Part 1
The forest of Mythara seemed to guide us, revealing a hidden path through the luminous mist.
We walked in silence. Yuna led the way with light steps, while Kizuna floated nearby, unusually quiet. The fresh air, laden with tension, seemed to foreshadow something significant.
The vegetation grew denser, and suddenly, Yuna raised a hand to stop me.
Her gaze, fixed on something deep within the forest, conveyed a mix of caution and alertness.
—Haruto, look over there —she whispered, gesturing subtly toward a point between the trees.
I followed the direction of her hand and saw it… a stone arch, covered in roots and vines, standing at the base of a hill. Its carved symbols, partially hidden, seemed to guard an ancient secret.
A shiver ran down my spine. There was something about that place—something that demanded respect and stirred an irresistible curiosity.
—What is this place? —I asked, unable to tear my eyes away from the imposing arch.
Yuna stepped forward without hesitation, her fingers brushing the symbols with a reverence that seemed almost sacred. For a moment, her gaze lingered on them, lost in thought, as if she could perceive something only she could understand.
—This is a level-one dungeon, the "Root Labyrinth" —she said at last, her tone filled with respect—. It only reveals itself when the forest allows it.
She paused, studying the arch as though she could decipher a story hidden within its timeworn carvings.
—A long time ago, this place was used to test the worthiness of adventurers. The forest only reveals it to those with a deep connection to nature. It's as if it's protecting something important, something it doesn't want to let go of easily.
—This is amazing, Haruto-kyun! —Kizuna exclaimed, spinning in the air—. Your chance to shine as an adventurer!
A mix of nerves and excitement churned within me. I knew this was my chance to prove to myself that I could face this world.
—Do you think we can try it? —I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Yuna studied the entrance carefully before nodding decisively.
—It's a low-level dungeon, but even the simplest ones can be deadly if underestimated. This will be a good way to gauge your skills.
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words as I tried to steady my breathing.
—Dungeons are filled with traps, creatures, and challenges. Even at a low level, it won't be easy.
—If you decide to enter, you will follow my instructions without hesitation. There won't be any room for mistakes.
The weight of Yuna's words overwhelmed me, yet they ignited a spark of adrenaline. This wasn't an RPG—everything here had real consequences.
I took a deep breath, trying to project confidence despite my pounding heart.
—I'm ready —I said with more determination than I actually felt.
Yuna studied me for a moment before nodding again.
—Good. Remember… don't hesitate. Every step in a dungeon matters.
With a firm motion, Yuna pushed open the massive wooden door. The creaking echoed in the air, like a warning of what lay ahead.
Crossing the threshold, we were enveloped in a dense, almost tangible darkness, inviting us to uncover its hidden secrets.
The cold air brushed against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine, while an earthy, damp smell filled my senses.
The stone walls, intertwined with roots, seemed like a living extension of the forest we had just left behind.
Yuna moved cautiously, her fluid and confident movements making her seem like part of the environment itself. I followed, striving to keep my senses sharp.
Each step echoed against the moss-covered walls, amplifying the sounds in the sepulchral silence.
Suddenly, the ground vibrated beneath my feet. Blades shot out from the walls with a deadly hiss, tracing unpredictable patterns as they sliced through the air with lethal precision.
—Watch out, Haruto! —Yuna shouted, stopping just in time as the mechanism activated. With a single additional step, she had already crossed to the other side of the trap. Her wind-like lightness seemed to have avoided triggering the blades.
I swallowed hard, watching as the sharp edges moved with relentless rhythm, each whistle a stark reminder of the mortal danger before me.
—How… how am I supposed to get through this? —I asked, trying to steady the tremble in my voice as I eyed the distance between us.
Yuna furrowed her brow slightly, her eyes calmly analyzing the pattern of the blades.
—You could try "Wind Walk." It will give you speed and lightness, as if the wind itself is carrying you.
—You learned it recently, remember? It doesn't consume much mana, so you should be able to handle it.
Kizuna fluttered near my face, her enthusiasm undimmed even amidst the tension.
—That's right, Haruto-kyun! Use "Wind Walk"! You'll be as fast and light as the wind, Kizu. But, you know… just don't fall into the trap while you're at it!
I took a deep breath, ignoring Kizuna's teasing tone as I tried to focus. I recalled how Yuna had used the skill the day before, moving between the trees with a grace that seemed to defy gravity.
—Alright… —I whispered, opening my eyes with determination. I let the flow of mana activate the skill within me. A light tingling sensation spread through my legs, as if an invisible breeze had begun to wrap around me.
—Wind Walk! —I exclaimed, feeling my body grow lighter. Though the effect wasn't as seamless as Yuna's, something had changed. My steps were now faster and more precise, driven by the sole objective of crossing the trap.
I advanced, dodging the blades one by one. Each twist and turn demanded more of me than I thought possible, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins kept me moving.
Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my breathing grew heavier with each step. I couldn't afford to hesitate.
Suddenly, a blade whizzed past, mere centimeters from my face, the sharp air grazing my cheek.
Instinctively, I turned my head, but not quickly enough to avoid a scratch. A warm trickle of blood began to slide slowly down my skin.
—That was… way too close —I muttered, my heart pounding wildly.
—Don't stop, Haruto! You're almost there!
I took a deep breath and focused on the remaining blades. My body moved instinctively, dodging each obstacle with an effort that seemed to drain what little magic I had left.
Just as I thought I had cleared the trap, a creak beneath my feet alerted me. Before I could react, the ground gave way.
—Haruto! —I heard Yuna's shout as my body plummeted into the unknown.
Everything happened in an instant. Darkness swallowed me, separating me from her. Her alarmed face was the last thing I saw.
—Yuna! —I yelled, reaching a hand toward her, but the trapdoor slammed shut, severing any connection between us.
Cold air enveloped me as the dungeon consumed me. A hard impact against the ground knocked the wind out of my lungs, leaving me stunned and gasping for breath.
I lay still for several seconds, pain radiating through every muscle as I tried to steady the chaos in my mind.
With effort, I pushed myself to my feet, staggering and panting as my eyes adjusted to the dim light around me.
The faint glow from the upper floor filtered through the opening of the trapdoor, casting unsettling shadows on the ground below…
As Haruto disappeared beneath the trapdoor, swallowed by the shadows of the unknown, Yuna stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the spot where she had last seen him.
Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of worry and determination forcing her to stay strong.
Though the forest seemed to separate them, she knew their paths were still intertwined, as if Mythara itself was testing them in different ways.
—Haruto… —she murmured, her voice barely audible.
The echo of his name reverberated against the stone walls as the blades slowly retracted. For a moment, she considered running after him, but she knew the dungeon would not allow it. The forest had its own will, and this was a trial Haruto had to face alone.
She took a deep breath, letting the air fill her lungs as she closed her eyes.
—I trust you —she whispered to herself.
But her own path was growing more complex. A few steps away, a wall covered in runes began to glow faintly, as though the dungeon itself was guiding her next move.
—It seems I won't be able to help you directly… —she said calmly, letting her fingers brush over the glowing runes—. But I'll do my part.
With determination, she moved toward the puzzle the Root Labyrinth had prepared for her…
The silence that followed was absolute, amplifying the oppressive weight of the darkness. Loneliness settled in my chest, as heavy as the air around me.
—Yuna! —I shouted, my desperate voice piercing through the darkness. Only the echo responded, bouncing off the walls before fading into the absolute silence.
For a moment, fear wrapped around me—cold and paralyzing—like the dungeon itself was reminding me how alone I truly was. But I knew I couldn't always rely on her. This challenge was mine, and if I wanted to prove myself, I had to face it alone.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered what Yuna was facing. Did she feel the same invisible weight that seemed to watch my every move?
Though we were separated, I couldn't shake the feeling that our actions remained connected, like invisible threads the forest was weaving with intent.
I remembered Yuna's words: "Focus, every step counts." I took a deep breath, letting her advice cut through the fog of my thoughts.
—I can't keep worrying her. If I do, I'll never change.
The air was thick, almost tangible, as the darkness consumed everything around me. My world had shrunk to this oppressive space.
In the distance, dark spheres swayed with a hypnotic rhythm, like bubbles of shadow on the verge of collapsing. There was something profoundly unnatural about their erratic movements—a presence that sent chills down my spine, issuing a silent warning.
Suddenly, Kizuna's voice broke the silence, light and comforting.
—Haruto-kyun! I'm here! —she called, floating with her characteristic smile as her tiny wings fluttered—. We'll get through this together!
Her presence, though small, was a breath of relief amid the oppressive loneliness of the dungeon.
—Kizuna… I guess, for now, it's just the two of us.
—Exactly! This is your moment to shine, so let's go, Kizu! —she exclaimed, her contagious energy drawing a smile from me despite the tension in the air.
I took a deep breath. There was only one option—to move forward and, hopefully, reunite with Yuna.
—Kizuna… do you have any abilities that could help light up this room? —I asked, forcing myself to stay calm as I watched the figures slowly approaching.
Kizuna floated in front of me, crossing her arms and frowning in mock indignation.
—Do you think I'm a floating lamp? —she said, spinning dramatically in the air before puffing her cheeks—. I know I'm dazzling, but I'm not some pocket light!
I stifled a smile. Even in such an oppressive place, she found a way to lighten the mood.
—Although… I might try something brilliant just because you asked so sweetly, Kizu.
I rolled my eyes, but her enthusiasm was oddly comforting. Closing her eyes with an expression of absolute focus, she began to emit a faint golden glow.
—Aura Light! —she exclaimed enthusiastically as a warm light radiated from her tiny body.
The light was faint, but its warmth was enough to push back the suffocating darkness.
—See? I light up like a pro! —she said proudly, puffing out her chest at her "effort," even though the light barely reached a few meters.
—Sure… a pocket-sized pro —I murmured with a smile.
Thanks to her dim light, something on the ground caught my attention.
As I moved closer, I discovered a skeleton—the remains of an unfortunate adventurer. Its position suggested a fatal fall.
A chill ran through me as I grasped the brutal reality of this place. The dungeon did not forgive mistakes.
If this is a low-level dungeon, I can't imagine what the advanced ones are like. Maybe they have giant dragons like Valakios, that impossible boss from my old MMORPG that required fifty S-rank adventurers to fight…
Among the remains lay a sword and shield, both worn but still functional. The sword, though simple, seemed usable.
—Well… I don't think they'll need this anymore.
Kizuna floated nearby, observing with curiosity, her eyes sparkling with a hint of excitement.
—Good eye! It never hurts to have extra gear, Kizu.
I knelt in front of the skeleton, clasping my hands together in a gesture of respect.
—Thank you for these. I hope you rest in peace.
The weight of their sacrifice, though intangible, seemed to carry a silent promise: to make the most of this second chance.
Under Kizuna's faint light, something else caught my attention. Spherical, rippling shadows emerged in the distance, moving at the edge of my vision.
—What is that…? —I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.
Kizuna floated in front of me, her usual enthusiasm replaced by an unusually serious expression.
—I don't know… but I don't like it. You'd better get ready, Kizu.
I took a deep breath, adjusting my posture and gripping the shield tightly. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears.
Whatever awaited me at the end of this corridor, I knew it wouldn't be easy. The tension in the air told me this was only the prelude to something much bigger.
In the distance, a faint tremor rippled through the ground. Barely noticeable, but enough to remind me I wasn't alone in this dungeon.
The tremor grew stronger, resonating like a muffled heartbeat that echoed through the walls. Whatever lurked in the depths wasn't going to let me pass without proving I deserved to be here.