They were making record time. It had only been twenty minutes, yet they were halfway to the entrance. According to the map.

The only sounds were the constant echoes from their footsteps.

Tmp. Tmp. Tmp.

Ham had time to reflect on his anger from earlier. Though he hadn't meant anything he said, he truly felt bad about it.

He turned his gaze to the white-haired girl beside him.

“Listen. About earlier, I’m sorry. You hold no fault. If I should be mad at anything, it should be those damn Gnolls. They’re all savages to the core.”

He grinded his teeth just thinking about those monsters.

“Really, it’s alright. I guess.” Amaya replied.

Deep down, she knew for a fact it was her fault, but she said nothing regarding it.

Ham released a sigh.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll make it up to you. How about a drink sometime? My treat.”

Back In Amaya’s homeworld, she wasn’t anywhere near the drinking age.

Anyhow, it didn’t seem like that was the case here.

So she greatly considered it.

“Hm. I’ll think about it. That is, If it’s not against the law to drink at eight-teen.”

“Hah. Of course it’s not. Hell, as long as you're 16 or older, you’re allowed to drink freely.”

Amaya nearly gasped upon hearing this. The drinking age was so low. Something like this wouldn't be able to pass in her world.

Not with all the reckless teenagers there.

“Well…I guess some wine would be nice. I’ve sort of always wanted to try it.”

Growing up, she always loved grape-juice. Since wine was made from grapes, Amaya figured it would have the same sweetness.

“I’ll definitely have to treat you to some, then.” said Ham.

Both of them paused.

Sally, who had been leading the way, seemed hesitant to go any further.

A troubled expression covered her face.

Her gaze was focused on the map, then shifted to the surroundings.

“No. This doesn't make any sense.” She muttered.

This area of the system wasn’t shown on the map. They were lost.

Scratching the back of her head, Sally made it clear.

“Seems like we’re lost.”

“How are we lost?!” Ham grunted.

His tone was loud with frustration. It really didn’t make sense.

They had followed the map accordingly, So how were they lost?

Surly Sally couldn’t have made a mistake. Navigation was one of her specialties.

Sally glared ahead. There were three separate tunnel’s.

But something was off, she could sense a slight magical energy within the walls.

It took only a second of observation for her to understand it.

“It’s a recently casted spell. The walls were manipulated to change shape.”

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This put a question in the spotlight.

What creature would’ve done this?

Surly not Gnolls.They were all too barbaric and dumb to use spells.

“You don’t think maybe an earth elemental could be down here?” Ham asked.

“Definitely not. They wouldn’t share a home with other monsters.” Sally answered.

She got down on her knee, placing her palm against the floor.

“Blessing of Earth, grant me sight into the layout ahead.”

When She finished the incantations, the ground pulsated with a blue haze.

Her eyes gained vision on where the tunnels lead. A dead end.

Sally rose up quickly.

“It’s just a dead end..The tunnel's all lead to the same dead end..”

Then finally, it clicked, she understood what was happening. And she understood what was going to happen.

She clenched her magic staff tightly, “The monster responsible is trying to confuse our sense of direction.”

But why?

It was so they couldn’t escape.

It was so they couldn't run away.

Far behind them, a metallic noise scraped along the wall. Followed by heavy, slow footsteps.

A large, furry Gnoll. This one wasn’t like the ones from before. This Gnoll was twice the size and its eyes were shining red.

It’s breath, flowing like steam.

The Gnoll walked steadily, aware that its prey had nowhere left to run.

[Analyze Activated]

[ Elder Gnoll: Health Points: 165]

self on the ground, Ham turned to face the beast. A short sword in his hand, he grinned.

“You stupid beast. I’ll fight you anyday.”

Ham didn’t bother thinking about how strong the Gnoll could be.

This was just a threat that had to be faced. Regardless.

Sally grew a bold smile and aimed at her staff.

“I suppose there would be no point in running. Let’s be the ones who strike first.”

She chanted the words to spell. Her mana was running dry, so she would be putting every last bit into it.

“Goddess of fire, Hear my call. Grant me: Deadly Orbs.”

Sizzling fire-balls blasted across the air. There were at least ten, heading directly at the Gnoll.

The rapid explosions shook the walls and ground, but none connected with the target. The beast had simply whacked the blasts away from itself.

Like they were only sparks.

Sally’s final spell proved to be useless against it. Now she was left with no mana.

“What? That shouldn’t be possible. It should've been damaged on impact.”

Her eyes widened, the Gnoll’s terrifying glare was focused on her.

It held its hand out, and clenched the air.

Grip.

Swoosh!

An invisible force warped around Sally's body, throwing her into the ceiling, then slamming her into the floor.

Telekinesis. The Gnoll was using telekinesis magic.

This was the first time Ham had seen anything like it.

“A gnoll using spells?! What the hell is this?!” There wasn’t time to figure it out, he needed to act fast, “Damn Gnoll, I’ll kill ya!”

His sword thrusted into Gnoll's shoulder. Damage was done, but the beast had no reaction. It only stared down at him, stomping down on his back.

Stomp!

Over and over, the Gnoll stomped. Until Ham was nearly engraved within the earth. Surrounded by a puddle of his own dark blood.

[Subject: Ham | Status: Deceased.]

He was dead. Actually dead.

And Sally wasn’t wasn’t moving either. Blood slowly dripping out her mouth.

Amaya stared at the scene, terror in her eyes.

“...This isn’t real…right?”

The blood. It was all real. And so were the lifeless bodies.

This was the first time she’d seen death.

“…How is this actually real?.”

How could someone be alive one moment, then be dead the next? Her mind found it hard to accept this concept.

Amaya didn’t know how to feel.

She just understood that she was next in line.

The Gnoll’s presence approached Amaya, lifting her by the hair.

Tears ran down her face, she gave up already. Her mind was still replaying the deaths.

Sniff Sniff.

The Gnoll pulled her into the air, smelling a particular scent from her sweat.

Snif.

The beast spoke, breathing loudly.

Huff.

“You Different smell. This is big interest. You are human?”

Amaya didn’t pay attention to its words. She was too horrified to comprehend them.

“....”