The loud noise grew closer. The ground shook beneath them, and dust fell from the cave ceiling. Everyone tensed.
"Everyone, stay close," Riku warned, keeping his eyes on the approaching threat.
"Get behind me! Now!" Riku shouted, stepping forward even though he was scared.
The monster dashed toward them with incredible speed. "Dodge!" Riku shouted, panic in his voice.
They barely managed to dodge the monster. It crashed into the cave wall, shaking the whole place. Smoke and dust filled the air from the impact.
Through the haze, two bright red eyes glowed, staring straight at them. Everyone panicked.
When the haze cleared, they saw a huge humanoid creature standing before them. Its body was massive and muscular, like a human, but its head was that of a bull, with sharp horns curving upward and glowing red eyes. Steam seemed to rise from its nostrils as it sniffed the air, and its fists were clenched, ready to strike.
Without warning, the monster charged at them again.
"Everyone, split up!" Reina shouted.
The group scattered in different directions, barely staying ahead of its massive, pounding steps.
As everyone scattered, dodging the massive bull-headed creature, Yuna murmured, "Identify…"
A screen suddenly popped up. It displayed the monster's information:
[Monster Identified: Minotaur]
Type: Humanoid Beast
Rank: ???
Description: Towering humanoid with the head of a bull. Charges at opponents with immense force.
Warning: This creature is always enraged. Must be defeated quickly before it goes berserk.
Yuna shouted, "Everyone! That is a Minotaur!"
"How'd you know that?!" Takumi yelled, panic in his voice as he dodged another slam from the creature.
Yuna shouted, "Everyone! Use your status window! Say 'Identify'!"
Everyone followed Yuna's instructions. One by one, they said, "Identify."
The monster kept charging at them again and again. Everyone was out of breath and exhausted, but the creature was still focused on attacking.
They still didn't know how to use their abilities, except for...
Yuna clenched her fist and shouted, "Power Surge!"
Her fist glowed, and her punch became stronger. She dashed forward, jumped at the Minotaur, and hit its stomach.
The monster didn't flinch. It looked at her and swung its massive hand, sending her flying. Yuna slammed into the wall, badly hurt, and fell unconscious.
While everyone was dodging the Minotaur, Reina and Miyu ducked behind a rock for cover.
Reina whispered to Miyu, "Stay here."
"Where are you going?" Miyu asked, worry in her voice.
Reina nodded and stood up, sprinting toward the next rock closer to the Minotaur.
Reina murmured, "Status."
Her status window appeared
[Reina Tsukishiro]
Level: 1
Personality: Intelligent, Composed, Aloof
Traits: Analytical, Perfectionist
Class: Elemental Mage
Strength: D
Agility: C
Intelligence: S
Mana: 1000
Skills: Elemental Spell D - All cost 100 mana
Flare, Bubble, Gust, Stone Bullet, Shock, Icicle Shot, Grow.
Affinity: Spirit Mana (Fire Magic, Water Magic, Wind Magic, Earth Magic, Lightning Magic, Ice Magic, Plant Magic)
Reina aimed one hand at the Minotaur, and with her other hand, she held it steady so it wouldn't move or miss. Then she shouted, "Flare!"
A small fireball shot from her hands and struck the monster directly.
But the spell did nothing. The Minotaur wasn't harmed at all. Her magic was too weak.
The monster turned its glowing eyes toward Reina and charged at her. She jumped out of the way, barely dodging as it slammed into the wall with heavy force.
"Everyone! We can't win this!" Hayato shouted. "Head to those holes!"
Riku grabbed his twin sister and ran toward the hole they had come from. The others followed, rushing after them, but just as they were about to enter, an invisible force stopped them.
They couldn't go through.
"We can't enter the cave," Souta said calmly.
"Then what now?!" Takumi shouted, panicking.
Hayato's heart was racing as he tried to think. 'What do we do now?'
Then he noticed the large hole where the Minotaur had come from.
Hayato pointed ahead and shouted, "This way!"
Everyone ran straight toward the large hole.
"Are you crazy?!" Takumi shouted. "That's where the monster came from!"
"We don't have a choice," Riku replied while carrying his sister. "Do you want to stay here with that thing?"
Takumi glanced back at the Minotaur, flinched in fear, then turned and ran even faster.
But the Minotaur saw them and charged again. Luckily, the monster's tackle missed. It quickly turned, lowering its massive head, ready to charge once more.
Takumi gulped, eyes wide, staring at the monster.
"We need a diversion," Riku said, holding his sister tightly.
The Minotaur's nostrils flared smoke as it pawed at the ground, preparing to charge again.
"We need someone fast and agile," Reina said urgently.
Everyone looks at Takumi.
"Not me, that thing will kill me!" Takumi said, panic clear on his face.
"I'll do it," Souta said calmly.
"Are you sure?" Hayato asked.
"Dude, don't! That thing will really kill you!" Takumi blurted out.
"Don't worry," Souta said. "I have a skill that will help me move fast and escape this monster." Then he raised his voice. "Everyone, go! I'll handle this."
Hayato nodded. "We'll wait for you. Keep yourself safe."
The Minotaur charged again.
"Swift Edge!" Souta shouted. His body became lighter, and he moved faster and more agile than before. He jumped, barely dodging the Minotaur's tackle, and landed safely.
While Souta kept the monster distracted, everyone ran toward the large hole.
"We're almost there!" Reina called out. Everyone ran as fast as they could.
As they entered the hole, darkness surrounded them, growing thicker the farther they went from the cave they had come from.
Now it was completely dark. Panic set in; nobody knew what to do.
Then someone spoke. "Flare!"
Reina cast her spell. A floating fireball appeared in her hands, lighting up the dark passage and revealing the way ahead.
They went farther and farther, running through the dark passage, until they suddenly reached three caves. Everyone froze, unsure which one to take.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Takumi by the shoulder. He panicked and tried to scream, but someone behind him covered his mouth, muffling his voice. It was Souta.
Everyone looked at him. His face had small bruises, and his uniform was scratched. Relief washed over them.
"Choose quickly!" Souta said. "The monster is coming!"
Hayato thought fast and pointed. "There." They ran toward the cave on the left and quickly hid inside.
"Reina, put out that light," Souta ordered.
They heard the Minotaur growling as it stormed past, heading straight for the middle cave.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.