A cold sweat broke out across his body, and a chill ran down his spine. "It's behind me, isn't it…"
Ryan could feel something alive behind him, breathing heavily. He turned around slowly, staring at the creature in front of him in shock.
It was an abnormality, with six spider-like legs, four arms like a demon, and a gruesome face that would instantly make any brave man run for his life at one glance.
"Zzarrr!!!?" The creature let out a soul-numbing screech, its voice a mix of pain and confusion that echoed through the labyrinth, chilling all who heard it.
———Threads of dark, sticky, nasty liquid dripped from the creature's body onto the floor. Its skin distorted, revealing rotting flesh beneath, and its eyes filled with unsettling hunger.
'Why is a dangerous monster like this on the first floor!?? HEY! System girl, answer me!' he asked, but again, no answer came from that girl.
Feeling betrayed, Ryan trembled with fear. He didn't have the time to think about that girl and system as the monster was just in front of him.
He couldn't take his gaze away as the creature moved forward slowly—fearing that it might lunge at him if he tried to run.
Ryan slowly took a step backward. He had seen that creature's speed, and he was damn sure that outrunning it was impossible.
He tried to calm himself and think of a solution, but Ryan didn't get the time to think as the monster extended its decaying tongue, dripping with thick black saliva, and slowly reached toward him.
Unable to hold back his disgust, Ryan shuddered, speeding up his pace to walk backward while keeping eye contact with the monster.
He feared that if he broke eye contact, the monster would directly attack him since it hadn't done anything harmful till now.
The monster also sped up, a little more than Ryan's. Only when the monster lunged, closing in with its tongue far quicker than Ryan had anticipated, did Ryan snap out, stumbling backward and turning to flee back to the first floor's entrance.
His heart pounded in his chest as he sprinted, his footsteps echoing through the stone corridors. Desperation filled him, but he was completely aware that the creature was way faster.
It wasn't long before he felt its unpleasant breath close behind him.
Hurriedly, he pushed himself, trying to speed up, but before he knew it, the monster leaped, crashing into him and pinning him roughly against the cold stone floor.
"ARRHGA!!" Ryan groaned in pain, struggling to free himself, but the monster was much larger and far stronger than him.
Its twisted claws gripped him with a hard hold, preventing him from breaking free. He could feel the weight pressing him down, his strength completely useless against its sheer brute force.
As he fought, panic filled his mind—there was no escape. He was utterly at the mercy of this monster.
"Zzarrrrr!!!" Roared as it moved closer, and Ryan closed his eyes shut, bracing for the worst, thinking it would tear him apart and kill him.
But instead, he felt a sharp pain in his neck. His eyes shot open as he realized the creature was biting deep into his flesh.
The pain was intense, like a sharp, big needle going through his skin. He gasped, trying to push the creature away as it started to drink his blood.
Fearing the worst, he thought this must be just an appetizer before it devoured him alive.
But something strange happened. As his blood flowed into the monster's mouth, a faint glow began to pulse from within it.
The glow grew, spreading through its decayed body until its entire body radiated with a bright light.
Ryan barely had time to register what was happening before the monster's body began to shake. In a sudden, violent explosion, the creature burst apart, its flesh and blood—the dark liquid spraying around the place.
Chunks of decayed flesh and foul-smelling liquid splattered onto Ryan, drenching him completely.
The stench was unbearable, and his stomach ached. Overwhelmed by the smell, he vomited several times.
Plus, the blast from the monster's body had left him weakened and covered in injuries.
He tried to stand but felt his legs unable to move. Every inch of his body ached. The exhaustion, the pain, and the disgusting stench were too much, and his vision blurred as he finally passed out...
---
"Ughh!"
After an unknown amount of time, Ryan regained consciousness. The smell of rot still hung in the air, but strangely, his injuries had healed on their own.
He opened his eyes slowly, still feeling the filth clinging to his skin. His clothes were drenched and covered in dried, dark liquid.
Disgusted, he forced himself to sit up slowly, pinching his nose to block out the smell, and took off his shirt and pants, tossing them aside.
The clothes had at least shielded some parts of his body from the worst—foul liquid.
Shivering and exhausted, he forced himself to his feet, wending forward in search of anything that could help him clean up.
Every step felt heavy as he wandered through the dark labyrinth, reminding him of the horrific situation he had just endured.
"T-that girl and system, everything was a scam!?" Ryan muttered, "But at least I'm still alive." He continued to walk forward while barely keeping his body functional.
After what felt like ages, he came upon an open chamber at the end of the labyrinth's first floor.
In the center of the room was a small, clear pond, its surface reflecting the soft glow of mysterious lights from the stone walls around it.
The room seemed strangely calm, and as he stepped inside, a sense of relaxation settled over him, soothing his nerves.
He wanted to look around for any potential threats but didn't have the strength for it.
So, using the last bit of his strength, he approached the pond, crouching by the edge. He scooped some water in his hands and splashed it on his face and arms, cleaning away the dried blood and grime that clung to his skin.
The coolness of the water felt refreshing, washing away the tension and lingering disgust.
Once he had cleaned off most of the filth, he stepped fully into the pond, letting the water surround him.
The moment he entered, an incredible feeling washed over him. His tired muscles relaxed, and he felt strength returning to his mind and body, as if the water held some kind of magic.
For the first time since his arrival in this terrifying place, Ryan felt good. Forgetting about everything, he rested in the pond...