When they awoke, they found themselves in a completely different environment. A dense forest stretched out before them, sunlight filtering through the thick canopy and casting shimmering patterns on the ground.
"Where are we?" Ren asked, his voice filled with confusion.
"I have no idea," Kai replied, trying to stay calm. "Maybe that book was a teleportation portal."
"What do we do now?" Mai asked, her voice trembling with worry.
"First, we need to figure out if this place is dangerous," Rio said decisively. "And then, find a way to get back."
Their team began to explore the forest, a growing sense of unease gnawing at them. Strange noises echoed from all directions, and they couldn't pinpoint their origins. As they moved deeper, they stumbled upon ancient ruins hidden in the forest, seemingly forgotten for ages.
"It seems this is our only clue," Kai said, approaching the ancient stones.
While exploring the ruins, we discovered strange statues and a throne adorned with a massive sword.
"Kai, what do you make of this?" Rio asked.
"I think we need to activate something here," Kai responded, moving closer to the statues. "Maybe it will lead us home."
Just as Kai was about to touch a statue, a roar thundered through the air, and the ground began to shake violently. They stood frozen, eyes wide in horror. From the depths of the ruins, a colossal monster emerged. Its red eyes glowed like embers in the night, and its sharp claws gleamed menacingly in the dim light.
Fear washed over them, infiltrating every fiber of their beings. Kai's heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest. This was a monster we never imagined facing—the boss of a Level 9 labyrinth, Cerberus. Just hearing about a Level 9 labyrinth was enough to make anyone shudder, as only teams of 20 A-rank adventurers could hope to defeat it.
"This can't be happening... How is it here?" Ren stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"We can't possibly defeat it... We're just a small C-rank team..." Mai exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear.
"Everyone, run!" Rio shouted, raised his shield.
"We have to go!" Mai screamed.
"YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO ABANDON HIM?!" Ren yelled in fury, his eyes burning with anger at Mai.
"BETTER THAN LETTING HIM SACRIFICE HIMSELF FOR NOTHING!" Mai retorted, her voice filled with pain and desperation.
"Run, everyone!" Kai made the agonizing decision. "We're sorry, Rio."
"Go now!"
The rest of us fled, leaving Rio behind as he desperately used his skill,
Half an hour later, they finally escaped. Rio remained behind, sacrificing himself to give them a chance to survive. Kai's heart was heavy with sorrow and guilt. As night fell, the surroundings grew cold and ominous. They wandered aimlessly, searching for a safe haven.
While crossing the forest to reach a vantage point on a mountain, they encountered two more sub-bosses of the Level 9 labyrinth. These terrifying monsters resembled gigantic locusts, just as frightening as the previous creature. Their eyes burned with a fiery red glow, and their claws and teeth were razor-sharp.
Before they could scream or react, one of the monsters lunged at Mai with blinding speed, killing her instantly. Blood splattered everywhere, and before we could comprehend what was happening, the second monster attacked Ren. His screams were abruptly silenced as the creature's claws pierced his chest.
"Ka..i... Run..."
"MAI, REN!!!"
In an instant, two of Kai's friends lay lifeless on the ground. The horrific sight paralyzed us, making it impossible to believe our eyes.