The starry night sky filled the heavens above, stars glowing from their celestial abode as night began to devour the land. Beneath the surface of this unforgiving veil of darkness, the hands of those who dared to conquer the abyss lay in wait. Amidst this hellish scenery, I stood frozen with fear, my eyes wide open, adrenaline coursing through my veins, torn between the urge to fight or flee. Yet, with what little courage remained within me, I held my ground.
"Don't just stand there! Choose your weapons," a voice urged.
"And who are you to dictate our actions?" another voice retorted.
"What good will that feeble sword of yours do? It won't inflict any damage on these monsters," someone sneered.
"Now is not the time for bickering," a calm voice interjected. "We are facing a dire situation."
"You always act so bossy, don't you, Kazuki?" a voice lashed out.
"Who's the more useless one here, you or me? Can't you see we're on the brink of death while you waste your breath bullying me?" I snapped back.
"Nakamura, Kazuki, enough!" a commanding voice boomed. "This is no time for arguments. Pick up your weapons and stand together."
"I'm coming," I replied, pushing past them and retrieving my Western-style sword and scutum shield. With all my strength, I rallied my classmates, one by one, as they joined my side. Daichi reluctantly yielded to Kazuki's plan.
"So, what's the plan, Kazuki?" Daichi asked.
"Daichi-san," Kazuki began, "since you've offered your assistance, let's hear your thoughts."
"Well, I suppose you're right," Daichi conceded. "We could use the support of our party. So, if you're willing to share your plan..."
"Very well," Kazuki nodded. "Given the high-level monsters surrounding us, we should prioritize our firepower as a party."
"The vanguard-based class will take the front lines," I added.
As our impromptu alliance took shape, we braced ourselves for the daunting battle ahead. The abyss echoed with the clashing of steel and the determination of the Heroes Party. United, we would face this darkness head-on, for there was no other choice but to fight.
"Mages and healers will hold the rear," I declared, "with the healers supporting the vanguard and the mages casting a protective barrier spell, creating a force field to shield us from projectiles."
"And lastly," Kazuki added, "once we've defeated every monster, the mage classes will perform a ritual to create a teleportation spell, allowing us to escape the labyrinth and return to the surface."
"How does that sound for a plan?" Daichi asked.
"Hmm... I suppose it's a decent plan," Nakamura replied.
"Not bad at all for a mercenary class. I must commend you," Kazuki praised me.
"Thank you, everyone," I responded gratefully.
"Alright, everyone! Let the battle commence!" Kazuki commanded.
"WRAAGHHH!" We all shouted in unison, our battle cries echoing through the abyss.
Kazuki's party fought with unwavering determination. We gained experience and collect valuable items from the powerful monsters that crossed our path. Kazuki's plan proved successful as we swiftly eliminated the creatures one by one, moving from left to right.
"That should be all of them, right?" Daichi questioned.
"Yes, it seems so. These monsters weren't as formidable as they appeared," I replied.
"Don't get complacent. Luck was on our side today," Kazuki warned.
Taking a moment to catch our breath, we checked our stats and prepared ourselves for further exploration on the 62nd Floor, eager to search for more loot and challenges.
However, our attention was suddenly drawn to a gleaming light emanating from beneath the ground. It wasn't an ordinary beam of light; it held an aura of peculiarity. Curiosity getting the better of us, we approached the mysterious light without due caution. It was situated at the centre of the arena, beckoning us closer with its ethereal glow.
Unbeknownst to us and consumed by curiosity, we approached the source of the luminous beam, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath. Gradually, the peculiar ground from which the light emanated began to open, revealing an ominous sight. Simultaneously, the earth shook violently, an earthquake rattling our surroundings. From within the depths emerged an entity that defied any information recorded in the Palace Library or written accounts we had come across.
"What... what is that?" I stammered.
"That's the floor boss of the 62nd floor," Kazuki stated with certainty.
"There's no doubt about it," Daichi added.
"It's strange how these floor bosses can range from being incredibly strong to relatively weak, depending on the floor," Nakamura observed.
The entity before us was named Abbadon of the Abyss. Mounted on a horse, he wielded a sword that dwarfed even the largest of trees. Abbadon was one of the demonic undead knights tasked with protecting the 62nd Labyrinth. Clad in thick armour from head to toe, his skin bore a dark grey hue, and his crimson eyes gleamed with malice.
Name: Abbadon of the Abyss
Level: ???
Power: 450
Resistance: 350
Recovery: 64
Dexterity: 34
A collective scream of fear erupted from our party, mirroring the overwhelming dread that filled my own heart. Trembling uncontrollably, my palms became slick with cold sweat, and my face grew pale.
"What... what is that thing?" someone managed to utter.
"Is that the floor guardian?" another voice quivered.
"Ahhh! It looks terrifying," someone cried out.
"Leader, is there any way to defeat it?" a desperate plea filled the air.
"No, there's no way we can overcome such a powerful floor guardian," Kazuki admitted grimly.
"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE WHILE WE STILL CAN!" someone shouted in panic.
"We need to hold our ground until most of our members have fallen back," Kazuki commanded, his voice steady despite the fear etched on his face.
"I'll volunteer as rear guard, along with my classmates," I offered, mustering my courage.
"Kazuki, you should have fled. Why did you bother coming back?" someone questioned.
"I'm here to support my party. Why don't you stop being a jerk," Kazuki retorted, his determination unwavering.
"Fine then, if that's what you want," the voice conceded.
"Akari, Aiya, Chizuku, I want all of you to leave while you still have a chance," I directed my other classmates.
"But Kazuki-kun, I can't leave you behind," Akari protested.
We stood at a crossroads, torn between self-preservation and loyalty. In this moment of dire peril, we each made our choices, knowing full well the risks that lay ahead.
Don't worry about me, I'll come back for you," I reassured Akari.
"You promise?" she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"Of course, I promise," I replied with determination.
After bidding my farewell to Akari, I turned around and firmly gripped my sword.
"Alright! Let the boss battle begin!" I declared.
"WRAAAAGHHHH!" Kazuki's rear guard charged forward, fearless in the face of danger.
Abbadon swung his sword towards us with deadly intent.
"Incoming!" I shouted, bracing myself for the impact.
But then, Abbadon suddenly halted and dismounted from his horse. In the blink of an eye, the undead steed vanished into thin air.
"He's challenging us to a confrontation," Kazuki noted.
"Well, if that's what he wants," I replied, my resolve unwavering.
Abbadon unleashed powerful sword strikes, but I managed to parry most of the blows. However, the sheer force behind his attacks overwhelmed me.
"Ahhh... it's so heavy," I grunted, feeling the strain.
"Hey, Genji-san, I need help here," I called out.
"Okay, take this!" Genji responded, launching his attack from the rear.
However, Abbadon seemed unaffected by Genji's strike and swiftly retaliated.
"Genji-san, look out!" I shouted in warning.
"Arrrgghhh!" Genji cried out in pain as he took a direct hit.
"Damn, it... I'm hit," he groaned, clutching his wounded stomach.
"Someone, get me out of here... please, help me..." Genji's voice was filled with desperation as blood seeped from his wounds.
"Ah, damn it! Hang in there, we'll get you out," I reassured him, my voice filled with determination.
"Hey! Hey! Do you want to live!? Do you want to live!?" I shouted, trying to rally his spirit.
"Then go out there and fight that beast until we can get Genji to safety."
"Fine!" another student replied, fueled by the urgency of the situation.
"Carry him and find a secure place," I ordered the others.
Ichiro and the rest of the group carefully lifted Genji, carrying him away towards the path where Daichi and the rest of the party had gone.
As they disappeared, Kazuki and the three remaining students continued their relentless battle against the formidable Floor Guardian, Abbadon. The clash of weapons and cries of determination echoed through the air, as we fought for our lives and the hope of rescue.
inside the safety of the 13th floor in Ravensfield Labyrinth, Daichi and his party anxiously awaited the return of Kazuki and the others.
"I hope Kazuki and the rest of them are okay," one of the party members expressed their concern.
"Daichi-kun, do you think they'll make it out alive?" another asked, worry etched on their face.
"I hope so. I don't want any of our classmates to meet a grim fate in this place," Daichi replied, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Suddenly, their attention was drawn to a figure approaching them in the distance.
"Wait, who's that coming towards us?" Daichi questioned, alerting the rest of the party.
"Stay on guard," someone cautioned.
As the figure drew nearer, they realised it was Genji and Ichiro, two of their comrades. The sight that greeted them sent shockwaves through their group.
"Is that... Kazuki?" someone hesitantly inquired.
"No, it's... it's Genji and Ichiro!" Daichi exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice.
"What...!?" the others gasped in surprise.
"And Genji... he's badly wounded," Daichi added, concern evident in his tone.
Ichiro, panting heavily and gasping for air, managed to explain the situation.
"Genji was struck by that... that creature, whatever you want to call it," Ichiro said, his words punctuated by fatigue.
"Oh my, his wound looks deep," a party member remarked, assessing the severity of Genji's injury.
"No worries, I'll heal it for you," Akari offered, his determination shining through.
"Heal!" Akari channelled his healing magic, mending Genji's deep wound and providing him with a moment of relief.
Amidst the relief, a question hung in the air. "So, where are Kazuki and the others?"
"They haven't returned yet," Ichiro replied, his voice filled with worry.
"I fear the worst. There's no way they could handle such a powerful adversary alone," a party member expressed their concerns.
"No... I believe in Kazuki. He will come back alive," Daichi declared with unwavering conviction.
"He promised it to me."
As Genji and Ichiro sought respite after their arduous journey, their exhaustion evident, a sense of urgency filled the air.
"Ichiro, do you think Kazuki and the others are still out there?" Daichi asked, his voice laced with determination.
"Yes, and they're in grave danger. I don't think they'll last another minute," Ichiro responded, his weariness palpable.
Daichi contemplated their options, weighing the risks and possibilities.
"Should we go back?" someone suggested cautiously.
"We can't just go back. It's likely we would face the same fate. We need a plan if we're going to rescue them," Daichi reasoned, his voice firm.
"No matter what, we can't abandon our friends," Daichi declared, determination burning in his eyes as he prepared to make a difficult decision.
The party readied themselves, fully aware of the perilous journey that awaited them as they ventured back towards the treacherous 62nd floor, driven by their unwavering loyalty to their comrades.