In the quiet gloom of dawn, with the mists still lingering low over the cobbled streets, Rei stood beside the entrance of the labyrinth, a modest pack slung across his back and Tenko perched alertly on his shoulder. The fox-like Navarion's tails flicked gently with the morning wind, his ears twitching at every sound.
Rei's gear was minimal in appearance, but deceptive in practice. Beneath the folds of his dark-gray cloak were weapons cleverly hidden in sheathes across his arms, boots, and waist. Lightweight, silent, and ready to draw in an instant. He had packed the basics: ropes, pitons, a pickaxe, torches, water flasks, energy rations, and several potions—some for healing, others for emergencies.
This trip wasn't made on a whim. Rei had waited. Planned.
While most would-be adventurers stormed into the labyrinth as soon as they reached Level 7, eager for glory and fortune, Rei had delayed his journey despite qualifying. He had spent weeks gathering rumors, studying old maps, interrogating seasoned hunters, and cross-checking every detail with a caution that bordered on obsession. The labyrinth was a living entity of danger, and even the smallest oversight could become fatal within.
He showed his hunter's identification badge to the gatekeeper, a gruff man whose weathered face bore a permanent scowl. The man nodded without expression and led Rei toward a narrow stairwell carved into stone—so tight only one person could pass through at a time. The descent into the labyrinth began.
As they walked, the man spoke in a low voice. "You already know this place isn't like the old legends, right? The top floors are where the worst ones live. The real monsters."
Rei nodded. "That's why I'm starting from the bottom."
The gatekeeper grunted in approval. "Good head on your shoulders. Don't get cocky, though. The strong ones don't stay down here. If they think they're strong enough, they climb. And when they climb... sometimes they get out."
It was an open secret. The labyrinth constantly threatened to overflow. The strongest monsters didn't stay buried—they rose to the surface to escape and spread destruction. Only the strongest hunters, working as a near-military force, pushed them back. There had been no full breach yet, but close calls weren't uncommon.
They reached the bottom of the stairwell. A set of ancient stone doors barred the way forward. The gatekeeper pulled a lever, and the heavy doors creaked open. A gust of stale, dry air swept out from within, bringing with it the faint scent of old blood and stone.
Rei stepped forward without hesitation. Tenko growled low in his throat, but it was instinct, not fear.
The entrance chamber was vast and surprisingly silent. Old bones and remnants of previous hunts lay scattered about. Rei looked around. No movement. Most of the early monsters had likely been cleared out by other hunters. Still, he remained alert.
As they moved further inward, they encountered the first signs of danger.
Blitzes.
They looked like rabbits—if rabbits were the size of wolves, with needle-sharp claws and glowing red eyes. Their fur sparked with static, earning them the name "Blitz." Fast, nearly impossible to aim at, and capable of swarming their prey in seconds.
The moment they spotted Rei and Tenko, they bolted forward in a blur.
Rei didn't bother trying to hide. Stealth was useless now.
He drew his short sword with a smooth motion and murmured, "Sword meets sword."
In an instant, his body shifted into a sharp, flowing motion—his blade moving like it had a will of its own. Two Blitzes were cut down in a flash, their momentum turning against them. Rei didn't stop. He threw a dagger toward a third, catching it clean in the eye.
Tenko leapt off Rei's shoulder, his tails flaring out. He barked once—and then launched a series of wind slashes, slicing through two Blitzes that tried to flank them. Their bodies hit the ground with dull thuds.
Despite their speed, the Blitzes were weak. Numbers alone weren't enough against a well-trained team like Rei and Tenko.
The area quieted again.
Tenko wandered toward a nearby rock and began sniffing it intensely. He growled.
Rei watched, intrigued. "Found something?"
Tenko barked once and began pawing the ground.
Rei knelt and started to dig with his pickaxe. After a few minutes of labor, the dirt gave way to a glimmering chunk of dark, marbled ore.
He whistled. "That's a good find."
As he placed the ore into a side pouch, he noticed movement in the distance. Someone was approaching—someone with a heavy-looking backpack, face shadowed by a hood.
Rei's hand drifted toward a hidden blade.
The stranger stopped a few meters away and raised a hand in greeting. "Don't be alarmed. I'm a hunter too."
Rei narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The man lowered his hood slightly, revealing a scar across one cheek. His eyes were sharp and calculating.
"I've been surveying the labyrinth," the man said. "Mapping out resource nodes. I was hoping to find someone capable to assist me. You're more than capable."
Rei remained suspicious. "There are dozens of hunters down here. Why ask me?"
"Because," the man said with a thin smile, "you're after more than just monsters, aren't you? I saw the way you spotted that ore. I have a map—one that leads to a cluster of rare ores, high above, near the dangerous zones. I'm offering you a share."
Rei's expression didn't change. "No thanks. Not interested in dying for minerals."
Tenko barked. Rei glanced down. The Navarion's ears twitched as he studied the stranger. He barked again, this time softer, and wagged his tail slightly.
"You're saying you don't feel any malice from him?" Rei asked.
Another bark.
Rei sighed. "Still, we can't trust anyone on the first meeting."
He looked back at the man. "I'm not rejecting the idea completely. But I want to study the area first. Give me a copy of your map. If it checks out, we go in one week. No sooner."
The man didn't hesitate. "Fine. That's fair."
He reached into his satchel and pulled out a scroll, carefully unrolling it before handing it over.
Rei studied it for a moment, then tucked it into his bag. "See you in a week."
The man nodded and disappeared into the shadows of the labyrinth.
Rei and Tenko stood in silence for a moment before Rei finally exhaled. "Well, Tenko… I don't like it. But we'll see where this leads."
Tenko climbed back onto his shoulder, ears alert.
And deeper into the labyrinth they went—carrying the weight of suspicion, curiosity, and the scent of a dangerous opportunity that could shift the course of their journey forever.