Alex led the way as the trio stepped into the maze. The stone walls closed in around them, twisting endlessly in all directions. Jack adjusted his armor again and again, the metallic clinks betraying his nerves, while Elene gripped her staff so tightly her knuckles had turned pale.
Alex glanced back and noticed their tension.
"Don't worry," he said calmly. "If we stick to the plan we discussed earlier, this floor will be manageable."
Both of them nodded, though their expressions remained stiff as they moved deeper into the maze.
Earlier — During the briefing
Alex had laid everything out plainly.
"This floor has a strict rule," he explained. "All three members must reach the end of the maze together. If even one person dies, the entire team is forced to restart."
Jack and Elene exchanged uneasy glances.
"That's why most parties fail here," Alex continued. "The maze is divided into three sections. The first is filled with traps. The second is absolute darkness. And the third…" His expression hardened. "The most dangerous—poison mist mixed with possession effects. The deeper you go, the stronger it becomes."
The couple swallowed nervously.
"I understand the traps and darkness," Jack said hesitantly, "but how are we supposed to survive the poison?"
Alex replied calmly, "The poison won't affect me much due to my level. But for you two, I prepared in advance."
He pulled out two small vials.
"Detox potions. I bought them from a stall in town."
The tension drained from their faces instantly as they let out sighs of relief.
Back to the present
Alex walked at the front, scanning the ground carefully. Behind him, Jack's steps became uneven. His foot pressed down—
Click.
A massive axe burst from the wall, swinging toward him with terrifying speed.
Before Jack could even react, Alex vanished from his position. In a blur, he grabbed Jack by the armor and yanked him backward. The axe slammed into the stone where Jack had stood a moment earlier, splitting the wall apart.
Alex released him.
"Stop letting fear control your movements," he said sharply. "One mistake here can kill us all."
Jack nodded frantically, his face pale, and forced himself to steady his breathing.
They pressed on.
Moments later, Elene noticed strange carvings etched into the wall—symbols that pulsed faintly. Curious, she reached out.
"Don't—!" Alex shouted.
Too late.
A hidden mechanism activated. A storm of arrows erupted from the opposite wall.
Alex reacted instantly. He spun his scythe in a wide spiral, steel flashing as arrows shattered midair. Still, several slipped past his defense and raced toward Elene.
She raised her staff and chanted, A hexagonal veil of pale-blue runes unfolded in front of her snapping into place just as the arrows struck, shattering harmlessly against it.
Jack had dropped to the floor, curled up in panic. When the assault ended, he slowly looked up and exhaled shakily.
Alex scanned them both.
"No injuries," he muttered. "Lucky."
Then, more firmly, "This maze doesn't forgive carelessness. Stay focused."
The first section tested them relentlessly—hidden arrow traps, pits filled with spikes, crushing boulders. One massive stone rolled toward them, only to be split cleanly in half by Alex's half moon slash.
Eventually, they reached the entrance to the second section.
The Zone of Darkness
Before entering, Alex tied a rope around each of them, linking the three together.
"This darkness was created using the authority of the God of Darkness," Alex thought grimly. "Anyone below the 60th floor can't see through it."
He clenched his jaw. All we can do is push through.
Inside, vision vanished entirely. The rope prevented them from being separated, but it also restricted movement, forcing them to shuffle slowly through the unknown. They hit dead ends again and again. Time stretched unbearably.
Elene's voice trembled. "What if… we can't get out?"
Alex felt agitation rising. If they failed here, he'd miss his chance at the passive skill he needed—one he wouldn't see again until the 80th floor.
Then, suddenly, it felt like stepping through a thin veil.
Light returned.
They stumbled out of the darkness and into the final section.