High above the maze, where the winding walls tangled in a seemingly endless labyrinth, a figure sat perched at its apex. The girl, clad in a white T-shirt and loose black knickers that swayed faintly in the air's whisper, leaned lazily against a jagged pillar of concrete. Her blonde hair, twisted into twin buns, caught the faint light from the maze's glowing runes, while her red eyes.. crimson and gleaming like blood under moonlight... scanned the chaos below.
A faint pop echoed as she blew a bubble from her gum, letting it burst before pulling it back into her mouth with a muted smack. She sighed heavily, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence, though no one was near enough to hear.
"Everyone's stupid," she muttered, her tone carrying a blend of boredom and disdain. "Can't they see it won't die without teamwork?" Her slender fingers traced along the sleek surface of the weapon resting across her lap... a compact, sub-mini cyber gun. The gun's dark, reflective finish caught a glimmer of light, betraying the latent power it concealed. She gave it an almost tender pat, then leaned down to kiss it lightly on the barrel. "It's just you and me out here, partner."
Movement caught her attention. Two figures, weaving their way through the labyrinth with fluid agility. Both wore the standard white T-shirts and black-and-blue knickers that identified them as new recruits.
The first girl moved with an strange calmness. Her pitch-black hair framed a face devoid of emotion, her dull green eyes like empty glass marbles. Each step she took was measured, silent, efficient... like she moved to a rhythm no one else could hear.
The second girl couldn't have been more different. Her long white hair, tied neatly into buns, swayed as she moved, and her deep orange eyes gleamed with unspoken amusement. The pointed tips of her ears peeked out from her hair, giving her a faintly alien air.... an elf you may say..
They scaled walls and vaulted gaps as though gravity held no claim over them, moving together like gears in a well-oiled machine.
The blonde girl smirked, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, chewing slowly. "Interesting," she muttered, a spark of intrigue lighting her crimson eyes.
****
Tess moved through the maze's twisting corridors, her boots silent against the ground. Berk followed close behind, her dull green eyes scanning their surroundings with almost mechanical like efficiency. The oppressive air grew heavier as they neared the heart of the maze, where the final Maze Crawler lurked, waiting for its next prey.
Without warning, Tess halted mid-step, her hand raised slightly in a gesture for silence. Berk stopped too, her movements fluid and calm, but said nothing. Tess's sharp eyes darted to the shadows, her voice calm and measured as she spoke.
"Come out. If you would."
The silence that followed was suffocating, stretching thin as if the maze itself held its breath. Moments passed, the tension thickening, until...
A figure emerged, but not with hostility.
"Yes!" a cheerful voice chimed, almost jarringly out of place in the maze's grim atmosphere. "Finally, smart people!"
The girl strode forward, her white T-shirt slightly wrinkled, her black knickers hanging loosely. Her blonde hair, styled into twin buns, bounced as she moved, and a faint grin played on her lips as she chewed gum with exaggerated enthusiasm. Her crimson eyes glinted in the faint light, alive with mischief.
Tess's gaze flickered over the girl, her expression unreadable. But inwardly, her mind worked like clockwork, analyzing every detail.
Though she seems to acts like a half-psycho… she's well-equipped, Tess thought, her eyes lingering on the weapon in the girl's hands. The sub-mini cyber gun was a compact marvel of destruction, capable of piercing almost any known defense. It was one of the rare items from the game, and Tess recognized it immediately.
The girl interrupted her thoughts with an enthusiastic declaration. "Oh, by the way, I'm Lizz."
Tess arched an eyebrow, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. She was about to ask for the girl's name, but it seemed Lizz was eager to introduce herself. Instead, Tess folded her arms, her voice steady as she addressed her.
"I don't need to tell you how cooperation works, do I?"
Lizz's grin widened as she nodded enthusiastically. "Right."
Tess glanced at Berk, who stood silently to the side, her expression as blank as ever. The green-eyed girl had yet to speak, but her silence spoke volumes.
"Let's get going," Tess said calmly, her voice brisk as she gestured for them to follow. The Maze Crawler wouldn't wait, and time wasn't on their side.
They turned to leave, their movements precise and in sync, but a guttural growl froze them mid-step.
Tess stiffened, her hand instinctively reaching for her cyber blade. The sound came from behind her.
The Maze Crawler.
It moved with a speed and silence that defied logic, its monstrous form barely illuminated by the faint glow of the maze. Its once ragged frame had transformed, its sinewy muscles bulging with unsettled strength. The remnants of its fallen kin seemed etched into its form, a grotesque amalgamation of their powers.
Its claws swiped through the air, aiming directly for Tess.
Slash!
The sound tore through the silence, the deadly arc of its attack cutting toward her with relentless speed..
But then...
Slash! Slash! Slash!