[Labyrinth Depth: 10%]
[Time Remaining: 2 days 5 mins 12 secs]
The maze split into three narrow paths before tapering into a single blocked wall. Kei stopped first. His jaw tightened in frustration, a quick flash before he forced his calm back into place.
"… Another dead end."
He tapped Winter's arm— a young guy with white hair—and pointed at the right wall.
Winter nodded. He stepped forward, dragged a small stone across the stone, and carved a straight mark near knee height. Dust peeled off the surface in a thin line.
Kei turned to signal everyone to move back, but the Runic board suddenly appeared above them.
[Current Players: 32]
A ripple of cold rolled across the group. Someone swallowed hard.
"Someone already died?"
Just then, a deep, shaking bellow ripped through the passage behind them, strong enough to press the air against their chests. It was a loud grunting roar, the sound crawled through the stone walls.
Several teens stumbled backward, and one girl's breath caught in her throat.
Kei's eyes flicked toward the sound.
"Good," he muttered. "This means the adults triggered something."
The ground shook lightly beneath their feet as the heavy steps echoed from the corridor they'd passed earlier.
Thump! Thump!
A beast lunged into view.
It was massive. A thick hide covered its body, torn open at the shoulder where something had gouged deep into the flesh. Blood clung to the rough skin. Its long tusks curved forward, scraping the wall when it shoved itself into the wider space.
Somehow, it resembled a wild boar with a few body enhancements. The boar's breath hit the floor in hot bursts.
"Winter. Aries. Left and right. Now!" Kei barked.
The two sprung into action.
Winter turned left. Aries darted right. Their feet hit the floor fast, arms raised, timing their movement with the creature's charging rhythm.
The boar's body slammed forward, its hooves cracking against stone. Winter sprinted, aiming straight for the exposed wound. His hand shot out, fingers hooked like claws, digging into the wet tear in the creature's hide.
Aries instantly raised his arm and punched directly into the open flesh. Wham!
The blood splattered across his sleeve and the beast screamed, its whole frame twisting violently… until Winter lost balance.
Roaring, the boar slung its head sideways.
Its tusk slammed into Winter's lower ribs, lifting him off the ground for a moment before hurling him backward. He crashed into Aries, knocking them both into the wall.
Helena gasped and reached forward, but her legs froze halfway. She doesn't have any weapons on her.
The mere sight of the beast made her legs wobble like jelly. I don't want to die. I don't want to… I don't want to die.
The boar dug its hoof into the floor and angled its tusks toward someone new.
Fèi Míng.
His pulse jumped, and his stomach pitched once. He took a step back, almost staggering, however, he took his stance.
The beast roared again, lowering its head.as it prepared to charge.
Fèi Míng inhaled sharply.
Calm down, Fateless. Panic solves nothing.
Breath even, his muscles steadied, and the fear thinned out enough for him to move.
The boar charged.
Fèi Míng dashed forward. His foot hit the stone, jumping on top of the boar.
He planted one foot between the beast's eyes, gripping its tusk with both hands. The rough surface scraped his palm.
The beast violently thrashed its head, trying to throw him off.
But Fèi Míng tightened his grip and jabbed his fist straight into the animal's eye.
Shrieking, the boar stumbled in a violent circle. It grunted in pain, staggering as it hit the walls.
Fèi Míng's weight slipped as the creature thrashed around again. His fingers slid against the wet surface of the tusk, and he toppled off its head, rolling across the floor until his shoulder struck the wall.
Quickly, Kei appeared beside it.
He lifted a heavy stone with both hands and slammed it down on the beast's skull.
A thick crack burst through the air. Bam!!!
The boar's legs twitched. Kei raised the stone again and smashed it's head a second time. The skull cracked open, collapsing under the force as blood sprayed across the ground.
Only the sound of their heavy breathing echoed in the silence.
Kei let the stone fall from his hands. He sighed loudly, the boar's blood trickled down his eyebrows as he smiled.
"Jaa~ That's one monster down," he said lightly.
[Food Cache Unlocked]
A small metal crate materialized near the corpse.
The group stared at the dead beast, still catching their breaths. Winter groaned from the floor. Aries wiped blood off his arm.
Helena glanced between Kei and Fèi Míng, trying to process how the hell any of that just happened.
Fèi Míng pushed himself onto his elbows.
His hand throbbed, biting in the pain that crawled up to his veins.
Their first beast kill.
The metal crate opened with a short click. Inside were wrapped cuts of cooked meat, packets of dried food, sealed water bottles, and a few fruits cushioned in cloth. Kei crouched over the crate and sorted through it with quick movements, muttering under his breath as he counted.
The group gathered around him. Hunger made their breathing shallow. No one spoke. Their mouths watering, gulping as they eyed the food.
Kei straightened, holding a handful of food in each arm.
"We share based on contribution," he said, tossing a wrapped piece of dried meat to Winter. "You stabbed it first."
A small bag of nuts to Aries. "You landed your hit."
He didn't look in Fèi Míng's direction.
Fèi Míng stayed still. His fingers curled once, then stopped. His gaze followed Kei's movements. He's not going to give me any credits, huh.
Kei dug into the crate again. "And since I killed it—" he set aside a much larger portion for himself, stacking meat and a packet of biscuits into a tidy pile "—I take the biggest share. Obviously."
Murmurs rose but nobody argued.
Then Kei's eyes landed on the boy he'd hit. The peeling pink sticker bandage on the boy's cheek had been pressed back on. "Right, Rhys?" Kei grinned.
Rhys stood stiffly at the back. His cheek was now swollen from earlier. His steps were uneven from the rib injury. He kept his arms close to his body like he was afraid to take up space.
Kei picked up a single apple, weighed it in his hand, then threw it at Rhys.
It hit Rhys in the shoulder before rolling to the ground.
Hands shaking, he bent quickly and picked it up.
His throat tightened as he wiped the dirt off the skin with the back of his hand. The apple wobbled in his trembling fingers. His breath caught, stopping midway. His eyes glistened, but he blinked fast to hide it.
Kei tilted his head. "We all agree, right? I did the most work. Rhys did nothing."
His tone sharpened. "Isn't that right, Rhys?"
Rhys kept his gaze on the apple. He slowly nodded. His stomach growled in the quiet, loud enough for several people to hear.
Kei's lips twitched. A short laugh slipped out of him. "Poor you."
A few people looked away.
Helena grunted from where she stood. "Hey, you. Short eye bastard!"
Kei turned to her. His eyes scanned her from head to toe. "What did you say?"
"Why do you act like you're entitled, huh?! You didn't even do shit—"
Kei took a step closer to her. A small smile plastered on his face as he said: "Well, I did kill it. And you just stood there like the fool you are. But don't worry, I'll give you your share, Reddie."
He pressed a dried pack of meat and an apple to her palm. "See, I'm a nice guy. Even when you did nothing too, I gave you some of mine."
Helena snarled. She clicked her tongue and snatched the food away from Kei. However, a stinging pain clung to her chest.
Fèi Míng slowly lifted his head.
He walked toward Rhys.
The group's attention shifted to finding a place to sit. Everyone wanted to eat to their fill before they continued walking.
Rhys didn't notice him at first. He was trying to steady his breathing, shoulders rising and falling too quickly. When Fèi Míng sat beside him, Rhys flinched.
"…Does it still hurt?" Fèi Míng asked quietly.
Rhys wiped his face with the back of his sleeve. "I-I'm fine."
Fèi Míng opened the small packet Kei gave him. There wasn't much inside. He picked out a piece of dried meat and held it out.
Rhys stared at it. "I—I can't. It's yours."
"Take it."
Rhys hesitated, then accepted it with both hands. He took a bite from the apple to hide the way his eyes stung.
Fèi Míng watched him chew. He didn't say much. His gaze traced the tight movement of Rhys' jaw, the way his fingers curled hard around the fruit, the way his shoulders shook when he swallowed.
"What happened to you wasn't fair," Fèi Míng whispered.
Rhys's breath caught.
Fèi Míng continued, "I don't like the way he treats you."
Rhys lowered his head. "It's okay. I'm u-used to it."
"He broke your rib."
Rhys suddenly found it difficult to swallow.
"He hit you for no reason," he continued, eyes fixed on the boy's expression. "And then mocked you after."
Rhys's grip on the apple tightened. His shoulders curled inward.
Fèi Míng leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper. "You have a pocket knife."
Rhys's heart hammered under his ribs. He stared at him, wide-eyed and quite shocked from that statement. How did he know?
Fèi Míng tilted his head slightly. "You shouldn't let him do that to you. Not again."
Rhys opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He looked down at his apple, then at the meat Fei Míng gave him. His breath shaking.
Fèi Míng placed his water bottle in Rhys's free hand.
"Drink," he ordered.
Rhys gulped slowly. He was thirsty. He hadn't eaten in days and his throat was scorched from hours of walking without water.
What a nice guy, he thought.
Rhys opened the bottle and drank from it. When he looked back at Fèi Míng, the other guy slowly smiled.
Yeah, he's such a nice person. Finally, someone sees me.