Chereads / Protect the Young Master! / Chapter 8 - The Labyrinth (3)

Chapter 8 - The Labyrinth (3)

People typically see specters as ghostly entities, which originate from the belief in the spirits of deceased individuals. While they share similarities with ghosts, people often perceive specters as more unsettling. In traditional beliefs, people consider ghosts as the apparitions of deceased individuals.

In the past, people believed in various methods to eradicate ghosts, with one common approach being exorcism. Priests or individuals skilled in the practice typically performed exorcisms. For ordinary people, protective measures such as salt or talismans were often used to ward off or protect themselves from ghosts. These methods created barriers or repelled supernatural entities, providing a sense of protection from their presence, as people believed.

Despite the numerous theories and videos circulating on the internet, no one has ever definitively proven the existence of ghosts or specters. Many people could fabricate or manipulate the purported sightings or encounters, especially considering the prevalence of hoaxes and edited footage.

Urban legends often associate a strong spiritual presence with old hospitals or abandoned buildings, but these claims remain unsubstantiated. While such locations may evoke feelings of unease or mystery, there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of ghosts or specters in these places.

Now, Wang Jun found himself in a different world, facing a completely different specter. Despite his efforts, he couldn't find any solution from the options available to him. Memories flooded his mind, and he searched for its weaknesses using his past knowledge and experiences. Every passing second felt like an eternity as he grappled with the situation, the anxious voices of people around him adding to the pressure.

"Listen, Chief," Grimlock said solemnly, his usual gruffness softened by concern, "I reckon it's time we considered a different approach. This ain't like anything we see before."

Wang Jun's brow furrowed. "You think we should pull back?"

"Ain't no shame in admitting when we're outmatched. Better to live to fight another day than end up as ghost bait."

Wang Jun nodded. "We don't need to retreat." When he uttered these words, his eyes lost their clarity for seconds before regaining it. "Retreat?"

'Your Will increase by +1.' 

"Chief?"

"Alright. We fall back," Wang Jun finally said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. He felt as if something was amiss within himself, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. However, when he saw a notification pop up in his field of vision, he knew that something was wrong.

Meanwhile, the specter could not ensnare its victims as easily because the group was now on high alert. Whenever someone was about to disappear, they swiftly intervened, pulling the person back from the brink of becoming a victim.

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the darkness. The scream carried the agony of someone who had endured countless pains and sufferings in their life. Wang Jun could feel the pain and emotions as if he were the one experiencing it all firsthand.

"Hurry!"

Wang Jun could feel a liquid flowing out of his ear, and he suddenly felt dizzy, his hearing becoming vague and blurry. He could see the worried and anxious look on Grimlock and everyone else's faces. Staggering, he felt as if he were about to fall when a rough hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him toward the exit.

After a while, he finally recovered. The scream seemed to have disappeared, but he could still feel its echo resonating within him. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and looked around at the group who had finally exited the area.

"Chief, shall we oughta head back and fetch some backup?" Grimlock spoke up, his usually stoic demeanor showing signs of deep concern, especially regarding the disappearance of Draven.

Wang Jun knew that these two were best friends and seeing Grimlock affected in this way weighed heavily on him. Wang Jun sighed, feeling the weight of the situation and the responsibility resting on his shoulders.

The scream did not affect Grimlock, likely because of his higher willpower compared to others.

"No, I think I found its weakness."

"Then retreatin' ain't an option, Chief. We stand our ground and take that thing down!" Grimlock exclaimed, his determination shining through even more lightly.

Wang Jun nodded.

The weakness he was referring to was the light, not the light from the torches, but the light emanating from the crystals. It came to Wang Jun's mind when Grimlock mentioned "retreat," and when he looked back at the exit, an idea struck him like a bolt of lightning.

As Wang Jun considered the situation, he realized that the previous place where they had defeated the Mother Rat and their current location were exact copies of each other. Everything, from the patterns on the walls to the tunnel that led to it, was identical. In this moment of clarity, Wang Jun discerned a flaw in the replica. If it truly was an exact copy, then the light from the crystals should permeate the interior, just like it did in the lair of the Mother Rat.

It seemed that there seemed to be some kind of force preventing the light from penetrating the area. He had noticed it before but hadn't realized its significance, especially since he was unaware of their enemy being a specter. Moreover, the glowing crystals weren't just providing light; they seemed to possess a unique power. While a torch might have sufficed if it were simply a matter of illumination, the glowing crystals appeared to hold a different kind of energy altogether.

Anyway, Wang Jun pulled himself back to reality and ordered the hunters to mine some chunks of crystals. After a while, he held a glowing crystal in his hand, studying it intently.

Wang Jun tore a piece of his clothing and carefully wrapped a large amount of crystals within it. Once he had fashioned a makeshift pouch, he handed it to one hunter.

The hunter reentered the area, cautiously moving forward with the limited light provided by the crystal. Wang Jun instructed the hunter not to venture too far. After a while, nothing happened, and they remained on high alert.

Suddenly, a hand reached out to grab the hunter. Reacting swiftly, the hunter swung the cloth wrapped with crystals at the hand, hitting it with force. The Specter let out a piercing scream of pain before dissipating into smoke.

The hunter quickly rushed back to Wang Jun's side, wearing a satisfied expression on his face.

"So, its weakness is indeed the crystal," Wang Jun muttered.

Wang Jun ordered the hunters to mine more of the glowing crystals. With enough crystals, they could ensure that the specter could not harm them, regardless of the limited distance of the light. Gathering as many crystals as they could became their top priority.

After gathering enough crystals, they threw them all inside to spread the light widely. The lair of the specter began to dim slowly, revealing its whole appearance. However, it kept disappearing into the shadows every time the light hit it, evading their attempts to fully illuminate its form. Despite their efforts, the specter remained elusive, relying on its ability to manipulate shadows to avoid confrontation.

It was an ethereal figure, draped in tattered robes that seemed to shift and sway like smoke. Shadowy hoods obscured its face, making its features indiscernible. However, a sickly green glow emanated from within, casting an eerie pallor over its form. As it stared deep into Wang Jun's eyes, he could sense the hostility and anger emanating from the spectral entity, its gaze penetrating his very soul with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine.

They continued to throw crystals into the specter's lair, flooding the area with light until finally, they couldn't see the shadowy figure of the specter anymore. However, Wang Jun knew that it was just lurking around.

"Draven!" Wang Jun exclaimed, rushing over to where the hunters lay motionless in the corner. The group hurried over and checked Draven's and others' pulses, sighing in relief as they confirmed that they were not dead.

"We are going to leave." He announced.

This surprised the hunters, and Grimlock asked the reason.

"I believe I may be acting too hastily. We've only just entered the labyrinth, yet we're already facing hardships. Fortunately, no one has perished, but it's not wise to proceed further without sufficient information about this place."

There was one thing Wang Jun slowly realized: he was becoming too rushed. He couldn't pinpoint the source, but he sensed an impending danger if he didn't keep moving swiftly. It felt like some unseen force was influencing his mind and emotions. Consequently, he began to reflect on the events of his first day in this world, searching for any anomalies or strange encounters. Yet, he couldn't recall experiencing any until this very day. 

Wang Jun frowned as he suddenly remembered all his past actions. It dawned on him that everything he had been doing was completely out of character. He was someone who preferred to take things slow and never put himself in danger, especially considering his weakness. Another troubling thought was Freya. He knew that she was the strongest hunter he had, so it was understandable if she accompanied him inside instead of waiting outside.

'Your Will increase by +1.'

And slowly, the more he pondered that, the more his Will attribute increased until a new notification popped up.

'Your Will resist the effect of Gift – Dreaming.' 

"Dreaming?" Wang Jun frowned.

When he first arrived in this world, he received his gift, the leveling system. Initially, he thought it was his golden finger, considering he was a transmigrated person, but he realized he was getting confident. He was not the only one who was transported here.

The troubling aspect was his lack of knowledge about this person and how they could affect him without him noticing.

Perhaps this person had found a way to deceive his gift, or they might have altered their identity to blend in with the barbarian tribe.

"Seems like I'll need to do another clean-up once I return," Wang Jun sighed as he rubbed his temple. He hadn't yet resolved his current issue when another one arose.