as the apparent leader of our group. “It’s really that obvious when I’m not myself, isn’t it?” I lightly said with a deep sigh aimed towards the ground.
Recollecting my thoughts, I shot both Inari and Raya a faint smile, before indicating we should continue into the room of... Presumably defeated kobolds. We would eventually have to contend with whatever creature was hunting here, and if it had already cleared the way forward, we might as well take advantage of its “generosity”.
Entering the room, I unsheathed my sword while priming mana particles around my free hand for a basic flaming spear spell. Inari had already done the same with typeless particles for barrier spells while applying a slew of buffs, and Raya was already covering our rear as we cautiously continued through the winding tunnels. There were obvious signs of battle along the walls, with large portions of the caverns missing as we passed through without issue. Eventually we came across some defeated kobold corpses, with the remains largely intact. Clean eliminations with gaping holes through their chests, or decapitations from precise slashes. Whatever creature was doing this, clearly didn’t see kobolds as a meal, and just simply eliminated them as they appeared.
*Pooft*
While I was staring at one of the bodies, it suddenly burst into a brilliant array of blue and white light, before vanishing all together. “They’re respawning.” I muttered, as the cavern tunnels began to shake and shed their exterior walls in an effort to repair themselves as well. The coarse sound of stone grinding against stone filled my ears as the holes and claw marks gradually began transforming into a pristine, rocky condition.
*RAH!!*
Hearing the sounds of claws frantically scampering behind us, we all quickly picked up the pace in pursuit towards the floor’s exit. Banking around the corner, a warning triangle briefly alerted me to an incoming projectile aimed towards my head. Twisting my body just in time, I managed to avoid the fatal shot, as Raya quickly erected an earthen wall to block off the open corridor from our assailant. Claws were still smashing against the hard floor, but we were almost at the staircase. As we fled, Inari continued placing barriers behind us with unstable earth spells, which were thankfully slowing down the group chasing us. Finally reaching the end, we all leapt through the shimmering barrier “blocking” the stairs, as I turned around to face the kobolds continuing to charge at us.
I could clearly see the rage across their scaly faces, with their red hides complimenting the hot air leaving their mouths as they continued charging towards the staircase. Confident I would be safe, I recklessly raised my right hand, gathering even more mana for my signature spell, as the kobolds finally reached the entranceway, before abruptly stopping mere feet away from me. The largest kobold, was apparently a “Kobold General”, and fit every definition of the word I could imagine. They wore impressive heavy plate armor, which did little in restricting their aggressive movements, while wielding a standard sword and shield combo. Locking with my eyes, the general quickly approached me, placing its snout right against the barrier, without crossing over the invisible field. I could feel the fury from its breath as it continued to puff warm air across my face in anger. Yet, like all the monsters before it, the being simply respected the boundaries of the floor, staring at me, as I continued charging my spell further. It made no attempts to smash through the invisible field separating us, or take any other actions, as I finished gathering the remaining particles for my upcoming spell.
“You really are just a monster. Something that can only follow the rules laid out by this labyrinth. A program, with no original thoughts of its own. Aren’t you?” I aggressively stated towards the reptilian creature, which still held no sense of self preservation in front of me. Finally, after checking I had successfully marked each of the kobolds cluttered around the exit, I released my flaming spear spell through each of their skulls for a clean, efficient kill. Satisfied after letting off some steam, I turned around to join Inari and Raya, then proceeded to head towards the 67th floor.
“Ko, I’m... Getting a bad feeling about this next floor.” Inari quietly muttered to the group as we continued descending further down the stairs. There were obvious claw marks along the steps, and, when we reached the landing, our nostrils were viciously assaulted with the pungent scent of fur and dander. An uneasiness gripped my throat, since this level would be home to wolves of some sort. They would have already respawned by this point, but the musky air really was a whole other experience.
Carefully, we peered into the open planes, scrutinizing ever detail for signs of, whatever variants of wolves could exist here. The level was mostly open, with hills, rocky cliffs, and caverns spread throughout. Several rivers completed the scene, and I was instantly reminded of how a typical mountainous forest would look straight out of a fantasy novel. While there was a severe lack of trees, the winding canyons with a larger than expected ceiling made for an interesting terrain combination. Admiring the scenery, all of us continued scanning the vicinity with our magic for any enemy signatures, but nothing was present, a stark contrast to all of the earlier levels we had come across. Even the psychic wolves could easily be detected by us before we entered the 57th level, but this floor, was frighteningly empty from our observations.
“Let’s reapply our buffs, and keep defensive magic primed and ready.” I confirmed to Inari and Raya, who both nodded in agreeance. “It... Feels like we’re being watched.” Inari hesitantly stated, as her ears twitched lightly. “Something’s moving in there, but I can’t detect them with my magic, only my ears.”
“Got it, if it feels like the shadows are watching us, I wouldn’t be surprised if these wolves are a variant skilled in stalking their prey. They are probably concealing their presence with a method we haven’t encountered yet.”
After confirming all of our buffs were reapplied, we carefully entered the floor, to the pleasant greeting of a bone-chilling anxiety. I could feel intense pressure aimed towards my direction, but when I would glance towards the perceived source, see nothing in its wake. Inari and Raya were much the same, and the tension between all of us, was more than palpable. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I could see movement darting between shadows cast by the rocks above, but nothing appeared on my radar. As we continued, I could feel mana particles moving abruptly within the stagnant air, indicating external manipulation by something, yet no obvious source was nearby.
*Tch*...*Tch*...*Tch*
Some pebbles fell from above, startling us slightly, as my eyes snapped to the sudden movement, failing to find any creature responsible for this unreasonable level of tension. With my nerves starting to get the better of me, I carefully activated a basic barrier spell, which was immediately met with an incredible pressure wave sent my direction. Something, had just emitted such an oppressive intent to kill towards me, that I became briefly paralyzed from fear at the pain gripping my chest. Every fiber of my being was screaming, pleading with my body to flee, yet I could only remain motionless.
*Huhhh!*
I finally managed to release my breath and fill my lungs with more stale air, as the pressure eased ever so slightly. My palms were sweating, and I was starting to seriously become worried that whatever was currently hunting us, was enjoying itself all too much. We felt like unwitting prey, delicately walking into the trap of a clearly skilled hunter. However, as I readied my body to take another step forward, my mind erupted in shear agony from a sudden, splitting headache, as a powerful, male voice, bellowed within the confines of my skull, rattling against my bones.
[“HALT!”]
I fell to my knees, clutching my head for some sort of relief, as the pain continued to grow in intensity. Inari and Raya had also fallen to their knees, equally clutching their heads in agony as well. Fear swelled within me, as I struggled to control my breathing. Next, my enemy detection radar erupted in warnings, as signature after signature blinked into existence. We were already surrounded, carefully encircled by a horde of wolves, who had now only revealed their presence to us. I quickly snapped my head around, while my eyes darted to each and every corner they could find. The shadows were now clearly watching us, with piercing, red eyes, staring back from beyond the vail of the abyss.
[“Enough Cyan, and you, cease your incoherent rambling at once, monster.”]
Another powerful voice entered my head, reminding me much of my initial interaction with Coileene. It was a feminine voice filled with confidence and command, without any hint of arrogance as it aggressively bounced around my skull with delight. Still clutching my face, I drifted my gaze towards the cliff towering above us, in a desperate attempt to locate the owner of the voice. Then, my eyes widened in horror, as the creatures that had brought such fear and oppression over my party, calmly emerged from beyond the shadows of the cliff, finally revealing their presence. Standing above us, while casting gazes brimming of resolve, was a pair of dire wolves, spotting impeccable black fur, and a set of curled horns above their eyes. While the creatures were intimidating in their own right, the wolves each held a single, impressive chromatic colour weaved throughout their mane near the chest, creating a stark contrast to the shadowy night the rest of their fur exhibited. The wolf on the left, held a streak of the brightest blue I had ever seen, while the one on the right, the epitome of red. The vibrance of their colours was painful to the eyes, as it appeared to glow with an outwardly radiance towards our frail forms below.
[“Humph, an interesting description for our appearances.”]
The voice once again bellowed within my head, as I had the startling realization, the beings above me could perceive my own thoughts. Were they—
[“Yes, monster. We are currently speaking to you through telepathy. Any thoughts that enter your mind, will be perceived by us as your response to our words, and it fortunately appears you possess the intellect to converse.
As such, let it be known, that you and your group were not immediately slain on the spot after entering our territory, due to the male in your presence bearing the mark of “friend” along their right hand. The scent is faint, yet reminiscent of our kin, which disappeared long ago during the great shaking. State your purpose for invading our domain, and, based on your response, I will decide your fate.”]
My breathing felt laboured, as I struggled to process the words so easily being heard within my mind. Presumably, I was the male being referred to by the wolves above me, but the mark of a friend? Along my right hand? Looking at the appendage in question, I was uncontrollably shaking with fear, unable to see anything resembling a mark, and my mind, it was already at its limit trying to process the horrifying situation we had somehow found ourselves in. Doing my best, I attempted to speak within my mind, using my inner monologue as guidance, while managing to cast appraisal on the red wolf above.
[Who... Who am I speaking with?]
[“I am Crimson Lucendi, leader of the progenitor wolves. Our warriors reported seeing your group on the hunting grounds above, and detected hostile actions aimed towards them. Now, state your purpose, monsters.”]
My eyes once again widened, as I had the realization, that the beings which were moving between the floors, the creatures which had put my entire party on edge, were the progenitor wolves. Still processing this critical information, I hastily began reviewing the status values received from my earlier scan. The red wolf was named Crimson, just like they introduced themselves as, a fitting name for the brilliant colour blended all throughout their mane. But their values were truly the horrifying things to comprehend.
---
Name: Crimson Lucendi Level: 75
Race: Progenitor Wolf HP: 2,533/2,533 MP: 1,855/1,855
Age: 27
Status: Strength: 750 Defense: 419
Magic: 523 Dexterity: 922
Skill Proficiencies: [Thunder Affinity – Excellent+] [Progenitor Being] [Reflexes – Excellent+] [Stealth – Excellent+] [Labyrinth’s Blessing] [Image Manipulation] [Leader’s Intuition] [Determination]
Titles: None
---
In a fair matchup, I would be at a severe disadvantage. My current levels for dexterity would make following their movements a challenge and, if these were the status values for only one of the wolves, then the rest of them were surely just as—
[“How dare you so nonchalantly examine our leader’s capabilities with your magic, monster! I should slay you where you stand for this blatant disregard for—”]
[“Enough, Cyan. I will not tolerate another word from you.”]
[“But Crimson, they—"]
[“I said, enough.”]
Crimson’s response rang sharply throughout my mind, while she bared her fangs towards the wolf spotting the blue markings throughout their coat. The smaller wolf grumbled, begrudgingly obeying their leader’s command, but not before casting a piercing, judgemental gaze my direction for my thoughts.
[My apologies Crimson, I meant no disrespect from my actions. Speaking this way is sudden and new for me. I am sorry for any offence that may have been perceived by your group.]
[“That will do for now. However, you still have yet to state your purpose. Why did you trespass on our domain? Why was your group hostile towards my warriors?”]
I briefly looked at Inari and Raya behind me. They were clearly shaking under the pressure being emitted towards them, as more and more wolves blanketed in various neon shades continued to emerge from the shadows surrounding us, producing a menagerie of vibrant colours. I realized, I was unaware of any responses they may have been giving to the wolves as well, since some were no doubt probably also speaking to them with their own set of questions. Regardless, since these were the first creatures I could actually converse with, I wanted to be as honest as possible.
[My name is Kotato Yamata, and with me, is Inari Kitsune, and Raya Lockhart. We were teleported into the labyrinth by the magic of a demon, who has taken over the Kingdom of Solara. We are trying to reach the end of the labyrinth, since we believe doing so, will aid us in returning to the surface. Our goal is to save the kingdom from destruction at the hands of this demon. We were unaware this was your territory, and I would like to apologise on my groups behalf for any disrespects we have caused the progenitor wolves from our trespassing. We have only encountered powerful creatures in the labyrinth, unable to engage in conversation with us along our journey, and our protection spells could have easily been perceived as hostile intent by your warriors when we first encountered them on the earlier levels. All we wish, is to pass peacefully through this floor, such that we may continue our journey towards the bottom of the labyrinth.]
A small chorus of howls rang throughout the floor at my response, before quickly falling to silence, as Crimson waved her paw from atop the rocky cliff, showcasing her absolute command and authority.
[“I see. So, you truly mean us no ill intent? We have also not encountered another sentient creature within these halls, and potentially assumed you to be an evolved variant like us. My warriors also did not attempt engaging in dialog, and instead chose to prioritize their own safety, which contributed to this misunderstanding. But, since you can recognize our authority, I am willing to believe you. While I have no knowledge about this “Kingdom of Solara”, or “demon” you speak of, I can understand the will and desire to protect those under your charge.”]
Finishing her comments, I felt a majority of the pressure pinning me in place, ease, while some of the wolves took on more relaxed stances around us. Looking at Crimson, she was exchanging glances with some other wolves that appeared behind her, with a few more snarls aimed towards the one who was presumably Cyan. I could only imagine the potential bickering that was going on between them. Eventually, Crimson turned away, getting ready to leave our groups interrogation, while issuing her final command.
[“Cyan, your warriors will escort them through our domain. Kotato Yamata, I wish you all the best in your endeavors.”]
Another small chorus of howls erupted from the wolves around us, with several gruffs and growls weaved within their excited barking, as the last bit of pressure finally released itself from holding me in place. Somehow, we had managed to reach an understanding, and avoid a pointless conflict. Glancing over my shoulder, I could see Inari and Raya were just getting to their feet, and heading towards my direction. A sense of relief was clearly across their faces, currently being matched by my own. Thrilled at our now relaxed circumstances, I slowly got to my feet as well, before offering my final word of thanks to the powerful wolf that believed in my words.
“Thank you, Crimson.”
Suddenly, all of the celebratory howls around us, came to an abrupt halt, while I sharply felt the concentration of mana particles rise around us. Next, I fell to my feet again in anguish from another powerful wave of pressure aimed towards my body.
[HAHA! You really ARE a fool, Ko. Just how utterly, incomprehensibly incompetent could you possibly be! Oh, how this is absolutely amusing! I really did pick a failure for my vessel, didn’t I?]
Coileene’s words shocked me, as I mustered up the energy to turn around towards my party. Raya was trembling while staring into my eyes, while Inari appeared much the same, staring at me with widened eyes and pinned back ears. Looking around, I was at a complete loss for words, as to how this situation had suddenly taken a complete turn. Our conversation had been polite and diplomatic, yet now we were—
“K-k-k-Ko... Wh-what the heck... Did you just... Say...? I’ve... Never heard that language, or those sounds before... Especially from you.”
Inari’s shaken response helped me realize the cause of my error, as my brain frantically racked itself for any possible solution to our new and unfortunate situation. The problem, was stupidly my own fault, showing that I really was a fool. I spoke my words of thanks.
Verbally.
My hero powers... They have always translated my words into the appropriate language when I would speak, so when I said my gratitude out loud, it must have automatically converted them into the wolves’ native language. Looking at the cliff above, the deafening silence appeared to halt Crimson in her tracks as well, as she stopped to turn and face us once again. Immense mana was already beginning to gather around her, while the hackles along Cyan’s back stood up as he too, also began gathering mana around him. Then, after enough particles had been gathered around Crimson, she roared with a bone-chilling howl towards me.
“How do you know our tongue! What manner of trickery is this?!? And, after I trusted your words!”
“Crimson! I told you this group was an evolved variant! They are clearly monsters from the upper levels, threatening our safety. We must execute them for this deceit and trickery!!!”
Somehow, I was understanding their words, or, more accurately... Series of aggressive barks and growls sent towards my direction. Should I respond back to them? Do I talk within my mind? What could I...
“Wait! Crimson! Please have mercy on my group. I can explain my ability to—"
“Enough!!” The blue wolf howled towards me, briefly staggering my footing from the intense pressure received. “You have squandered Crimson’s trust in your story, and it is clear from your actions, that you’re an evolved variant. It is impossible to know our language, so for a monster to trick us, we will eliminate you to ensure our safety!”
At the conclusion of Cyan’s words, Crimson lightly grunted, before fully turning her back towards us, walking away out of sight behind the cliff. All around us, the wolves began approaching, with Cyan leaping from the cliff to land amongst them. I couldn’t draw my weapons from the paralysis, and the concentration of magic particles around us was rapidly beginning to rise. We were going to die, and there was nothing I cou—
[Hahaha! You really are a pathetic excuse for a mortal, Ko. Should you wish to survive this situation your foolishness has put yourself in, then just say the words I am about to tell you. Then, just watch, and listen.]
Coileene’s voice bellowed within my head, as her laughs continued to fill my frail mind with their horrid chorus. I was failing to see how any words could help remedy this situation, so could I really...—?
“Veritas iudicium proelium”
Strange words suddenly left my mouth, as control gradually began returning to my body again. I don’t know what the heck I just said, or why I even spoke, but those three words had seemingly brought all of the wolves, to a startling halt and silence. Cyan appeared the most alarmed by my words, as his muzzle briefly shifted to confusion, before firmly cementing itself into pure rage. Then, he howled towards me sharply, while all of the other wolves broke into an even greater chorus of howls and barks.
“And to think you would continue to mock us... I will personally execute you myself for daring to insult our honor and traditions. There is no way you could possibly know the meaning of those wor—”
*Crash!*
Cyan staggered briefly, as they were interrupted by a loud crash between us, kicking up dust and rocks towards my eyes, causing me to recoil, as I covered my face from the particles. Then, once the clouds had begun to settle, I noticed Crimson was now standing between Cyan and myself. I didn’t know why she was suddenly here, but perhaps... Those words were somehow, actually going to save us.
“Crimson! You can’t possibly want to uphold our—”
“Cyan, they have called for Veritas.”
“I understand Crimson, but they are clearly advanced monsters, seeking to trick and eliminate us with their deceit! There is no way outsiders would know the meaning of—”
“No! You will respect their plea!”
“I refuse! Crimson! They MUST be executed!!!”
Then, with a swiftness I could barely follow, the blue wolf leapt towards me, brandishing its claws to eviscerate my body, when suddenly—
*SLAM!*
Crimson turned around to smash Cyan into the ground below, creating a modest crater from the brutal impact. Cyan howled in pain, continuing to struggle, while Crimson continued pinning him down by his muzzle, digging her claws deeper into his snout. Then, while still continuing to hold the wolf down, Crimson glanced around the room at the other wolves frozen in her presence, before aggressively stating her decree in full.
“If we cannot even abide by, and uphold our own sacred laws, then we are no different from the savage ancestors from which we’ve descended.”
Then, turning to face me in full, while offering a brief bow in kind, Crimson confidently barked her response in a series of sharp, but respectful tones towards me.
“Very well, Kotato Yamata. I will honor your request.
...
Veritas iudicium proelium.”
