No sooner had Qiris and Little Idiot crossed the threshold of the new labyrinth than a feeling of disorientation overwhelmed them. The mist, denser and more vivacious than in the first labyrinth, swirled around them, creating ghostly shapes that appeared and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"By all the gods" Qiris whispered, his eyes frantically scanning the surroundings. "It's even worse than the first one."
Little Idiot, perched on his shoulder, emitted a worried "ribbit". His large green eyes swept the environment, alert for the slightest movement.
Suddenly, a silver glint caught the little frog's attention. Without warning, he leaped from Qiris's shoulder, lunging towards the source of the glow.
"Little Idiot, no!" Qiris shouted, but it was too late.
The mist abruptly dissipated, revealing a creature Qiris had never seen before. It was a rank 1 beginner astral monster, a sort of wolf made of solidified mist and twinkling stars. Its eyes, two orbs of icy blue, fixed on Little Idiot who had just landed right in front of it.
"Oh no" Qiris breathed, realizing they had just stumbled into their first real fight.
The astral wolf growled a sound that resembled the distant murmur of a galaxy. It lunged at Little Idiot, its fangs of light aiming for the small frog.
But Little Idiot was not easy prey. With surprising agility, he dodged the attack with a leap, landing on the wolf's back. Without losing a moment, he used his [Propelled Headbutt] skill, striking the monster's neck with astonishing force for his small size.
The astral wolf yelped in pain, violently shaking its body to get rid of the intruder. Little Idiot was thrown into the air, but he righted himself in mid-flight, landing gracefully next to Qiris.
"Well done, Little Idiot!" Qiris exclaimed, his heart racing. "But we're not done yet."
Indeed, the astral wolf, now furious, charged towards them. Its paws didn't touch the ground, leaving a trail of stars in its wake.
Qiris, reacting on instinct, dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the monster's sharp claws. He rolled on the ground, quickly getting up, his mind racing to find a strategy.
"Little Idiot!" he shouted. "Use your [Aquatic Reinforcement]!"
The little frog obeyed instantly. A thin layer of shimmering water enveloped his body, enhancing his defense and power.
The astral wolf, disoriented by Qiris's evasive maneuver, turned to face Little Idiot. It charged again, but this time, the frog was ready.
Just before impact, Little Idiot jumped, using the wolf's head as a springboard. He bounced in the air, then descended in a dive, his water-reinforced body striking the monster's back with tenfold force.
The astral wolf howled, a sound that made the air around them vibrate. Stars detached from its body, floating in the air like dying sparks.
Qiris, seeing an opportunity, shouted "Little Idiot, aim for its eyes!"
The frog, understanding his master's intention, leaped towards the wolf's face. His small feet, reinforced by water, struck the icy blue orbs with precision.
The monster, blinded and disoriented, staggered backward. Its body began to lose consistency, the mist that composed it slowly dissipating.
"Now, the finishing blow!" Qiris ordered.
Little Idiot, gathering his last strength, executed a final [Propelled Headbutt], aiming for the center of the astral wolf's chest.
The impact was spectacular. The monster's body exploded into a myriad of twinkling stars, which floated for a moment in the air before gently fading out.
Silence fell back in the labyrinth. Qiris, panting, approached Little Idiot who was joyfully hopping in place.
"We did it" he whispered, incredulous. "We succeeded in our first real fight."
Little Idiot emitted a triumphant "ribbit", puffing up his throat with pride.
Suddenly, a glow caught their attention. Where the astral wolf had disappeared, a small shining stone was floating in the air. Qiris gently grasped it, feeling a soft warmth emanating from the object.
[Rank 1 beginner astral core obtained]
A smile formed on Qiris's face. "It looks like our adventure is just beginning, my little friend" he said to Little Idiot. "And something tells me we're not done fighting."
However, the euphoria of victory was short-lived. Little Idiot, exhausted from the fight, slumped slightly. His movements, previously quick and energetic, became slower and more labored.
"You've exhausted your mana, haven't you?" Qiris asked softly, kneeling to examine his companion more closely. The little frog emitted a weak "ribbit" in response, confirming his master's suspicions.
As Qiris pondered their next move, a sudden shiver ran down Little Idiot's spine. The frog abruptly straightened up, all his senses on alert.
In the depths of the mist, a pair of red eyes watched them. These eyes, shining with cold and calculating intelligence, had followed every movement of their fight against the astral wolf.
Little Idiot, despite his fatigue, began to frantically scan the mist, searching in vain for the source of this unsettling gaze. Qiris, noticing his companion's agitation, also became on guard.
"What is it, Little Idiot?" he whispered, his eyes sweeping the surroundings without seeing anything unusual.
In the misty darkness, invisible to Qiris but real to Little Idiot, an evil smile widened. It wasn't a smile of joy or amusement, but an expression that promised danger and suffering.
The shiver that ran through Little Idiot intensified, becoming almost unbearable. The little frog huddled against Qiris, his eyes continuing to search desperately in the mist.
Qiris, sensing his companion's fear, gently took him in his hands. "Calm down" he whispered, although he began to feel a growing concern. "We must stay on our guard."
As they slowly resumed their progress through the labyrinth, the red eyes followed them, still hidden in the shadows. The evil smile widened even more, silently promising that this was only the beginning of their trials.