Aster's mind spun, racing to map out his next steps as he darted through each hall. Kill notifications continued popping up, one after the other, yet they barely gave him confidence.
Images of the minotaur flashed in his mind. He'd been struck down by monsters before, but none had killed him like that—an instant death, in a blur of motion he couldn't even track. It had closed the gap in mere moments, and if that wasn't terrifying enough…
It spoke.
The beast was intelligent.
Aster's plan had shifted. In his last attempt, he'd killed as many creatures as possible, leaving a bloody trail of survivors to fend for themselves against the next opponent he baited towards them. Now, he spared the victors, leaving a breadcrumb trail behind as he searched for new prey.
I'll figure out what comes next... Later.
---
Bellchet watched, his gaze fixed on the human. The boy moved with a deftness that was almost eerie, slipping through the labyrinth with seasoned precision.
"To think he's come this far in so little time," Bellchet murmured. "A pity he'll die all the same."
---
THUMP.
_No. I should have more time._
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
> [TRIAL ONE: UPDATE]
- Prerequisite: `75% of the trial time has elapsed.`
- Change: `The final chamber has opened. The boss has been alerted to the challenger's location. Good Luck.`
Aster cursed under his breath. He'd lost track of time.
He froze, taking a deep breath as he reined in his presence. Running was pointless. All he could do was take a moment to recover.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
The heavy footfalls drowned out every other sound, making it impossible to tell if any other monsters still lurked nearby.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
The hall itself seemed to vibrate.
Are the other monsters afraid of him? As afraid as I am?
He shivered. The plan was set. It was too late to change anything now. Steeling himself, he resumed his meditation and took a calculated step to the left.
The minotaur appeared, its monstrous frame a shadow down the hallway. It stalked forward, exuding a predatory malice, as if savoring the fear radiating from him.
Still, no monsters joined him. Only him and the minotaur.
"Have you given up already, mortal?" The minotaur's voice thundered, each syllable rolling through the labyrinth-like a physical force.
The boss's mere presence was enough to make Aster's lungs seize, words catching in his throat. "Y-Yes. I was completely overwhelmed by your strength in our last meeting," he said, trying not to choke on his words.
The minotaur growled, lifting one of its battleaxes with menacing ease.
"WAIT!" Aster shouted. To his surprise, the creature paused.
"I… I know it may be presumptuous, but may I ask a question before I die? An honor, really, coming from one as powerful as you." His voice quivered. _This is a gamble,_ he thought, _but I have no choice._
The minotaur studied him, as if debating whether he was worth even a moment's attention.
"One question, human." Its tone was final.
Think, Aster. What would he want to hear?
He thought of Bellchet, bowing slightly before he spoke, "Please… tell me of the god you serve."
The minotaur's answer exploded through the air, a thunderclap of fury. "NO." Steam hissed from its nostrils like a fuming bull.
"I-I didn't mean to offend," Aster stammered, shrinking back.
"YOU MORTALS HAVE FORFEITED HIS GRACE. ASK ANOTHER OR FACE DEATH." The minotaur's roar shook his very bones.
"I meant no offense," he said quickly, his heart pounding so hard it was nearly audible.
"ASK NOW OR DIE." The monster's glare was unyielding.
"Do you…" His mind stalled, grasping at anything, "Do you…"
THINK. THINK.
"Do you exist?"
What kind of question is that? His own question jarred him. "I mean, uh, between challengers… do you exist? Or do you only live to chase us?"
For just a second, the minotaur's fiery eyes softened, its gaze drifting into something almost reflective.
"I… do not know." For the first time, Aster saw doubt in the creature's gaze.
"But surely, a being as mighty as yourself has incredible tales to tell," Aster pressed.
"Silence, human. I am… thinking." The minotaur stared into its palm, as if searching for answers.
Schwss.
Aster didn't have time to react as a familiar spear embedded itself in the minotaur's calf, slicing through the position he had stood just moments before. The beast's guttural roar filled the hall.
He used the moment to spring forward, darting under the creature's towering legs. His mind was blank, body running on pure instinct as he slipped past.
Another second and he was in the clear, sprinting away from the infuriated monster.
The minotaur's ego would never tolerate an insult like this. With any luck, it'd be too enraged to notice anything else.
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
Good. One down.
He could only hope that there would be more obstacles in its path. Otherwise, it would be on him in seconds.
I don't even know where I'm going.
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
The alert replayed in his mind.
If the boss chamber has opened… no, it can't be that simple.
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
Even if there were a dozen more monsters, something told Aster he couldn't keep outrunning it. He needed to find the chamber.
Unlike a typical maze, the labyrinth had few turns. He knew the minotaur's speed and roughly how long it'd taken to find him. Which meant the boss chamber couldn't be too far away.
At each fork, he ran just far enough to see if there were any signs, doubling back only if the path proved empty. His instincts screamed against the thought of turning around, but he had no choice.
---
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
> [TRIAL ONE: MONSTER KILL CONFIRMED]
Please, let this be it.
He turned again, reaching the next split.
THUMP.
He didn't have time to choose.
Left or right? It has to be… right.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
He tore down the left path, abandoning his gut feeling. There were no chambers in sight. Panic clawed at him as the footsteps grew louder. His mind emptied as he wrung every last bit of energy out of his body.
So much so, that he almost missed it—a plain door, standing almost inconspicuously along the wall.
"Is that?" he gasped, diving for it.
The room inside was cavernous and stark, with granite walls encasing a vast chamber. At its center sat a colossal glass throne, shimmering with an odd translucence as if existing in another plane.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
It has to be this, Aster thought, dragging himself forward with the last of his strength.
Schwss.
An axe cut through the air, severing his arm in a clean arc. He was thrown to the ground, landing beside his bloodied limb, mere feet from the throne.
"AAHHHH!" He screamed, pulling himself forward in a desperate crawl.
The minotaur's crushing weight pinned his legs to the floor.
"AHHHHH!" He screamed again, fingers clawing forward.
Think! Move! I have to—
The memory of his own severed head loomed in his mind, pulsing with renewed terror. He forced himself to grab his detached arm.
"HAHAHA, STRUGGLE ALL YOU LIKE, MORTAL! YOU WILL DIE ALL THE SAME!"
With the last of his energy, he hurled his severed arm at the throne.
"NOW DIE!" The minotaur's fist plummeted toward him as his arm struck the glass.
I was so close…
A blinding white light engulfed the chamber, freezing the minotaur's fist just inches from his chest.
> [TRIAL ONE COMPLETED]