17 Orcus Labyrinth [2]

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(A/N: Is that a Power Stone I'm sensing? You should leave it here for safekeeping. Don't worry, I'll take good care of it.)

Word Count: 2149

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Towering seven or eight meters above them was a dome-shaped ceiling. The students were all looking around curiously when suddenly a number of gray creatures resembling furballs burst out from cracks in the wall.

"Alright, Kouki, your team's up front! Everyone else fall back! I'll have you switch in after some time, so stay sharp! These monsters are called Ratmen! They're quick on their feet, but not all that strong. Keep your cool as you fight!" As Captain Meld had said, the Ratmen were quite fast and rushed at them with alarming agility.

Pairs of dark red eyes gleamed with a ghastly light from within the balls of fur. Their name was rather fitting, as they looked like giant, muscular rats... that stood on two feet. Only the area around their corded chests and impressive eight-packs was bereft of fur, almost as if they were trying to show them off.

As Kouki's group leaped into action, Reiji approached Hajime and inquired, "How are you holding up?" Hajime turned his gaze towards Reiji, briefly glancing at the ongoing battle before replying, "I'm okay. Nervous, but okay. Although, I can't deny that Kaori's words from the other night are adding to my anxiety."

Nodding in agreement, they continued to observe the battle unfold. With synchronized precision, they cast a spell, summoning a massive whirlwind of flames that engulfed the Ratmen, reducing them to charred remains.

The Ratmen screeched in agony, their frantic movements futile against the relentless onslaught of fire. In a matter of moments, every last Ratman had been eradicated, reduced to nothing more than ash.

The other students didn't even get a chance to fight. It looked like monsters on the first floor were far too weak to even put up a fight against Kouki's party. "Wow, well done! Alright, the rest of you will be up next, so don't relax just yet!" Captain Meld reminded the class not to let their guard down, though he was smiling, impressed at their prowess.

Still, he couldn't prevent the students from getting pumped up about their first dungeon monster elimination expedition. He shrugged his shoulders helplessly as he saw the students breaking out into smiles.

"Oh, and... while you don't have to worry about it this time since it's training, in the future try and kill your enemies in a way that preserves their mana crystals. What you did back there was overkill."

Captain Meld's words caused Kaori and the others to blush, realizing that they may have been too excessive in their use of force. From that point on, the class proceeded through the labyrinth's floors smoothly, taking turns in the vanguard during battles.

Eventually, they reached the twentieth floor, a significant milestone that separated skilled adventurers from mere amateurs.

Up until now, the deepest floor ever reached by adventurers was the sixty-fifth floor, a legendary achievement that had not been replicated in recent times. Therefore, anyone who managed to surpass the first twenty floors was considered highly skilled, while those who made it past the first forty were regarded as superhuman.

Reiji, in a strategic move, weakened a monster before directing it toward Hajime. He delivered a warning with a touch of humor, "If you don't kill it, it will kill you. And if you die, I'll bring you back from hell and train you even harder until you die once more. So, you better not die."

"Yeah, I'd rather not," Hajime responded wryly, crouching down and touching the floor with his hands. Fixing his gaze, he carefully observed the approaching monster. As it closed in on his desired distance, he swiftly executed his ability pushing more mana in.

"Transmute!" Hajime exclaimed, and the ground trembled as rocks and minerals jumbled around, disrupting the monster's footing. The surface below sunk in, creating a trap for the creature. Seizing the opportunity, Hajime swiftly approached the monster and drove his spear into its head, delivering a fatal blow. He then leaned down, catching his breath while clutching his knees.

Handing him a mana pill, Reiji observed Hajime's handiwork. "Not bad, though there is room for improvement. You were fortunate that the monster lacked a brain; otherwise, it wouldn't have fallen for such a trick. As we descend to the lower levels, you'll need to become more versatile. Remember, you are a synergist, a creator, a blacksmith of sorts. Utilize your skills to the fullest, and you will be fine."

"Are you okay, Nagumo-kun?" Kaori asked, approaching them, with Shizuku who stood by her side. Nodding in response, Hajime took a moment to catch his breath, while Kaori smiled and gazed at him. However, her intense stare gave Reiji an eerie feeling. It reminded him of a Yandere, making him ponder how things had come to this.

While Reiji observed the interaction between them, he felt a malevolent gaze fixed upon their group. Turning to locate the source, he found nothing out of the ordinary.

Everyone around them seemed to be resting and preparing for the continuation of their journey. Keeping a vigilant eye on the situation, Reiji followed the class as they descended to the twentieth floor of the labyrinth.

Each floor of the labyrinth spanned several kilometers in every direction, and it usually took a team of dozens up to a month to fully explore and map out a new floor. Fortunately, the floors up to the forty-seventh had already been mapped, so they were not at risk of getting lost.

The twentieth floor presented a unique challenge. Its deepest room resembled a limestone cave made entirely of ice, adorned with icicles protruding from the walls.

The intricate topography created a complex environment for the students to navigate. Just beyond this icy chamber lay the staircase leading to the twenty-first floor.

Once they reached that point, their training for the day would be complete. Unfortunately, teleportation magic was a thing of the past, so they would have to walk back to the entrance.

The students had already started to relax when they encountered an unexpected obstacle. A protrusion in the wall disrupted their formation, forcing them to proceed in a single file.

As the two leaders, Kouki and Captain Meld, came to a halt, the rest of the students readied themselves for battle and surveyed their surroundings. It became apparent that they had stumbled upon a monster.

"It's camouflaging itself! Stay vigilant and watch your surroundings!" Captain Meld's voice echoed through the cavern as a warning to everyone. In an instant, the entity that appeared to be a wall suddenly changed color and sprang into motion.

The creature, initially mistaken for a protrusion, revealed itself as a dark brown gorilla standing on two legs. It pounded its chest, showcasing its strength. This monster was a Rockmount, capable of camouflaging itself like a chameleon.

"Be wary of its powerful arms! They can deliver a devastating blow!" Captain Meld's authoritative voice resonated throughout the chamber as Kouki's party prepared to engage the enemy.

Ryutarou skillfully parried the Rockmount's massive arms with his fists. Meanwhile, Kouki and Shizuku maneuvered to flank the creature but struggled due to the rough terrain. Despite being unable to fully surround the Rockmount, they effectively created a human wall with Ryutarou blocking its path.

Realizing its inability to breach their defenses, the Rockmount retreated and took a deep breath.

"Graaaaaaaaaaah!!!" In the following seconds, a ferocious roar shook the entire room, instilling fear and freezing the students in place. This was the Rockmount's formidable ability, the {Intimidating Roar}, a mana-infused roar capable of temporarily paralyzing its victims.

Kouki and the others caught off guard, found themselves immobilized, anticipating an imminent attack. However, the Rockmount seized the opportunity to sidestep past them, grabbing a nearby boulder and hurling it at Kaori's group.

The trajectory of the thrown boulder was astonishing, sailing smoothly over the heads of the motionless front line and hurtling straight toward its intended target. The members of Kaori's group raised their staves, ready to intercept, realizing there was no room for evasion. Yet, midway through their incantations, they were struck by a sight that left them paralyzed with shock.

The boulder launched by the Rockmount transformed into a second Rockmount mid-air, arms outstretched, hurtling directly toward Kaori. It even had bloodshot eyes and heavy breathing down pat. Kaori, Eri, and Suzu all screamed in terror, completely forgetting to maintain their chants.

"Oy, what do you think you're doing in the middle of a fight!?" Captain Meld swiftly intercepted the diving Rockmount, swiftly striking it down before it could reach the girls.

Apologies quickly escaped their lips, but the lingering fear was evident on their pale faces. Witnessing the girls' distress, a certain individual among them completely snapped. Amanogawa Kouki, the class's self-proclaimed hero of justice.

"Bastard... How dare you hurt Kaori and the others... I won't forgive you!" Mistakenly assuming their pallor stemmed from their close encounter with death rather than the repulsive appearance of the Rockmount, Kouki's body emitted a radiant white mana. His holy sword began to glow in response. "Soar unto heaven, O divine wings—Celestial Flash!"

"No, stop, you idiot!" Ignoring Captain Meld's pleas, Kouki raised his sword high and swung it down with all his might.

As he completed his incantation, his holy sword unleashed a dazzling blade of light. Evading its path was futile. The radiant arc sliced through the Rockmount with minimal resistance, cleanly severing it in two before crashing into the wall.

A deafening rumble filled the air, followed by cascading debris from the damaged wall. Kouki exhaled a deep sigh and turned to the girls, wearing a triumphant smile.

He believed he had vanquished the formidable monster on their behalf. Just as he was about to utter the comforting words "It's okay now!" Captain Meld, his forehead veins bulging with anger, approached him and delivered a punch.

"Hobwah!?"

"You damn fool! I understand your anger, but you can't employ such skills in a narrow passage! You could have brought the entire cave down upon us!" Kouki's complaints died in his throat as Captain Meld reprimanded him, and he awkwardly offered his apology. The girls responded with wry smiles, attempting to comfort him.

Then, Kaori's gaze fixed upon the crumbled section of the wall. "...What is that? It's all sparkly..." Her words drew everyone's attention in that direction. Protruding from the wall like a blossoming flower was a peculiar mineral emitting a pale blue glow.

It resembled a crystal with an Indigolite at its core. Entranced by its beauty, all the girls, including Kaori, found themselves captivated. "Oh, that's a glanz crystal. Quite a sizable one, too. How rare," Captain Meld remarked.

Glanz crystals were highly sought after due to their exquisite radiance, often adorning noble ladies and serving as gifts in the form of rings, earrings, pendants, and other jewelry. They were particularly popular for proposals.

Kaori blushed at Captain Meld's explanation and stole a quick glance at Hajime. Though her actions went nearly unnoticed, Reiji, Shizuku, and another observant individual took note.

"In that case, I'll go grab it for you, Kaori!" Hiyama suddenly rushed forward, determined to seize the opportunity. Climbing the debris of the collapsed wall with agility, he swiftly approached the glanz crystal. Captain Meld hastily attempted to stop him.

"Hey! Don't go running off on your own! We can't be sure it's safe yet!" However, Hiyama ignored the warning and stood before the crystal in no time.

Captain Meld sprinted after Hiyama, desperately trying to halt his reckless actions. Simultaneously, one of the knights swiftly retrieved his Fair Scope and scanned the surroundings of the crystal. A moment later, his complexion turned ashen. "Captain! It's a trap!"

"What!? Stop!" Despite their urgent warnings, both Captain Meld and the knight were a fraction too late. The moment Hiyama's hand made contact with the crystal, a luminous magic circle materialized at its core.

Panic seized the air as Captain Meld shouted, "Crap, retreat! Everyone get out, now!" With hearts pounding and adrenaline coursing through their veins, they scrambled desperately towards the exit. But fate had other plans.

The magic circle pulsed with blinding brilliance, its radiance expanding at an alarming rate, until it engulfed the entire room in an all-encompassing glow. In that fleeting moment, a sensation of weightlessness washed over everyone present.

And then, everybody vanished.

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Author Words:

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