Currently, Benny was back on the second floor once again, still looking for a way to get a glimpse of the monsters' lair.
He was quite aware that his former teammates were already running up from below him and were about to reach the bridging stairs between the third and second floors. It would take them some time with their health and stamina dwindling bit by bit, since the monster crowds would get attracted to their presence.
While the other people were making their way toward the entrance, Benny was busy with his own world. He made sure to further study his angles of attack against the beasts here and how he could finally enter their heavily guarded lair. At the same time, he went around collecting useful materials while making sure to kill those still squirming or barely alive from the battles between the two monster types.
After a while, there was suddenly a ruckus somewhere, mostly from the stairwell leading down to the third floor. He thought of going there, but when he saw the entrance guards of the monsters become frantic and rush toward that area, Benny thought it was his chance to finally see if there was indeed a separate magical sub-space just like the one on the first floor.
Instead of rushing toward the commotion, he went to the guarded area instead. But there was also a lingering feeling that something important was going on out there. "Shit, I'll be quick then." Moments later, he arrived at the entrance of the well-protected space after the guards had left. There was obviously nothing there now, so he quickly went around to find if there was indeed another sub-space here.
After a minute or so of searching, something began to glow, or to be precise, a space in an area seemed to shake as if it was being distorted. "Aha! So I wasn't wrong! There was indeed a space here." Moments later, one of the monster scorpions came out. Before he could be discovered or get stuck there, he'd already moved outside to observe. Then the monsters began pouring out. "There is indeed another space. Interesting, isn't it, Benny?" He talked to himself.
It was fine to move out of here. He might have to go to that area where there seemed to be fighting. But then he realized the distance between him and the sound was increasing. "What the fuck is going on?"
Of course, the cowardly Benny hid once more to avoid whatever was coming his way, ensuring he couldn't be found by whatever was approaching.
Meanwhile, in the area of the ruckus, the people Benny had once called teammates were desperately trying to fight off the scorpions and rabbits that had come for them. Of course, the monsters were weak for their level, but the survivors had been significantly weakened already, so their powers were now a match for the beasts.
"Fuck! We're almost out of here, and these pesky bastards are trying to halt us!" said one of the men, the most outspoken and arrogant person of the group. But it wasn't without backing. He could prove his strength since he was indeed strong enough to be employed in this expedition.
Meanwhile, the calm and collected leader was also reaching his breaking point, as if his well-crafted facade of calmness was about to crack. They were already so close to their goal, but what was beginning to irk him was the fact that these monsters they'd been able to bulldoze through before were now able to match their strength. It was testament to them being further weakened.
"Hold the lines! We are almost there! Grit your teeth and fight on! We are almost out of here!" he shouted.
There were other voices from their comrades who shouted in their hoarse voices to empower themselves, to give them a fighting chance. A second wind to make it through the second floor and toward the exit.
Meanwhile, Benny was waiting, wondering if he should take a peek at the ruckus. It was still a bit further from him, and the sound of battle seemed to have muffled the voices of the people there.
To go or not to go was his question to himself. He really didn't want to get any injuries at this juncture, so if possible, he wanted to avoid any conflicts. But there was also a nagging gut feeling that he might regret this decision. He was burdened with the thought of going and not going.
The sounds of combat were growing more desperate. Clashing metal, shouted commands, the inhuman screeches of wounded monsters. It painted a picture in his mind of people pushed beyond their limits, fighting with everything they had just to take another step toward freedom.
Part of him recognized those voices. Not individually, maybe, but the cadence of desperation, the way fear and exhaustion changed how people spoke. These were the same people he'd abandoned floors below, the ones who'd told him to run while they held the line.
"Damn it," he muttered, crouched behind a rock formation that provided good cover. His logical mind told him to stay put. Getting involved would be stupid. He had no obligation to these people, and they probably thought he was dead anyway. Plus, he was just one guy with makeshift armor and a broken sword. What could he possibly do against the monsters that were overwhelming twenty trained fighters?
But his gut kept churning with that uncomfortable feeling. Not guilt, exactly, but something close to it. They'd given him the chance to escape, and he'd taken it. Now they were dying while he was not just surviving but actually thriving in this hellhole.
The irony wasn't lost on him. Here he was, the coward who'd run when things got tough, and he was probably in better shape than any of them. He'd learned the labyrinth's rhythms, found sustainable ways to gather resources, even discovered entire hidden civilizations. Meanwhile, the heroes were barely clinging to life.
Maybe that meant he owed them something. Or maybe it meant he was smart enough to know when a situation was hopeless and they weren't.
The sounds of battle were moving closer to his position, which meant they were retreating. Or being pushed back. Neither option sounded good for their chances.
"Fuck it," he whispered, but he still didn't move. Self-preservation had kept him alive this long. It would be pretty stupid to abandon it now for people who might not even want his help.