"So what happened?"
Everyone turned to look at who had spoken. It was one hunter who quickly lowered his head, scratching it nervously. Wang Jun's mouth twitched slightly. This guy spoke as if he weren't in danger himself, but in truth, the story of the young man had affected him as well. Wang Jun hadn't realized they were in danger too.
The young man seemed to be delighted as he continued.
"After countless years of solitude and survival, I found myself the sole survivor of my kind," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of happiness and sorrow. "Yet, despite my newfound happiness, a shadow of guilt loomed over me. I couldn't shake the sadness of losing my siblings, even as I reveled in my survival.
"Then fate intervened once again. The old lady returned, her life force waning, accompanied by her grandson. I could feel her imminent passing, and it filled me with a profound sadness. She spoke of her last wish to be buried beside me, a request that stirred conflicting emotions within me.
"But when the old lady passed away, and her grandson failed to honor her wish, anger consumed me for the first time. I lashed out in fury, ending the grandson's life before he could desecrate our resting place. In a twisted act of mercy, I merged half of my consciousness with the lifeless body, granting him a last resting place beside his grandmother.
"And so, I became the Labyrinth Lord, a solitary guardian of this realm, haunted by the memories of my past and the choices I've made."
The young man's gaze hardened as he addressed the listener, his expression a mix of pity and resolve. "It's regrettable that you chose to harm my children and bring suffering to one of them. If only you had shown restraint, perhaps you could have found a way to survive without resorting to violence."
"But I made a vow to myself, a promise I couldn't fulfill for my siblings: that I would do whatever it takes to protect those under my care, now that I possess the power to do so."
Wang Jun's mind swirled with solutions, and he made a promise to himself that if he managed to get out of this place alive, he would hunt down the person who put him here. He rubbed his temple, struggling to think of a solution. Turning to the young man, he wasn't sure if this was the right approach.
"Do you be open to negotiations?" he asked tentatively.
"Negotiation?" the young man repeated incredulously, shaking his head. "Did you not just hear the tale of my past? Humans and their promises are as fleeting as the petals on a flower in the wind!"
"Why not? We understand that you're a new labyrinth lord, but we also have important news for you," Wang Jun replied. "Forgive my bluntness, but I don't think you can face an army alone. They are just behind your door, waiting for the right moment."
"An army?" he repeated, his tone laced with amusement. "Alone? Do you take me for a mere mortal? I am the Labyrinth Lord, and I have my children at my disposal."
"We know that it's not true."
"What do you mean?" The young man frowned.
"If you truly love your children, why didn't you help them?" Wang Jun pressed. "We killed your first children, and later we harmed your other children as well, yet you didn't appear to save them. Unless something is restricting you from taking action, such as saving your children. However, unless you can teleport the entire army as you did with us, they will continue to kill your children one by one."
When the young man teleported them here, Wang Jun had been secretly observing the surroundings beside the throne. There was nothing noteworthy to be found. However, as he listened to the young man's stories, he suddenly pieced together a hidden piece of information. Yet, he couldn't ascertain if it was true. It was merely based on the information he gathered from the stories. Wang Jun didn't know how the young man operated this labyrinth, or perhaps he was simply lying about his children. Maybe he didn't truly care about them dying.
Aware that he might be mistaken, Wang Jun purposefully withheld the identity of the army, unsure if the young man would believe him.
"Hmm... So that's why I sense much life forces above me, weak yet numerous," the young man mused. He turned to Wang Jun. "But how can I be sure you were not a part of that army, hmm?"
"Well… One thing is for sure, we are not the same as them." Wang Jun replied.
"So, what do you propose?"
"An alliance."
As Wang Jun thought about it, he realized that allying was indeed the only viable choice they had. The current circumstances rendered him unable to offer anything to the young man, and the tribe was currently lacking in everything. Once again, he felt a surge of rage towards the person who had manipulated him into this situation. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, focusing on calming himself down.
The young man's demeanor shifted abruptly, his playful façade crumbling away to reveal a hint of boredom and irritation. "Alliance, eh? I grow weary of this charade."
With a nonchalant yawn, he dismissed the proposal outright. "I reject your proposal. I have no interest in alliances or negotiations. I rule this labyrinth alone, and I do not need outsiders meddling in my affairs."
"How about-"
"Ah, those wretched creatures, but fear not, for I have a trick up my sleeve. I conjure an illusion of a seductive female, and those lost goblins fall into my trap. No redemption for such a vile creature. I'm afraid."
"So all about that story was a lie," Wang Jun said.
"Lie? No, not entirely. Perhaps some embellishments here and there, but the essence of my story remains true."
"So, there are no choices?"
The young man laughed. "You have no choice from the start."
Wang Jun sighed heavily, a mixture of fear, sadness, anger, and guilt swirling within him. He was angry at the person who had manipulated him and the young man, and guilty for bringing the hunters into this dangerous situation. If he could escape from this place, he vowed to find the person responsible and hold them accountable for their actions.
He glanced at his companions, noting the determination and trust in their eyes. Wang Jun couldn't detect any fear, only resolve. Somehow, he felt unworthy of being the leader of this group. After all, he was just a student with nothing particularly noteworthy about him, aside from being able to sleep eight hours a day.
"I'm sorry. I've put you all in this situation," Wang Jun apologized, though he knew he wasn't directly responsible for their predicament. It was his weakness that had led them to this potentially deadly outcome.
"No need for apologies, Chief. We're in this together, come hell or high water," Grimlock responded as he smiled.
"No need for apologies, Chief. Right now, we stick together and find a way outta this mess." Draven nodded.
Wang Jun then checked his status one last time. He didn't know why he did it, knowing it couldn't help, but perhaps he was clinging to hope because he wanted to live. As he reviewed his status, something caught his eye.
He glanced at his companions. "Maybe, just maybe... This was our only choice," he murmured, contemplating the situation.
(The next chapter is the end of the Labyrinth)