Chapter 30: The Labyrinth
Tap... Tap...
The sound of multiple footsteps echoed through the empty hallways of the dungeon.
The walls of the labyrinth were overgrown with moss and lichen, their damp texture blending seamlessly with the musty aroma that hung in the air.
Strange, small bugs that glowed with bright blue light darted around the walls, casting eerie shadows in their wake.
It was creepy.
"Move faster, you fucker, or else we'll leave you alone..."
A scornful voice echoed through the area, making me turn my head at its source.
A pair of eyes was staring at me with intense hostility. It was, obviously, Jake.
'Who are you calling a fucker, you fucker!'
Cursing under my breath, I quickened my pace to keep up with the group.
More than half an hour passed since we entered the labyrinth, and the tension among us grew thicker with each passing minute, because no monsters attacked us.
I knew that this was because most of the dungeon creatures were killed by Demons who were preparing for an attack, but there was no way for others to know that.
I also wasn't planning to reveal this information to them either.
"Where are the monsters?"
Sophia was the first one to finally speak up, her eyes darting around the dimly lit hallways in search of any signs of danger.
"Maybe they are just waiting for the right moment to strike?"
Alex was also on-edge, his hands clasping the grip of his longbow with a firm grasp. If needed, he could release the arrow in a split second.
Apart from me, the only one who seemed to be keeping their composure was Jake.
Although his face was contorted into a scowl, he was clearly assessing the situation.
"I think there might be something wrong here... We should go back."
Finally, after staring at the empty hallways for a few more minutes, Jake licked his lips and spoke up. His pride was severely damaged, however, he knew when it was time to prioritize safety over ego.
'Maybe he's not that retarded?'
Even I had to admit that he had something similar to the brain located in his skull.
"But we hav-"
Sophia wanted to protest, but a single glance from Jake silenced her. Although they hadn't assigned the exact role of leader within the group, it was clear that Jake was taking charge in this situation.
His eyes meant business and he wasn't going to risk his own safety. If anybody wants to continue exploring this weird dungeon, they are going to have to do it without him.
Crack...
Suddenly, one of the stone pillars in the hallway gave a groan, causing everyone to freeze in place and turn their heads towards the source of the sound.
Staring at the structure, I felt a small smirk creep onto my face.
"It's starting..."
***
"It's strange..."
Luna muttered, eyeing the crimson blood that stained her clenched knuckles.
"What is?"
Another voice immediately chimed in, making her face slightly twitch.
Although the dungeon exploration just started, she was already getting tired. Not because of how many battles she fought but because of a certain someone who kept pestering her as if she was some kind of divine being.
"We have only met a single monster so far... That is not normal."
Reluctantly, Luna turned to face the person who had interrupted her thoughts - a guy with blue hair and violet eyes that made her gut wrench, a person whose name she 'accidently' didn't hear during the group introductions
"Yeah, that's certainly strange... Monsters are usually after our blood so encountering just one seems off."
Another member of her group, a short girl with silver hair trimmed with purple ribbons, seconded.
For a moment, the trio was in silence, however, one of them was secretly gritting their teeth in frustration.
"It's probably nothing serious, we are just a bit unlucky."
Eventually, James opened his mouth, glancing over at Luna with a forced smile.
The tension in the air thickened as Luna's patience wore thin. She could feel her muscles tensing, a silent urge compelling her to voice her concerns again.
"James, I really think we should reconsider this. Something doesn't feel right. We've barely encountered any monsters, and that's not normal in a dungeon like this."
The girl with silver hair sheathed her sword.
James shook his head, his resolve firm.
"Come on, Lucy. It's probably just a stroke of bad luck. We're equipped, and we're a strong team. We can handle whatever comes our way."
Before Luna could argue further, distant screams pierced through the dungeon's eerie silence, causing all three of them to turn their heads simultaneously towards the source of the noise.
The silver-haired girl gasped, her eyes widening.
"What was that? Someone might need help!"
Luna's expression also immediately turned cold.
"We need to go check it out. There might be others in trouble."
Without waiting for James's objection or agreement, Luna dashed ahead, her feet pounding against the damp ground. She glanced back momentarily to see the others following her lead, albeit hesitantly.
There was no time to waste.
As they hurried down the twisting corridors, the echoes of screams grew louder, guiding them deeper into the labyrinthine dungeon.
The blue-haired guy, whose name Luna now knew, but didn't want to use, stumbled a bit, his voice tinged with both weird urgency.
"We should be careful. We don't know what's waiting for us."
Luna would've ignored his words but suddenly, a massive pressure descended on her shoulders making it harder for her to breathe.
"What are you doing?"
Luna snapped, turning her head to glare at the blue-haired guy, however, as soon as she saw his face, a shiver ran down her spine.
His face was twisted into an unnatural smile and a strange aura was emanating from his body.
'I should've trusted my gut...'
Luna looked at James's face and raised her fists.
Now, she knew why she had this uneasy feeling about this outing, there was a Demon Contractor right in their midst!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone