*Chapter 14: A Dark Place*

The three of them, who had once held an air of “bravado”, now found themselves frozen in their tracks. They tried to play down the gravity of the moment, pretending to be okay, yet they couldn't because deep down, they seemed simply terrified and uncertain.

"Hey, Astaria, is there a spawn point or something? Like, do we have extra lives? This is a casual Walkthrough right? We are not on Permadeath right?" Kagami's voice quivered with fear.

Astaria, her own fear also apparent, shook her head quickly. "No, Kagami-san, we only have one life. We die and it's game over."

Charlotte, struggling to articulate her words, scolded them. "You two are really nothing more but cowards. I never thought I'd be stuck with people like you. This is honestly the worst."

Kagami, still staring at the massive and scary gates, retorted, "Quiet, barbaric nun. You have no right to act all high and mighty."

Astaria joined Kagami, defending him to Charlotte. "He's right, Charlotte. You're scared too, so don't act like you're superior. I want my last memories to be at least somewhat pleasant. So be quiet!"

Charlotte, her anxiety palpable, tried to explain herself, "I... I have no choice. My body and instincts are taking over; I can't control them. I want to act normal, but I can't."

Kagami, acknowledging Charlotte's turmoil, admitted, "It's the same for us. You freaking idiot."

Despite understanding each other's fear, Charlotte was ready to fight Kagami. The tense situation made them want to do anything but step through the imposing gates. Maybe if the delay it enough it will disappear, was their hopes, dreams, and unconscious philosophy.

Astaria intervened, sensing things were spiraling out of control, and impulsively yet understandably pushed the enormous door open. A sudden gust of wind hit them, carrying an unpleasant stench that made breathing difficult. Charlotte, responding to her instincts, quickly leaped back.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Kagami stood frozen, glancing between the petrified Astaria and the shadowy depths of the room beyond. There, a colossal, three-headed lion stood under dim lighting, its features shrouded in obscurity. The vast, darkened expanse made it impossible to discern the full extent of the space. Persuading Astaria to illuminate the area with her magic, they created a feeble light source that barely penetrated the darkness.

Kagami's gaze remained fixed on the unmoving monster in the distance. "This doesn't seem right," he muttered, turning to Charlotte. "Could this be the creature we were so afraid of a minute ago?"

Charlotte, on high alert, replied, "I don't know... the only thing I'm sure of is that I don't want to be here."

Despite her shaking, Astaria attempted to propose a plan. "Does it matter? It hasn't noticed us. If we stay quiet and sneak by—"

Before she could finish, Kagami cut her off and stopped her from going inside. "Yeah, you might be right, but something feels off."

As he spoke, a colossal monstrosity, with numerous human limbs, arms, and faces of varying sizes, descended from the dark ceiling and crashed down upon the lion, crushing it completely.

Kagami, his voice barely above a whisper, stated, "Yeah, that's the one."

"Now, we can actually be afraid," Kagami admitted, his voice trembling. Both Astaria and Charlotte were visibly shaken, their composure shattered and couldn't be contained. Kagami, taking a deep breath to steady himself, also felt the grip of panic tightening around him. The immense monster devoured the lion in a matter of seconds, then shifted its attention to the three intruders. Its multiple eyes oozed with malice, and its eerie voice emanated from various faces and mouths echoed through the huge room.

With a sudden gust of wind, something pushed the three further inside, leaving no choice but to face the menacing creature. As the heavy door closed behind them in an instant, sealing their fate, the monster declared, "[Time to dig in]."

With the horrific sight they had just witnessed, the three of them felt their fear intensify, aware that they had embarked on another perilous and unlucky journey that would push them to their limits(And possibly death). The true trials of this strange and unsettling domain had only just begun, and they would need to summon their strength, wit, and courage to face the challenges ahead. (And pray luck is on their side.)

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As always Thank you for reading!