The fire crackled louder tonight.
They had gathered extra wood, just enough to make the flames feel alive rather than desperate. It was the last night before their second attempt. Everyone knew it. No one said it.
Zara sat by herself, knees hugged to her chest, her daggers resting beside her sleeping bag. She hadn't touched them in hours. Her eyes were half-lidded, staring into the darkness just beyond the fire's glow.
Vaylan and Lato were by the campfire. Lato lay curled up in Vaylan's lap, purring softly, though his ears still moved now and then, always listening.
Pierre sat cross-legged at the edge of the firelight, posture perfect, eyes closed. He looked like he was meditating, but his fingers moved slightly, as if counting something only he could see.
The silence stretched.
Vaylan took a deep breath. "Umm... Mr. Pierre?"
Pierre's eyes opened lazily. "It's just Pierre. No Mister. Besides, we seem to be about the same age."
"Right, Pierre," Vaylan said, a bit awkwardly. "Why are you on Floor 0? I mean, I get you came to check out the monster in the labyrinth, but... is that really all?"
Pierre smiled faintly. "It's a fair question."
"You just seem... y'know. Like, too polished. You're from the higher floors, right?"
"That's right."
"So are you trying to climb the Tree too?" Vaylan asked.
Pierre raised a brow. "Too, huh? So you three were planning to climb?"
He looked toward Zara briefly. "Makes sense. That girl has Thor's Mark on her hand."
Zara flinched, glancing down at the back of her hand. An intricate floral design with the number 0 in the middle.
"But I don't see one on you. Or the cat."
Vaylan blinked. "Oh yeah, I don't have anything like that."
Pierre tilted his head. "Could it be your first time climbing?"
"Yup!" Vaylan said cheerfully. "That's why I don't really know much. Still figuring it all out."
Pierre chuckled. "Curious… If you were from the higher floors, you'd have started from Floor 1 like everyone else. Not Floor 0. Only people born here, or exiled, begin their journey here."
He leaned back slightly. "Or perhaps... something else."
Lato's voice cut in. "That should apply to you too. So what's someone with your mana—and your noble status—doing on a filthy floor like this?"
Pierre gave a soft laugh. "Touché. You really don't like me, do you?"
"Not even a little," Lato said flatly.
"What a shame. I like cats. I have five myself. Although I rarely have time to play with them nowadays." Pierre exhaled slowly. "Alright. I'll tell you."
He stared into the flames.
"I was exiled."
Vaylan blinked. "Wait. For real?"
"You heard me," Pierre said calmly. "Exiled."
Zara spoke up suddenly from the darkness. "What's a hotshot like you gotta do to get exiled?"
Pierre turned, a little startled. "You surprised me, woman. I thought you were asleep."
"You're all so loud, I couldn't even if I wanted to."
Pierre smirked. "Fair enough."
He paused. His smile faded.
"As you probably guessed, I'm from a cadet branch of the Van Loere line. Every child born in my family swears a blood oath to serve the main house. No matter what."
His fingers curled around his knee.
"I was assigned to the fifth prince. His personal guard."
There was a long pause.
Zara narrowed her eyes. "What happened?"
Pierre didn't answer right away.
Then softly: "He did things I couldn't overlook."
Vaylan leaned forward. "So what'd you do?"
Pierre nodded once. "Slapped the young boy. Across the face. Open palm. In front of everyone."
Vaylan whistled. "Man, that must've been a sight."
"It was," Pierre admitted. "But it cost me everything. They exiled me the next day. Stripped me of title, land, and rights. I can't even talk to my family directly anymore."
"What did he do to deserve it?" Zara asked quietly.
Silence.
Pierre looked at the fire again. "It's better if you don't know," he said. "If you did, it wouldn't just be my tongue they'd cut."
Vaylan frowned.
Pierre shook his head and stood up. "Anyway. We should get rest. I've already watched Vaylan eat three servings. That should be more than enough food."
"Hehe," Vaylan grinned, rubbing his stomach. "Could go for a fifth, actually."
They all laughed softly. Even Lato smirked a little.
But no one laughed long.
They slept with their weapons nearby. Not one of them dreamed.
The door to the throne room opened with a low sound. The air inside was cold. Still. Everything was back the way it was. No fire damage. No broken tiles. No signs of their last battle.
Tauros sat upon his throne of bones, motionless. He was asleep.
But the room felt like it was holding its breath.
Pierre took a slow step forward. "So this is the beast…"
Zara swallowed hard. "He's... calm."
"Don't be fooled," Lato whispered.
Vaylan's fingers brushed the hilt of his saber. "This time we will win."
"Definitely," Zara said beside him.
"Stick to the plan," Lato said.
Pierre cracked his neck. "We take the initiative. No speeches. No hesitation. If we wait for him to wake up, we're already dead."
The door shut behind them.
They took their first step forward.
The bones shifted beneath Tauros' throne.
One red eye opened.
He didn't roar. He smiled.
Tauros blinked once. Then again.
The red glow of his eyes grew brighter. The throne of bones behind him cracked as he stood to his full height, his axe scraping across the floor like the draw of a blade across steel.
Pierre stepped forward slowly. He gave a short bow, one hand at his chest.
"Greetings, Tauros, Son of Asterion."
Tauros tilted his head. The muscles in his jaw clenched.
"Oh... new meat," he growled. "Stronger. But still... weak."
Pierre smiled. "Hehe... yes, I bet all of us look weak to you. Of course, a great constellation such as yourself is above the likes of mortals like us."
Tauros stood completely upright now. His chest expanded with each slow breath.
"You. Know. Me," he rumbled.
"Of course I do," Pierre replied casually. "Many books detail the abilities of Constellations like yourself... well, at least, the real ones. The ones you're based on."
Tauros let out a long growl. Then he lunged.
The axe came swinging from the side with the force of a landslide.
CRASH!
Stone exploded in every direction as the blade slammed into the floor where Pierre had stood.
But Pierre hadn't moved.
Tauros blinked.
"Oh my," Pierre said. "Such a bad temper. Bingo. I knew it. You're not the real deal."
He smiled. "You're just an avatar."
Tauros roared.
He lifted the axe again and brought it down with both hands, aiming directly for Pierre's head.
[Fleet Foot]
A blur of motion.
Vaylan dashed in from the right and kicked the flat side of the axe just before it landed. The blade slammed into the stone beside Pierre, kicking up dust and cracks.
Pierre didn't flinch.
"I will KILL YOU!!!" Tauros roared.
Vaylan landed beside him and drew his saber. "Time to beat this overgrown cow!"
Pierre raised an eyebrow. "Heh. I like your spunky attitude."
He held his right hand to the side. "Come forth... Gáe Assail."
A golden spear appeared in his grasp with a faint electrical sound. The tip sparked with crackling energy.
Then they all moved.
***
Zara was the first to vanish.
She sprinted low to the ground, weaving between Tauros' legs. Her blades slashed at the tendons behind his knees, but her attacks were clean and quiet, controlled.
No skills. Just pure silat.
Triangle step. Jab. Hook. Withdraw.
She danced through his defenses like a whisper, always outside his kill zone. Her blades opened shallow cuts: ankles, ribs, inner thigh. She wasn't aiming to drop him. She was aiming to stack pain.
Tauros roared and turned toward her. He swung wildly.
[Fleet Foot]
Vaylan appeared on the opposite side, saber clashing against the beast's shoulder. Despite the perfectly timed parry, the force of the swing sent Vaylan tumbling.
[Fire Ball]
A blast of flame erupted at point-blank. It didn't burn through skin, but it seared through open wounds Zara had made.
Tauros stumbled backward, stunned by the combo.
Pierre took his chance.
He lunged.
[Thunderous Slash]
Gáe Assail struck forward in a burst of golden light, slashing the side of Tauros' stomach. Blood sprayed. The tip sparked on impact, electrocuting muscle tissue. The spear didn't cut deep enough.
[Lightning Stab]
The spear lodged itself deep within Tauros's stomach while releasing a massive burst of electricity.
Tauros bellowed. He swung wide.
"MOVE!" Lato shouted.
Zara dove to the side. Vaylan blinked across with [Fleet Foot]. Pierre pulled out the spear from Tauros's flesh and flipped backward, sparks dancing off the shaft.
[Healing Light]
Lato's aura expanded, washing over Vaylan with a golden shimmer.
[Shared Vision]
Vaylan's eyes widened as his field of vision expanded, syncing with Lato's.
"I can see everything you see now, partner," he muttered.
"Good," Lato said. "Then act like it."
Vaylan sprinted forward.
[Fire Ball]
Slash.
[Fire Ball]
Dodge.
Parry.
Zara mirrored his movement, moving in tandem, one on each side of Tauros, slicing at weak points with surgical precision. No wasted motion. No hesitation.
They didn't fight like a trio anymore. They fought like one.
Pierre slid in again.
His spear spun in an arc, cutting through Tauros' bicep and shoulder with a flash of lightning. Gáe Assail sparked again. A direct hit to the collarbone.
Tauros roared and slammed a foot into the ground. A shockwave blasted them backward.
Vaylan hit the wall hard. Zara flipped mid-air, landing on one knee. Pierre skidded to a stop, sparks trailing behind him.
Tauros panted now. His red eyes moved. His axe trembled slightly in his grip.
The wounds were adding up.
"His swings are getting slower," Zara said.
"He's burning stamina," Lato confirmed. "Bleeding too much."
Vaylan stood, wiping blood from his mouth. "Then it's time."
Pierre nodded. "Agreed." He took a deep breath. Then stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"Vaylan."
"Yeah?"
"Keep him still."
Vaylan blinked. "How?!"
Pierre smiled. "Figure it out."
Vaylan sighed. "Right."
[Fleet Foot]
He blurred forward, dragging Tauros' attention with a flurry of saber strikes and [Fire Ball] bursts aimed at his face.
Zara dashed behind and sliced at his Achilles tendon.
Tauros staggered.
Pierre stopped moving.
He gripped his spear tighter. Mana surged around him.
As he hurled the spear toward Tauros, a silent but awe-inspiring incantation echoed.
[Ibar]
The world seemed to go silent for a breath.
Then the golden spear vanished from his hand.
It became a streak of light.
A thunderclap followed—instant and deafening.
The spear struck dead center in Tauros' chest.
It sank deep.
Sparks exploded from the entry point, electricity coursing through Tauros' massive frame.
The beast reeled back. Roaring. Stumbling.
For the first time—Tauros looked afraid.
Pierre exhaled. The spear was gone. But his hand was still open.
And then—He raised it again.
[Anthibar]
The spear flew back into his hand.
Vaylan's eyes glowed bright blue after witnessing the attack. Something clicked.
"I see… I understand it now."