[Congratulations on defeating your first monster! You have gained experience.]
[Congratulations on defeating your second monster! You have gained experience.]
[Congratulations on defeating your third monster! You have gained experience.]
A moment later, the notifications shifted.
[You have level up.]
The same message appeared before all of them
Then, the status windows changed once more, this time displaying different messages depending on their affinity.
For Aura users, Hayato, Riku, Yuna, Souta, and Takumi, it read:
[Defeat more monsters to gain new skills.]
[Condition: Defeat monsters and accumulate experience until Level 10.]
For spell casters, Reina and Miyu, it read:
[Defeat more monsters to gain new spells.]
[Condition: Defeat monsters and accumulate experience until Level 10.]
Hayato then checked his status and found out he had reached Level Three.
He grinned proudly. "Nice, I'm level three," he said with an excited expression. "At this rate, I'll reach level ten in no time."
The others checked their status as well. One by one, they realized they had all leveled up to Level Three.
Yuna, Takumi, Riku, and Reina rejoiced proudly, while Miyu and Souta celebrated quietly.
"Nice! This is gonna be so much fun!" Yuna exclaimed.
Takumi puffed out his chest. "Yeah! I'll reach level ten soon and unlock some awesome new abilities."
Yuna smirked. "Oh? Proud scaredy pants? All you did was throw rocks from the back while shaking."
Takumi shot back, annoyed. "Oh yeah? I was still cool back there, saving your ass."
The two stepped closer, glaring at each other as their argument continued.
*Hah, those two are at it again. * Riku sighed as he watched them bicker. He then glanced at his status, a proud smile forming as he felt a sense of achievement. "At this pace, we'll grow stronger really fast."
Reina nodded at Riku. "Yeah. Hayato's plan worked perfectly. We gained a lot of experience."
Riku agreed. "Yeah, it was all thanks to him."
Both of them looked toward Hayato.
At the back, Souta was checking his status as well. He murmured proudly, "That was fun," a small smile forming on his lips.
Miyu noticed Souta smiling and looked at him for a moment. Then she checked her own status, a soft, angel-like smile spreading across her face.
Takumi saw Miyu smiled and suddenly shouted, "Wow...! Miyu, you're super cute!"
Miyu immediately blushed and hurried behind Reina, hiding her face.
Yuna smacked Takumi on the head. "Keep it down, loudmouth!"
Takumi shot back saying. "Oh yeah? Monkeyface."
The two glared at each other again, irritation clear on their faces.
Reina and Riku sighed at the same time, both thinking the same thing. *Those two are at it again. *
Miyu stepped forward shyly and said to Riku, "U-um… R-Riku-san… could you please l-let me heal you?" She noticed the scratches on his face and body and offered to heal him, her cheeks slightly pink.
After a while, they all rested. About thirty minutes later, they began exploring the cave again. Everyone walked while Reina kept track of the time to monitor how long they had been moving. They walked for about four hours but still hadn't encountered any monsters or found the exit.
Riku suggested, "Okay, guys, I think we've been walking long enough. We should rest here."
Everyone gathered and sat down, looking exhausted.
"Argh! We've been walking for hours!" Takumi complained.
"To be exact," Reina added, "we've been walking for about four hours and twenty-two minutes."
Yuna teased Takumi with a grin. "Geez… scaredy pants is complaining again."
Takumi just glared at her, too tired to argue.
Hayato spoke thoughtfully, "Yeah… I think we're in some kind of maze. We've been walking a long time and haven't found any monsters or an exit."
"What if we're stuck here in this cave forever?!" Takumi shouted, making Miyu flinch at the thought.
"Shut it, scaredy pants," Yuna said, glaring at him. "You're making Miyu uncomfortable."
Reina suddenly had an idea. "Guys… what if this isn't just a cave, but a labyrinth?"
Everyone except Hayato looked confused at the word, their faces full of questions.
"Oh, that would make sense," Hayato explained. "A labyrinth is a complex maze, usually designed to confuse or challenge anyone who enters it."
Everyone nodded, finally understanding. "Ahh…"
Yuna, still unsure, tilted her head. "So… what now?"
Then suddenly, a loud noise interrupted them.
BOOM!
The cave wall blasted apart, sending rocks and dust flying. Smoke clouded their vision, but as it slowly cleared, they saw two beasts. One lay on the ground, covered in blood and wounds, while the other was the very first monster they had encountered, the Minotaur. This time, it was battered and bruised, bloodied and breathing heavily.
Everyone froze, fear written across their faces. Takumi and Miyu shrieked, clutching Reina tightly.
Hayato regained his composure, observing the Minotaur. *It's wounded and exhausted… maybe this is our chance to defeat it*, he thought. Then he addressed the group. "Guys, prepare for battle! This is our chance to take down the beast while it's weak and exhausted."
Yuna, Riku, and Souta nodded in agreement. Miyu continued holding onto Reina, trembling, while Takumi protested fearfully, "Are you crazy?!"
Hayato replied calmly, "Don't worry. Same plan, you three stay at the back while the rest of us charges. Everyone got it?"
They all responded in unison, "Got it!" Though Takumi and Miyu said theirs with noticeable fear.
Hayato took the lead, charging forward with Riku, Souta, and Yuna following closely behind.
"Aura Infuse!" Hayato shouted, activating his skill. The long rock he'd been using as a bat glowed light blue as he swung it at the Minotaur, striking its stomach. But the blow was too shallow. The Minotaur raised its fist and swung at Hayato.
Riku reacted immediately. "Reinforce!" he shouted, enhancing his durability. He pushed Hayato out of the way, but Miyu saw the attack was too strong. "Protection!" she shouts, forming a glowing shield in front of Riku.
The Minotaur's fist smashed through the shield and barreled toward Riku, but he managed to deflect it with his bare hands. His hands were shaking from the impact.
Reina took her chance. "Icicle Shot!" she cast, aiming at the Minotaur's face. Ice spread across its features, freezing it partially and it let out a load roar.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Yuna saw her chance and launched a flurry of rapid punches, striking the Minotaur relentlessly. Souta rushed forward at high speed, holding two spiked rocks and piercing the beast multiple times. Focused on his attack, he didn't notice the Minotaur's counterstrike. When the Minotaur swung back, it hit Souta with full force, and Yuna, caught against him, was slammed into the cave wall along with him. Souta fell unconscious, and Yuna slid down, barely able to move.
Riku, though exhausted and numb from the blows, stayed on his feet, teetering on the edge of collapse.
Hayato shouted orders. "Miyu, bless me! Takumi and Reina, keep it distracted!"
Takumi was still terrified but, seeing his group badly hurt and exhausted gave him courage. Trembling, he ran forward and threw rocks at the Minotaur. It barely reacted. Annoyed, Takumi shouted, "Oi! Come at me!"
The Minotaur ignored him, so Takumi activated his skill. "Precise Shot." He focused, aiming carefully at its eye, then threw with all his strength. The rock hit perfectly.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Minotaur turned and glared at Takumi, growling menacingly. As Takumi raised another rock to throw, he froze, then shrieked in fear when the Minotaur charged at him.
"S-Sorry! I didn't mean to hit you!" he shouted, dodging the attacks frantically.
Reina unleashed a flurry of spells at the Minotaur. "Flare! Icicle Shot! Shock! Stone Bullet—five shots!"
The Minotaur didn't flinch, continuing to attack Takumi, who dodged as best he could.
Meanwhile, Miyu focused on Hayato. "Bless," she whispered, and radiant light enveloped him. He felt his strength and speed surge, and the blue glow of his long rock intensified.
"Reina, slow it down!" Hayato shouted.
"Got it!" Reina called back. She cast Icicle Shot at the ground where the Minotaur would step. The ground froze beneath it, causing the beast to stumble.
Hayato saw his opening. He lunged forward, the tip of his glowing rock aimed at the Minotaur's head and pierced it.
Finally, it was over. The Minotaur collapsed, defeated.
Reina, Miyu, Hayato, and Takumi breathed heavily, exhausted but exhilarated. Riku, seeing the Minotaur fall, fainted from relief and fatigue, while Yuna held the unconscious Souta in her arms, blood rushing to his mouth as he lay still.