1 [1] Is it normal to suddenly have a boss battle?
--- Chapter 1 ---
The dungeon existed long before the God's descended. That was a known fact.
It was complex labyrinth that was alive, an entity that gave birth to the most terrifying creatures endlessly, day and night. Beings, that could ravage the earth they lived on and exterminate every single fibre of life.
A cage that even the Gods, who were made to perfection, cannot fathom.
Nonetheless, people regardless of race, gender, and background from all over the world came to the tower. Building a city, a home, a family - around something so dangerous.
They lived peacefully near the labyrinth, despite knowing the risk it posed. The threat it could bring.
...but why?
Why, would they willingly let themselves live alongside something so terrifying?
Why, would they build a civilisation - near something that could potentially erupt and burst?
Why, would they throw their lives so recklessly, inside of what you could describe as hell itself?
There's only one answer... - Greed.
They were hungry for wealth that the dungeon could grant. The fame it could bring, and the power that could fall into their grasp.
With these intentions in mind, many individuals all over the Lower World - Gekai - come to the City of Labyrinths, Orario, in hopes of fulfilling their thirstless avarice. Regardless of their age.
However, they would soon find themselves drowning within that insatiable desire. Perhaps dying due to carelessness, or getting killed by another who seek wealth despite of how sinful it may be.
That is why you must always remember, in your mind as an adventurer; as someone who recklessly throws away their life for such simple reason -
Death is always the prize of overwhelming greed.
Always.
* * *
It hit Bell quite harshly when he figured that reality differs immensely from his expectations.
It was a bit silly to say, but he always had the dream of picking up beautiful girls from dangerous situations. To be seen as a hero, who would be worthy enough to be passed down for ages. Just like in the stories Grandpa always told him.
However, what he didn't expect was to be chased by and abnormally large cow-headed figure that could only be seen within the floor 15 - 17. Mind you, the young man just recently started adventuring and only made it past the lower fifth.
He was an individual that wasn't ready to face such behemoth that even level 2's would struggle with. As such Bell thought it was the best case scenario to run.
Which proved to be way more terrifying in action than within the imagination...
"GRUOOORRR"
The loud echo of the beast's roar filled the fifth floor. Its whole-hearted anger, turned toward a white-headed figure weaving through the dungeon.
His legs carried his fragile body with utmost determination, doing its best to get Bell out of his precarious situation. However, his mouth on the other hand kept blabbering incomprehensible words as he panicked with relentless anxiety.
'Why on earth is there a Minotaur on the fifth floor?!?'
Feelings of regret coarsed through Bell's body, with the realisation that dying to pick up girls wasn't worth it at all. In fact, it would only serve to prove he was undoubtedly idiotic to think such fantasy would play the script in real life.
With unwanted thoughts clouding his young mind, the young boy pulled himself through and hid behind a corner of the dungeon in hopes that the Minotaur wouldn't find him.
His legs ached, heart beating faster than it ever did before. The feeling of fear and trepidation dawning on Bell as he tried to hold his breath still, his body still, as the Minotaur slowly began to search for him.
Its deep breaths reached Bell'a ears, alongside the movement of thumping hoofs beating rhythmically.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
With each step getting further than the last, Bell finally released the breath he was holding. Knees buckling with tiredness, whilst the violent adrenaline slowly began to recede.
When he finally thought that the beast had finally left him alone, Bell steadily began to relax and shift his body down the wall gradually.
His rapid and uneven breaths slowly became in sync as he bandaged his injuries with the ripped cloth of his tattered shirt.
"Ouch. I think I pulled a couple of muscles," The boy grimaced as he whispered to himself.
With the final touches being done to wrap up his cuts and bruises, Bell finally decided to relax himself for a while. Finding the unexpected encounter mentally draining, the boy decided to close his eyes for a few minutes to calm his racing heart down.
However, that would soon prove to be useless when the white-haired boy felt droplets of water fall onto his arm. Causing the boy to open his fluttering eyelashes with curiosity.
'Water? In the dungeon?'
Bell's mind worked at a slower rate than usual due to the intense fatigue. Nevertheless, he could still work out that the droplets weren't water at all. And that realisation served to make his heart beat faster than ever.
"Oh, fuck..." A curse escaped his lips as he slowly turned to look upwards.
A twitching smile was plastered across his face as he turned to greet the towering Minotaur that was salivating above him. Drops of its disgusting slobber dripping periodically.
After a few moments of exchanging awkward glances, Bell immediately tried to pull himself up and run. Unfortunately for him, the Minotaur was already two steps ahead of him. After all, how could a measly level 1 outrun a beast that most level 2's couldn't?
The monster that was twice the size of the young boy suddenly gripped tightly on the youth's legs, before throwing him out like a broken ragdoll.
Its thundering roar reverberating loudly to signal its impending charge that Bell knew he could not dodge.
"Gurgh." A groan escaped his lips as he skidded across the cracked tiles on the floor. Dizziness ravaged his mind as he gasped for air.
His pure white hair that was reminescent of falling snow had long been drenched by his own blood. His lips were ruptured from the lack of hydration whilst his eyes periodically started to blur and focus.
"Hah." A laugh escapes Bell's lips as he realised his life was coming to an end. He should've expected better from the place where countless adventurers died.
'In the end, I couldn't even pick up a single girl in the dungeon...'
In the end, even on the verge of death the boy still couldn't let go of the fantasies that got him in this anarchy in the first place.
Shaking his head, the boy gripped tightly on his trusty old-dagger that had accompanied him for the past two weeks. If he was going to go down, he might as well do it like a hero - no?
Resolving himself to cut the gloating beast at least once, Bell forcefully moved his shaking legs. Adrenaline running full throttle.
'I really am unlucky...'
The boy knew that even if he landed a hit on the Minotaur, it wouldn't even leave a scratch. He knew that if he attacked it right now, he would certainly die than run and survive a bit longer.
However, regardless of that he still wanted to fight that beast. He was a coward, and he knew that very well, but even then who said a coward couldn't be brave?
As such, Bell didn't want to run this time. Knowing this might be the last battle he will ever have. After all, that was his pride as a man.
With his shivering hand pointing his chipped dagger at the beast, Bell finally decided to attack.
"Haaa- ah?"
His warcry filled with vigour soon began to quiet down when he saw a line cross the creature's torso. Incredulously, the boy looked at the Minotaur that was just as confused as he was.
"Uoooh?"
The beast let out a silent cry as the line steadily began to multiple. From one to two. Two to three. Three to four; before gradually beginning to multiply into myriads of silver streaks.
Bell looked with utmost shock as the entity that was chasing him all this time was cut into tiny slabs of meat. Its pieces falling into the ground, then turning into ash. Leaving only a figure with a sharp sword in hand.
A girl that had her lithe body wrapped around in silver armour, that served to accentuate her golden hair and eyes even further.
"...Are you okay?"
At that moment, Bell wasn't sure if he could keep his Grandpa's promise.
