The Minotaur's molten eyes burned through the dust between them.
Goblins hissed at the edges of the chamber, clutching spears, blades, jagged teeth bared. The air felt heavy — like the room itself wanted him dead.
Leo rolled his shoulders, ignoring the sharp stab in his ribs.
Blood in his mouth. Sweat in his eyes. A dagger barely held together in his grip.
The shadow's whisper still rang in his ears.
"Push."
"Yeah," Leo muttered, spitting to the side. "Let's see how far I can push before my ribs just… fall out."
The Minotaur moved first.
Not a step — a quake. Its foot slammed into the stone, and it lunged forward, slab-sword screaming through the air.
Leo dove left. The blade carved a trench in the floor where he'd been standing.
Sparks. Stone chips. Dust.
A goblin screeched and charged from his blind spot.
Leo caught it by the arm, yanked it forward, and slammed his knee into its face. Something cracked. It crumpled.
He snatched the goblin's crude spear before it hit the ground.
The Minotaur turned, swinging its blade again — horizontal, wide enough to kill half a dozen goblins at once.
Leo didn't try to block. He sprinted toward the nearest stone pillar, the air buzzing with the weapon's passing inches behind him.
The shadow's voice murmured again, low and certain.
"Break him."
The pillar loomed ahead. Leo spun behind it as the Minotaur charged.
The beast's blade smashed into stone, the impact booming through the chamber. The pillar split, groaning.
Leo didn't hesitate — he jammed the spear into the crack and heaved.
The stone buckled. Fragments rained down.
The Minotaur ripped its weapon free, snarling. But Leo wasn't done.
Another pillar. Another strike. Another crack.
The ceiling trembled.
"Come on…" he breathed, ducking a goblin's spear thrust and shoving the creature straight into the Minotaur's path.
The beast swatted it aside like a ragdoll.
The goblin hit the far wall with a wet crunch.
Leo darted for the third pillar.
The Minotaur followed, roaring, stomping hard enough to shake dust from the ceiling.
He was fast — too fast.
The shadow's tone sharpened.
"Now."
Leo feinted left, then bolted right, forcing the Minotaur to overcommit its swing. The slab-blade slammed into the cracked pillar.
The stone shattered.
And the chamber groaned — deep, guttural, final.
Leo didn't look up. He ran.
The ceiling collapsed where the Minotaur stood. A stone the size of a wagon crashed down, crushing goblins beneath the avalanche. Dust and debris filled the air.
Leo coughed hard, waving grit from his eyes.
Through the haze, the Minotaur moved.
It wasn't dead — not yet. One arm was pinned under rubble, the other still gripping its weapon.
It heaved against the stones, eyes blazing.
Leo tightened his grip on the dagger.
No more running.
He charged, boots skidding over broken stone.
The Minotaur roared and swung — slower now, weaker. The blade scraped past him, missing by inches.
Leo drove the dagger into its neck.
The beast bucked, snarling.
Leo yanked it free and stabbed again. And again.
The system chimed.
──────────────
[Critical Hit!]
──────────────
The Minotaur sagged, breath ragged, molten eyes dimming.
Leo planted a foot on its chest and shoved hard, pulling his dagger free one last time.
The beast collapsed under the weight of the rubble.
The system's chime rang louder this time — clear, final.
──────────────
[Keeper of the Trial Defeated]
+1,500 EXP
──────────────
Leo slumped to his knees, panting hard. His HP bar still glowed red, his vision edging toward black.
From the shadows, those pale silver eyes gleamed brighter.
"Worthy," the voice said.
Leo coughed out a laugh. "Yeah… I feel super worthy right now."
The goblins that had survived the collapse froze in place — then, one by one, backed away, vanishing into the tunnels.
The shadow stepped closer, its shape still shifting like smoke.
"The Trial is over. Now… claim your inheritance."
The system pulsed in gold.
──────────────
[Trial Complete]
[Special Reward Unlocked]
──────────────
Leo stared at the floating text.
Then at the shadow.
Then he smirked weakly.
"Alright. Let's see what the hell I just killed myself for."
---
A/N: I have reupdated the chapters onwards chapter 9, I haven't changed their content, just a few dialogue changes, some grammar mistakes, and also made everything feel smooth as a real conversation to make it feel more alive. So, if you can try to reread it and tell me if I have to improve it more.