“That ungrateful bastard! Just wait till I meet him again! Slayer Kang, are you al…Your arm…”
As much as I appreciate Ms Han getting angry for my sake, now it's not the time for me to dwell on the betrayal I've experienced. I quickly wipe away my unnecessary tears. Then, I clench my left arm, thinking it'll stop the bleeding as much as possible.
“I'm…fine, Ms Han. There's not enough time. We've got to quickly find the other Getaway Stones.”
I immediately get up with my arm still dripping my blood down to my fingers. I see the ghostly Beasts are busy smashing the remaining stones. It feels like they're smashing one stone per second that we need to hurry to find the actual ones. Despite the wall’s cyan color being our illuminated light source, we’re unable to tell which are the actual Getaway Stones as we don't know exactly what sort of marking that indicates the real ones. Suddenly, there are several stones glowing the same bright blue light that surrounded the traitorous old man earlier on. This can't be a coincidence that the room’s mastermind, plausibly the unknown man who hypnotized me earlier on, has decided to let the rest of the Getaway Stones to suddenly glow right at this moment of predicament. Needless to say, thanks to the magic stones’ radiance state, I'm able to tell them apart from the normal ones.
“Ms Han, the glowing ones are the Getaway Stones. Each of us must get them without these Beasts noticing us touching one.”
“Got it, Slayer Kang. Do be careful. I used up all of the healing potions from my pouch on Jung-han's injury just now. I'm sorry that I couldn't bring more for a worst-case scenario like this.”
“Ms Han, it's time to focus on what we can do in the present. Lingering on past mistakes won't help us get back home alive.”
“You're right, Slayer Kang. Let's focus now. I've to get another for Jung-han.”
Speaking about Jung-han, I see him having his eyes closed; his body flinches after each sound of the Beasts smashing each stone in front of us. He's too traumatized to move after the injury he was inflicted with even if he's the most physically strong Slayer among us right now.
“You go to your left. I go to my right. I see the glowing stones are a bit near to the Beasts’ tails but you should’ve enough time to dodge and run away from them. Are you ready, Ms Han?”
“Then what about you, Slayer Kang? I mean your speed…”
“Well according to the people working at the Alliance, I can run a bit faster than an average human. Don't worry about my safety, Ms Han.”
“Then I trust you, Slayer Kang. I shall focus on getting the stone for myself and Jung-han.”
Despite the heavy atmosphere and another worst case scenario we're in, it feels like I'm challenging Ms Han in a track and field competition. And yet, I feel a bit relaxed probably because her words have encouraged me to believe in myself that I won't stumble which will lead me to my untimely death. Thus, Ms Han and I say our countdown of “3, 2, 1”; then, our feet take off the ground as we shout the word “Run!”. Both of us run towards our targeted item.
As expected, Ms Han is running faster than me. Regardless, I manage to grab one glowing stone in my left hand. Ms Han has successfully got one and she dash across to look for another glowing stone. As expected, the Getaway Stones start their one minute countdown once we touch them in our hands. That's when the shadowy Beasts stop their duty of smashing the stones as they've turned their focus on Ms Han and I holding the Getaway Stones. I don't know if I've got an instinct of my own, but I do know that these Beasts are gonna attack us right at this moment.
“Ms Han, the Beasts are eyeing us. Dodge their attacks until the countdown on our stones is up!”
“I’ve yet to get Jung-han's one, but I hear you, Slayer Kang! Be careful!”
Once again the dodging game has begun for me and Ms Han. I’ve surprised myself that I'm able to have leftover stamina after all the running away I did previously with other enemies in this room. Just when I think I'm able to go back home safely as my stone’s countdown says “35”, I've got knocked over by one of the Beasts’ tails. Judging by the impact it had on my stomach, their bodies are capable of switching from a liquified to a solidified form and vice versa. It's probably why they're able to smash the stones so easily and smoothly.
I cough up a huge amount of blood once my back hits one of the fallen pillars around the middle of this room. What a fool I am that I didn't focus again on holding my own Getaway Stones properly though it's possible that the injury of my left arm has made me unable to close my left hand properly. Because of the unfortunate timing of this injury, I’ve dropped my item meant for escape. My vision is becoming blurry, but I'm still conscious enough to be aware of what's happening now.
I hear Jung-han and Ms Han shouting my name from afar. They probably have a panicked look on their face after they see me get pummeled by one of the Beasts. Because of her eyes on me for one second, another shadowy Beast lurks quietly behind Ms Han. It was about to hit her with its huge right arm when Jung-han intervenes as he manages to grab her on time. Both of them duck, avoiding its swinging arm. I hear the sound of Ms Han’s Getaway Stone being dropped to the ground, pattering itself away from her position.
Unsurprisingly, one of the Beasts has smashed her Getaway Stone; its glowing form vanishes from my sight. I turn my bruised head to look around this room until I spot someone else is picking up my Getaway Stone. It's Mrs Park who looks startled once our eyes meet each other. She's just a few meters away from where I’m at, and yet she's not moving at all. Come to think of it, I never saw her physical appearance until now. That means she must have used her Camouflage Skill while these shadowy Beasts were smashing the stones. In front of me, Mrs Park doesn't even look like she's trying to figure out a way to get close to me. I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but my worst fear is happening and that's…
“Mrs Park, give that back to Slayer Kang! It belongs to her! Why aren't you…”
“I know! I know that I'm a coward, Slayer Han! But…but…I…I want to survive! I want to get back home to my family! My son is too young to lose a mother! I don't like Captain Jang, but he's right for once! Survival of the strongest is the only truth in a place like this!”
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As the countdown reaches “0” on the stone’s notification screen, the same bright blue light surrounds Mrs Park’s body. Somehow I can see my look of despair and shock in her glasses reflecting back at me. A second later, the light flashes my eyes which almost went blind that I forced myself to cover them with my injured left arm. As usual, Mrs Park disappears from my sight. Jung-han and Ms Han look shocked too because Mrs Park is a quiet, if not a timid-looking older woman as opposed to Jang’s nasty personality and ugly appearance.
“I can't believe Mrs Park…betrayed...”
“Ms Han, I…don't see anymore glowing stones.”
I don't wanna believe what I've just witnessed, but it's an upsetting fact that Mrs Park has escaped alone after taking away my Getaway Stone. I clench my right hand and my teeth as I feel unpleasant feelings welling up inside me now. Suddenly, I hear the sound of something melting and dripping. It's resonating through this room’s atmosphere. Then, I see the painted walls’ cyan color melt away downwards and into the ground. The next moment the painted wall changes into a dark mixed color of gold and fire lighting up as bright as the sun. As for the melted cyan paint, it turns into a very dark red color and it streams towards the spot the three of us are standing on. Right in the middle of the room, the paint forms a black circle with a wicker man (in the form of a stick figure) symbol inside of it.
“Ms Han, what…symbol…does that mean…”
“A human sacrifice? Yes, Jung-han. This might be the actual demand on what this room wants with us.”
I don't understand. This demand doesn't align with the final rule unless…
I want to say something important, but I don't want to give another despairing info to them both. It feels like all hope is lost when Jung-han's foot kicks something that has the sound of a small stone. The stone glows a golden light unlike the previous ones taken by Jang and Mrs Park. If it's glowing, then that means it's the last Getaway Stone. As anticipated, Mrs Park quickly pick it up and once she touches it, a notification screen pops up saying:
[You've found a Pairing Getaway Stone. The requirement to activate this item is achieved. Countdown for the item’s usage: 90, 89, 88,...]
“Jung-han, hold this stone and take Slayer Kang with you.”
“Ms Han, what are you…”
“Unfortunately, this is the last stone to escape from this Labyrinth. We can't risk finding another one because the Beasts in front of us are coming towards us.”
Ms Han is right. I just noticed the shadowy Beasts are slowly hovering towards the three of us. Their glowing orange eyes still give me the shivers. But even so, I don't like the feeling of having to abandon Ms Han alone in this Labyrinth.
“Ms Han…Keugh! You saved…me! Hngh! You saved Jung-han! How can we leave you…like it's nothing…”
Unnecessary tears flow from my eyes again. This time, it's the feeling of uselessness that made me unable to suppress my tears. I get up slowly; my right hand gripping my left arm firmly. I nearly stumble, but Jung-han catches me by my right side from falling down.
“Slayer Kang, you're the actual leader of this raid. I admit you're physically the weakest of this team, but your will to live…that's something I don't have. That's why I don't mind dying for the both of you. Jung-han, please take care of her.”
[30, 29, 28, 27,...]
“Ms Han…if that's your last wish, then…I shall grant it. Joo-yeon, grab on to me.”
Ms Han may look brave with that clothed bandage over her missing left eye, but I can see her trembling hands. Even if she's a single 40-year-old woman who doesn't have an immediate family, she doesn't deserve to die in this scary tomb. Just when I'm about to say another word, I hear someone coughing along with the sound of dripping blood. I turn to my right to see Jung-han coughing blood all of a sudden. He has to let go of me to cover his bloody mouth with his left hand. Ms Han and I, still being able to stand properly, are shocked to see him like this. At the same time, in Jung-han’s right hand, the notifications screen has the countdown being paused at “15” along with these words:
[This item has been temporarily deactivated. You need to meet the requirement to reactivate this item.]
“Jung-han, what happened!? How did you…”
“When was he poisoned, Ms Han?”
“I don’t know…could it be his injury…he may be physically healed with all of my potions but to detoxify…that shadow’s body must have a delayed toxicity skill.”
I may not be a proper healer, but I do know what Ms Han is implying. That the Alliance’s healing potion supplies, either made by an alchemist Slayer or healing ingredients found in certain Labyrinths, are incapable of removing poison from a Slayer's body.
"Could it be... the requirement to activate this stone is that at least one of us must be unharmed... With Jung-han poisoned, it has deactivated."
And Ms Han guesses right. Jung-han coughs out more blood which exceeded the amount of blood I've coughed up early on. The stone he's holding on to is still on pause mode. It's also obvious I can't activate it because I may have some broken bones in my body right now. That means only Ms Han, despite losing an eye, can activate that special stone.
As the shadowy Beasts approach us closer, I ponder on what's the best decision to choose right now. In fact, would I be able to face my uncle if I get out of here with Ms Han, who's the only one with a non-severe injury?
No. I'm not like Jang. Uncle Seung-min didn't raise me to become cruel to others. Also Mom..
If she were still here…That's why I…
Without feeling hesitant for once in my life, I, bearing the pain of my broken bones, quickly grab Ms Han's left hand, pulling her towards Jung-han's right side. I forcefully placed her hand on the Getaway Stone his right hand is still clutching on. With that action, the notification screen appears saying:
[Resuming activation of this item. Countdown for the item's usage: 15, 14, 13,...]
“Slayer Kang! What are you…”
Before Ms Han can finish her sentence, one of the shadowy Beasts lunges between us; the distance between us gets further. I barely manage to avoid its attack. More blood is dripping from my left arm’s opened wound, which almost covers my right hand on it.
“Joo-yeon…ugh...I don't want…”
“Jung-han, don't worry. I can keep my promise to treat you to coffee later.”
“Joo-yeon…you're lying…I'm not letting…”
Another shadowy Beast nearly slashes Jung-han with its ghostly arm. Ms Han grabs a slightly huge stone next to the fallen pillars. She throws at the Beasts' face to interfere with its attack on Jung-han though it just went through it as its body isn't in a semi-solid state. I speculate these Beasts are attacking whoever is exuding a more emotional feeling. That doesn't matter to me because I can see that Ms Han has Jung-han clinging on to her while the stone’s countdown is ongoing at…
[10]
[9]
[8]
“I’m sure there'll be a S-rank healer waiting for you up there, Ms Han. And if you meet my uncle, tell him I don't regret my choice to do this.”
[3]
[2]
“Slayer Kang!”
“Joo-yeon! No!”
[1]
And so, Ms Han and Jung-han have disappeared into the bright golden light enveloping their bodies. As soon as they're gone from my sight, all I can hear is the sound of Beasts who start to rumble under their breath. I still feel afraid, but I take a slow deep breath with my eyes closed for a short moment. Then, I open my eyes and turn around to face the nine dreadful Beasts all alone in this tomb. Taking out my life-draining dagger from my sling bag, which I toss aside to ease my ability to dodge and run from these creatures, I give them the most glaring bravado face I put on as a sign of me defying the “weakest healer” title placed upon me.