The man stood still, his weathered gaze locked onto Emma as her words lingered in the heavy air. His expression remained inscrutable, the silence stretching between them like a taut string. A faint flicker of curiosity... or perhaps skepticism crossed his sharp features before he finally gave a slow, measured nod.

“All I need,” Emma said, her voice steady and calm, though the weight of her resolve could be felt beneath her words, “is that we work together to find a way out.”

The man didn’t speak, but his slight nod spoke volumes. It was a small concession, but enough for Emma to seize. Without hesitation, she turned and gestured. “Follow me.”

Her tone held confidence, though her steps were deliberate as she moved. Maverick fell in line behind her, his usual unshakable composure unchanged. He walked with the same fluid calmness as always... unhurried yet vigilant, like a shadow that never missed its mark. The man followed suit, his footsteps heavy but controlled, the faint scrape of his boots against the cold, uneven stone echoing through the dungeon halls.

The air grew colder as they pressed forward, the damp walls of the labyrinthine dungeon glistening with moisture. Torches flickered weakly in their rusted sconces, casting tremulous shadows that danced like specters against the walls.

Emma closed her eyes for a brief moment as she walked. She needed focus. The oppressive stillness of the dungeon bore down on her, each breath heavy in her chest. A faint throbbing in her stomach reminded her of her overuse of The Looping Fate.... a sharp, burning ache that lingered like a wound left unhealed.

I’ve pushed myself too far already, she thought grimly. The damage to my Ki core isn’t something I can ignore forever, this is the last time am using it for now.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The image of her blood-smeared hand from earlier flickered through her mind, but she shook it off as quickly as it came. This isn’t the time to hesitate. She clenched her fists. Gaining the man’s trust....and by extension, having a strong ally along with Maverick.... was worth the risk.

Besides, the damage had already been done. She could endure it. She had to endure it.

Silence settled between the three of them as they walked, save for the faint drip of water echoing through the cavernous corridors and their steady footsteps against the stone. The darkness seemed endless, broken only by the failing torchlight. Shadows clawed at the edges of their vision, stretching unnaturally in the flickering glow.

Then, something shifted.

Emma’s closed eyes twitched as she felt the subtle hum of fate. Threads....bthin as silk, yet vibrant and alive began to weave themselves into her perception. At first, they were faint glimmers in the dark, their presence little more than whispers against her strained mind. But as they walked further, the threads grew clearer, stronger.

Three of them.

Emma’s nervous breath calmed as she saw it: the intertwining strands of fate spiraling toward a single destination ahead. The threads pulsed softly with life, their glow faint but undeniable.

She opened her eyes. The entrance to a massive dungeon room loomed before her, its towering stone archway carved with weathered glyphs that had long since faded into obscurity. Beyond the threshold, darkness pooled thick and unyielding, but the threads of fate told her all she needed to know.

“This is the place,” Emma said, her voice quiet yet firm.

Both Maverick and the man paused just behind her, their gazes following hers toward the darkened room beyond. For a moment, silence reigned again, broken only by the distant drip of water and the soft crackle of a torch.

Emma turned her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she looked toward the man. There was a spark of satisfaction in her eyes.. subtle, but there.

“Would you like to check it out?” she asked, her tone calm but carrying a hint of lightness.

For the first time in hours, she felt a small ripple of victory within herself. She’d gained the man’s trust.... at least enough to follow her and, with it, a chance to make him an ally.