“Hang on!” Lancy called down. Without hesitation, she leaped into the pit, her swords slicing through the air as she landed among the spiders.

Miles stepped back, his grip tightening on his dagger. He glanced around nervously, unsure of what to do. “Roll for distraction,” he muttered under his breath, calling on the system to help.

The dice tumbled in his mind, landing on a high roll. A notification appeared:

“Success: You’ve gained additional time for your party’s rescue efforts.”

Lancy fought fiercely, her swords flashing as she cut through the spiders. Josh and Nancy were pinned against the pit’s walls, their weapons useless against the overwhelming swarm.

“Josh, grab onto me!” Lancy commanded.

Josh hesitated, but the fear in his eyes made him obey. As he reached for her, a spider lunged at him, its fangs aimed for his neck. Lancy moved faster, striking the spider down, but the movement left her exposed.

A sharp claw raked across her leg, and she winced, stumbling slightly. Blood seeped through her armor, but she didn’t stop. She pulled Josh to safety and turned to help Nancy, who was frantically trying to fend off the spiders with a small vial of acid.

“Why are you doing this?” Josh asked, his voice shaking as he clung to the edge of the pit. “Why risk yourself for us?”

Lancy didn’t look at him, her focus on cutting a path to Nancy. “Because you’re my party,” she said simply. “I don’t need to explain myself beyond that.”

She reached Nancy, grabbing her arm and hoisting her toward the pit’s edge. With one final slash, Lancy cleared the remaining spiders and climbed out herself, her injured leg dragging slightly.

The group sat in silence for a moment, catching their breath. Josh looked at Lancy, his expression a mix of guilt and curiosity.

“I didn’t think you cared,” he admitted quietly. “You’re always so... distant.”

Lancy wiped her swords clean, her face unreadable. “I care more than you think. And if I’m keeping secrets, it’s because I have to. It’s not about me—it’s about the party.”

Nancy nodded slowly, her skepticism fading. “Maybe we were wrong about you.”

Miles, watching from the sidelines, felt a flicker of relief. The tension that had nearly torn the group apart seemed to have eased, though the air was still thick with unspoken questions.

While the others tended to their wounds, Miles kept watch near the edge of the pit. The corridor beyond was silent, but a faint sound caught his attention—a distant scratching, growing louder with every passing second.

He called on the system for guidance, rolling to assess the situation. The dice landed, and the notification that appeared made his stomach drop:

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Warning: An enemy approaches. Prepare for battle.”

Miles gripped his dagger tightly, his heart pounding. “Guys,” he called out, his voice low but urgent. “We’ve got company.”

The group turned to him, their exhaustion replaced by a renewed sense of dread.

“What kind of company?” Lancy asked, pushing herself to her feet despite her injured leg.

“I don’t know,” Miles admitted. “But it’s close.”

The scratching grew louder, echoing through the labyrinth. The group exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier camaraderie replaced by the grim realization that they weren’t out of danger yet.

“Form up,” Lancy said, her voice steady despite the pain she was clearly in. “We’ll face it together.”

Miles nodded, his hand trembling slightly as he prepared for whatever was coming. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of the challenges they’d face in the Labyrinth of Shadows.

The sound of scratching claws echoed louder, reverberating through the labyrinth walls. Miles felt the weight of the system's warning heavy in his chest.

“If you wait for the party, it will be too late. Your best chance of survival is to move alone and regroup later.”

The notification blinked ominously, pressing him into action. His palms were slick with sweat, his grip on his dagger unsteady.

Lancy turned toward him, her expression determined. “Stick together. Whatever it is, we’ll face it as a group.”

Miles hesitated, his mind racing. “I... I can’t,” he said finally, his voice strained. “By the time you get to me, I’ll already be dead.”

Josh frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous! We’ll get to you in time.”

Nancy nodded in agreement. “Splitting up in here is suicide!”

Miles shook his head, stepping back. “You don’t understand. I have skills—ones that let me find the boss room and the exit. I can navigate this place better alone.”

Lancy’s sharp gaze locked onto him, and for a moment, she seemed to consider his words carefully. Then, with a deep sigh, she nodded. “He’s right.”

“What?” Josh and Nancy exclaimed in unison.

“It’s the only option that makes sense,” Lancy said. Her voice was calm but resolute. “If we try to catch up to him, we’ll slow him down. Whatever’s coming will be on him before we can get there.”

“But—”

“No buts.” Lancy cut Josh off, turning to Miles. “If you can really find the exit and regroup with us later, then go. This is your best chance of survival.”

Miles nodded, grateful for her understanding. But her words also carried something unexpected—admiration.

“You’ve got guts,” Lancy added. “And skill. You’ve been holding back more than you’re letting on, haven’t you?”

Her words made his chest tighten. He didn’t know how to respond, so he simply nodded again.

Nancy looked skeptical. “He’s level three—what could he possibly be hiding?”

Lancy’s gaze lingered on him, her eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s the thing. I can’t see his level.”

Josh and Nancy both blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“It means,” Lancy said, her tone thoughtful, “he’s stronger than he seems. Or maybe... different.”

Miles shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny. “I’ll see you all at the boss room,” he said, cutting the conversation short. Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted down the corridor, leaving the party behind.

Miles’s heart pounded as he moved through the winding paths of the labyrinth. The oppressive darkness closed in around him, broken only by faint glimmers of light from his system interface.

“System, guide me to the boss room,” he whispered, hoping for some assistance.

“Skill Activated: Dungeon Sense. Boss Room detected.”

A glowing arrow appeared in his vision, pointing him toward his destination. Relief washed over him, though it was short-lived. The scratching sound was getting closer.

His legs burned as he pushed himself to move faster. The labyrinth seemed endless, with twisting corridors and sudden drops that forced him to be cautious even in his haste.

A notification flashed in front of him:

“Warning: Enemy Approaching.”

Miles clenched his teeth. “No kidding,” he muttered.