Floor ??? — Labyrinth of the Deadly Embrace
Adonis strode forward, his body thrumming with renewed energy. The grotesque act of consuming his own arm had granted him the strength to press on, though the memory of it lingered like a shadow in his mind. The labyrinth's oppressive walls, pulsating with unnatural life, seemed to close in around him, but ahead—a sliver of light. He quickened his pace, drawn toward it like a moth to a flame.
Emerging into the open, he found himself in a vast, roofless chamber. The walls were not stone or earth, but living flesh, slick with a sheen of moisture that glistened under an unseen light source. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and something far more primal—fear.
At the far end of the chamber, a scene unfolded that set his teeth on edge. A young woman with striking white hair stood with her back pressed against the fleshy wall, her sword trembling but unwavering as it pointed at a group of leering men. Her attire spoke of practicality and resilience: a long-sleeved shirt layered beneath a brown leather vest, its front laced tight. A belt cinched her waist, a satchel hanging at her hip, and her forearms were clad in sturdy gloves. Her boots, scuffed but well-made, dug into the ground as if bracing for an attack.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!" Her voice was sharp, laced with defiance, but the men only laughed, their smirks dripping with malice.
The leader stepped forward, his presence oozing arrogance. A vertical scar carved a jagged path down his right cheek, and his attire—a torn teal-green tunic over brown pants—spoke of a life lived by the edge of a blade. Bandages wrapped around his forearm, and black fingerless gloves flexed as he gestured mockingly.
"Well, well... what do we have here?" His voice was a slow, venomous drawl. "A little lamb with a sword thinks she can play warrior?"
The woman's grip on her weapon tightened. "Back off, or you'll regret it."
One of the men leered, his eyes raking over her. "Oh, I like her spirit. This'll be fun."
Another chimed in, his tone slick with false reassurance. "Put the sword down, sweetheart. You won't need it where we're going."
Adonis had seen enough. His voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"That's enough. Leave her alone."
The leader turned, his smirk widening as he took in Adonis's battered but determined form. "And who the hell are you? Some kind of hero?"
"Just someone who doesn't like seeing injustice," Adonis replied, his voice low but firm. "Walk away now, and no one gets hurt."
The men erupted into laughter, but the leader merely raised a hand, silencing them. His smirk turned predatory. "Oh, that's cute. You really think you can stop us?" He gestured, and his men tightened their grips on their weapons, eager for violence.
One of them spat, "Boss, let's just cut him down and get back to business."
The leader's gaze never left Adonis. "Hold on." He tilted his head, considering. "Tell you what—why don't you join us instead? Pretty thing like her could use some... company. And you look like a man who knows how to handle himself."
Adonis's blood boiled. "I don't associate with filth."
The leader's smile turned feral. "Wrong answer."
"Kill him."
The men lunged, weapons flashing, but Adonis barely had time to react before a primal instinct screamed in his skull—danger. Not from the men, but from something else. Something worse.
"Wait—don't you hear that?" Adonis's voice was urgent.
"Hear what?" one of the men sneered.
"Something's coming. Can't you feel it?"
"Don't fall for it—he's just trying to trick us!"
But the leader's expression darkened. "No... he's right. Something is coming. And it's coming very fast. Be on alert!"
The ground trembled. Then—
A blur of motion crashed into the center of the chamber with the force of a falling star. The impact sent shockwaves through the fleshy floor, cracks spiderwebbing outward as dust and debris exploded into the air.
When the dust settled, the creature stood revealed.
Ten feet tall, its form was a nightmare given flesh—a humanoid bat with a grotesque, snarling face, its skin armored in plates of pure black chitin. Wings, vast and leathery, stretched from its back and a long tail with a sharp blade at the end, each tip ending in razor-sharp claws. Its very presence exuded terror, a palpable weight that pressed down on the soul.
With a roar that shook the labyrinth to its core, the creature unleashed a wave of primal fear. Those with weak wills crumpled instantly, their minds shattered, their bodies limp with despair.
Adonis gritted his teeth, forcing his limbs to move, his mind to focus. He tightened his grip on his sword, his muscles coiling like springs.
This was no longer a fight against men.
This was survival.