“Hah…hah…” My ragged breath fails to draw in the oxygen I need to keep up my pace. The walls darken, pulsating red and black as I try to push my body beyond its limits.

“Damnit!”

I’ve lost the trail.

I don’t know when.

Maybe back at the fork over there, or maybe the one before that.

But it’s too late to go back now.

These goblins aren’t quitting.

The others are on their own.

*Tap Tap*

*Snuffle Snuffle*

I hate these things…

It’s time to run again. I break away, letting my long strides propel me away from the lamp and back into the waiting shadows. Behind me, the grotesque sounds and smells of a certain Goblin Desperado and Shieldmaiden also speed up as they catch on to my escape.

Come on, I’ve been running for half an hour!

At this point, I’m not sure what to do. I can’t just keep running through the dungeon without a direction. Eventually, I’m going to wander into other goblins.

Should I turn and just fight it out?

The Desperado is doable.

But that Shieldmaiden is a pain…my cleaver is too short to get around her shield.

Wait, is this tunnel going up?

It feels like just a coincidence, some sort of glitch. Maybe my senses are wobbled from the fighting or the arrow to the ear. But after a few minutes more sprinting, I’m sure of it.

I think it’s an escape tunnel!

Quickening my pace, I feel a small rush at the prospect of a find. The goblins keep pace with me, and we race through floor after floor. The escape tunnel isn’t like the main entrance. It’s long, full of twists and turns, and an absolute nightmare to navigate. It’s also very slender, making it difficult for more than one person to walk in it at a time. This would work out in my favor if I have to fight the goblins. There’s just one problem.

Sometimes the escape tunnels aren’t wide enough for humans.

There’s a reason why Bern’s party only really cared about burning the main entranceway. The goblin’s really do use it for almost everything, and the mutant breeds might not even fit in some of the smaller escape tunnels. A twinge of fear strikes at my heart as the tunnel begins to shrink with every passing minute.

We’re rising fast. Must be on the 3rd Floor now!

The footsteps chasing me have changed rhythm. Doubtless the Desperado has pulled ahead, while the Shieldmaiden follows behind. Since the tunnel is barely wide enough to contain my shoulders, they must be going single-file. The ground slopes up even more while the air grows less fetid and begins to lose some of the disgusting warmth of the nest.

2nd Floor!

I keep an eye on my System Map, trying to guess roughly where I am based on how it compares to the previous places we’ve explored.

Best guess…I’m not near the other escape tunnel from earlier.

A few more minutes of running makes my body grow numb. It’s funny how the pain of exhaustion manages to hurt you when you think you can’t feel anything else. Fortunately, I’ve known the worst that pain can give you. I’m not fazed.

1st Floor!

The final stretch goes by even faster then the others. Chancing a glance over my shoulder, I catch sight of the snarling face of the Goblin Desperado as it matches me stride for stride. The rapier in its hands, snags on the tunnel, clearly not designed for such small spaces. I file away a mental note of this detail for future reference in case I need it. Then a spot of light appears ahead!

Bingo!

Putting on a burst of speed, I accelerate for the exit. My shoulders ram into chunks of clay and mud sticking out of the tunnel wall. It’s so small I have to hunch over and bend my knees like a Feral Goblin to fit, but I can make it.

Almost there!

I can practically taste the light.

Then something blocks it.

I stare out in utter surprise.

A pair of sapphire blue eyes under a crimson-cloak stares back with equal surprise.

Who the hell are you?

“You’re…!”

#

I don’t know why I don’t trust the man. Maybe it’s the vicious way his eyes tighten when he sees me coming out of the escape tunnel. Or maybe it’s because I used to be a Death God. One killer instinctively recognizes another when they see each other.

Danger!

That’s all I think before I jerk my head back.

Basic Prescience activates, but it’s too slow.

Or maybe this man’s moving too fast-

*Weng*

The man’s sword appears in the space my head used to be. A thin silver line which tries to puncture my eyeball, but I’m just out of reach.

“You’re good at running.” He mocks me. Then he pulls his blade back out of the hole and clenches his fist. “I’ll let you run all you want then, Rat! You…seal it!”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“You could ask nicely.” Someone out of sight says grumpily.

“Seal it…please.”

Suddenly the tunnel walls begin to rumble in front of me.

A System Skill?

Earthen Wall!

A mound of unbreachable rock closes off the hole. Before the two sides connect between us, I hear my would-be murderer laugh.

“Go ahead, try to find another way out! But I bet I can seal them off faster than you can run, RAT!”

“You’re awfully melodramatic.” The other person who, presumably is responsible for sealing the tunnel, sighs as the hole closes. “Let’s make this quick. I need to get back to the frontlines.”

They’re from the frontlines?

*Clack*

I have no choice but to turn back now with two hostile high-levels on the surface. Unfortunately, the mutant goblins have caught up while I was distracted.

Ahh…well this isn’t good.

The Desperado cackles though its wide shoulders can barely fit in the tight tunnel. Behind it, the Shieldmaiden glares at me and I have to wonder if it just hates humans that much or if it’s the same one, I gave the slip to last time.

Guess it’s just you and me, huh?

My chipped cleaver is looking awfully outmatched. Wrinkling my nose at the disgusting smell, I don’t waste any time.

Let’s go!

Before the Shieldmaiden can catch up, I throw myself at the Desperado. Its rough rag-like armor is reminiscent of fluttering rotten leather. The little purple mouth bares itself wide as the goblin fencer tries to get its rapier up in time. However, the overly-long sword catches on the wall of the cramped tunnel. It’s a dirty way to fight, but I’m not one to waste an advantage.

*Tap*

I push past the deadly point and stomp it into the ground. With its rapier trapped in the dirt, the Desperado realizes its mistake. It tries to squirm backwards and rip the blade free from under my boot. However, I’m Lvl. 17 now, and I have just enough strength and leverage to keep it there. My cleaver comes up and the mutant goblin is forced to let go of its sword in a desperate bid to protect its face.

*Shing*

My first blow only cuts off a four-fingered hand. But the second finds the meat in its neck. It’s nice fighting something that isn’t undead. Once I hit a vital, even if its head isn’t completely off, the goblin loses its combat capabilities. There isn’t time to celebrate my victory though. The Shieldmaiden comes on me suddenly.

“Eeee!” Its voice is anything but feminine as it charges right over the convulsing body of its cousin. “DIE!”

The very human words coming out of its mouth match perfectly with its shield bash. The damn thing turns its defense into a lethal weapon as all twenty-two levels of pure aggression and goblin strength drive the rusted metal shield towards my face. In the cramped tunnel, there’s no wonder to run. All I can do is stumble backwards onto my back and kick out at the bottom of the encroaching shield.

*Dong*

I hit lower than the Shieldmaiden expects. The bottom of the metal square pushes in on its legs and the goblin trips on its own shield.

*Crash*

The top of the shield as well as the full weight of the Shieldmaiden lands on my face. It clashes against my forehead and stars erupt in my eyes. All I can see is this rusty goddamn shield and all I can hear is thumps as the Shieldmaiden above tries to crush me to death underneath.

Mother!

My hands scrabble desperately at the rim of the shield, trying to find a way around. I’m literally being suffocated by the bloody thing.

*Dong*

*Dong*

*Dong*

I think it’s stomping on its own shield. A sharp pain comes as something cracks in my nose. Spitting blood is a mistake. Now cold drops are dripping back off the shield on me.

I hate this thing.

Finally, I manage to get my left hand around the side of its shield. Grabbing the rim, hard, I shift my weight and throw everything I have into tilting the shield to my left. A shocked cry comes from above as the Goblin Shieldmaiden loses its balance-

“Eeeeee?”

My turn!

The cleaver in my right-hand snakes out from under the shield into the new space. I hack blindly, relying on the instinct of a thousand battles to find its flesh.

“Eeee!”

“EEEEH!”

“EE….-“

With a final gasp, the heavy shield stops rocking as the goblin on top collapses. Thick, nasty blood drips down off the shield onto my face, and unfortunately, I don’t think all of its mine.

Gross.

Gingerly, I work my way out from under the metal shield one limb at a time. When I finally get everything out, the shield clangs into the ground. The sightless eyes of the ugly Shieldmaiden on top are split down the middle by a chipped cleaver. I can feel my nose swelling, although the System is congratulating me for hitting Lvl. 18.

It doesn’t feel like I won…

Looking back, I see nothing but the dark, closed-off wall of earth summoned by whoever was with that Hunter. Theories swirl about in my head, question as to why he attacked me, and why he would bury me inside this hellhole. None of them are good.

What the hell is going on here?

While I was dealing with the Shieldmaiden, the Desperado has also finally bled out. Watching both their disgusting corpses, I remember that somewhere down in the dungeon, Tepis and Sierra are still searching for Rita. With a groan, I yank my rapidly deteriorating cleaver out of the Shieldmaiden’s skull and start running back down. As I run past the Desperado, I sigh deeply and pick up its rusted rapier.

It’s better than nothing.

Let’s see how far down this rabbit hole goes.

Somewhere back there, while contemplating what would happen if those goblins finished me off, the pain of living, as well as the fear of dying, returned to my bones. Like meeting an old friend, it feels like I’ve come alive again, if only for a moment. I race back down the escape tunnel, ignoring the clotting blood in my broken nose.

It’ll heal soon enough.

There are only two choices available to me now.

One…I try to find the others, a tough call because I have no idea where they are.

Or alternatively, I try to get to another escape tunnel before that Hunter can collapse them all.

Neither of these choices is particularly appetizing. As a matter of fact, there’re reasons to discount both of them. For instance, if I try to save the others, we’re still going to be stuck down here in the end even if I do regroup. Alternatively, if I do manage to find another tunnel to the surface, that Hunter will still be up there on the surface. However, one thing is for sure-

We can’t count on getting help from the guilds. Something’s gone wrong.

Clenching my teeth, I pick up speed, darting all the way back down into the depths of the 4th Floor. Bits of dust sift down from the ceiling every now and then. I take it as evidence that Mr. High-Level up there is staying true to his word and collapsing the escape tunnels.

Whatever I’m doing it needs to be fast!

Thinking it through, I decide that for now, my best bet is to find another way to the surface.

There’s just no way to tell where the others are, but any tunnel which goes to the upper floors will help.

Dancing in-between the light of the lanterns, I pick a promising path at random and lose myself entirely in the dungeon. Now that I have a few more critical levels under my belt, I’m not as afraid of running into some Feral Goblins. However, I wouldn’t count on surviving another patrol with mutants, especially if the element of surprise is wasted. The ground is cold under my shoes, and my toes shiver as the sweat from earlier begins to dry.

One of the side tunnels seems to slant upwards and I take it as a sign that’s the one I should pick. Swinging left, I pound my way up the floors once more, running even faster, though this time there are no goblins chasing me. The air sticks to my clotting nose and I wish I could waste some water to wash the blood away. My lonely footsteps make for poor companions in this world of nothingness. They don’t say anything I don’t already know. On my own…again.

When I get to the top, I curse.

Are you kidding me?

The Hunter has already sealed this one. A thick wall of rock and earth blocks my way and I turn back without a second thought.

Okay…let’s try again!

Back down we go into the dark and dank. It’s not fun.

Another tunnel…

Blocked again!

Huffing in frustration, I think it over a bit more deeply before giving it another go.

At this point, I doubt whoever is casting the Earthen Wall skill has enough mana to close up all these escape holes at the same time. One of these has to be open!

The tunnels have this suffocating presence. It’s like being squeezed in a vice of rock and dust. Compacted and choked out until you can’t breathe, or think of anything but being stuck here.

It reminds me a little too much of that place.

It’s strange, I remember liking the darkness before my time in the Void Prism. Now I’m not sure if I’m at home in the dark anymore It feels more like a prison. Running a little faster, my System-Assisted feet take me to another side tunnel.

Light! This one’s not blocked yet!

*Puchi*

Pain.

Agonizing pain.

That’s what I’m feeling.

Something’s pierced through my right eye.

Half my world has gone dark.

“Greedy Rat. Should be more careful looking for the sun.”

Those grinning sapphire-blue eyes wink at me before his sword cuts again.

*Puchi*

The rest of my world abruptly goes black.