The door is metal, black painted metal. For some odd reason, the stone bricks around the door look aged, but not the door itself. Maybe it could be just the paint, it looked fresh. No rust or anything like that.

The door creaked as it opened, my ears experienced pain from the high frequency screeching that it made. Aya and Ryo went ahead while I followed behind into a pretty well lit room. A wide and spacious hall with pillars holding up the ceiling on both sides. The pillars had stands of armor aligned in front of them. The armor was a nice shade of bronze, stainless somehow, and held a sword facing down at their feet with both hands on the base. The air felt fresh and without dust, far different from the halls we were just in.

“Looks creepy, don't touch anything, the armor might come to life..” Aya said, crouching and walking slowly, does she think this is a horror movie or something? Ryo whacked her across the head, playfully of course “just because Giants and superpowers are real, doesn't necessarily mean armor can move and attack us on its own.” Surprisingly smart from this peabrained lover boy.

To prove Ryo’s hypothesis, I pulled a bronze sword away from one of the stands. Sure enough, it did not spring to life and maul me “See!” he said from where they stood “Grab some swords guys, we might come across monsters or something.” Even though the armor wasn't alive, who's to say that there aren't any evil plants or trees?

We might even find a mimic chest along the way…

Only I looked proper with the sword in my hand, all of the blades were the same length and weight, making it easier for taller guys like me to get comfortable with its reach. Aya and Ryo are considerably disadvantaged with a sword not fit for their arms, it looks almost comical.

Opening the doors to the next room, we are met by a bushy maze, the walls are well trimmed hedges. “Should.. Should we try to hack through?” I suggested, pointing at the fairly sharp bronze blade in my hand.

Ryo shrugged “Worth a shot”, it was in fact, not worth the shot. The hedges grabbed and entrapped my sword, no matter how hard I pulled, it just wouldn't come out. Aya tried to cut the hedges with her Variant, it cut and regrew. Finally we gave up and focused on navigating the maze, leaving the sword behind.

After about an hour of taking left turns, we arrive at the exit, yet another door.

“Do you think there's a monster behind this?” Aya suggests, sword’s tip tapping the door. “There's no shot, i bet all my loot” Ryo replies, I'm a bit confused here, Ryo has no loot..

Opening the door, we enter a yellowish bricked corridor, it extends pretty far. “No monster here, I win.” sure enough, there was nothing in sight.

Moving forward, we can hear sounds that aren't ours. “Stop moving for a second.” There is a faint, but real, clicking noise in the distance. Like footsteps, after noticing this, Aya slaps Ryo on the back with a smile “Your loot is mine!”

She seems pretty excited, considering we are in danger right now. I should probably use my Variant in advance before we engage the enemy.

I… Don't want to..

I can't, I can't muster the courage to use it, to even think of the pain I felt. This Variant is really scaring me. The feeling of your own actions swallowing you, I just- I can't..

Aya and Ryo march on “You coming? I can give you my sword if you want to fight.” Aya offered, I accepted and took her blade from her. As we inched closer to the sound, diversions and more corridors were found in the sides of the hallway, strangely reminiscent of the maze earlier.

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A bull, that's what it was. Its head peeked out from behind a diversion, around 8 feet, then it fully crossed the diversion into the main hall, right in front of us. The thing was massive, its upper body had fur and a bulls head, its legs somewhat looked like an animal’s as well. But that thing was humanoid, it was…

“MINOTAUR! RUN!” Ryo, Aya and I turn tail and make a run for it. The Minotaur can be heard huffing, puffing and charging behind us. It's definitely going to outrun us..

While Aya and Ryo run ahead of me, I turn around at the perfect moment. The Minotaur had red eyes, black horns sprouting from the side of its head and for the most part, brown fur.

Pointing my blade at the beast, I should probably reconsider activating the ability…

Again, I find myself too filled with fear and pain at the thought of the Variant. That Minotaur is right there and yet I still can't bring myself to it.

Raising my bronze blade, the beast charges me. I hack down an amateur slash for sure, but one that should do the trick. That was the idea anyway.

Shing! Crack! The blade splits somewhere in the middle, red runs down the Minotaur's head. He’s stopped charging, now he stands over me, clearly showing off his durability. The entire blade gone, for what? A mere wound?

What was I thinking? This isn't a video game, there's no weapon that can be found that's conveniently what I need to beat this guy.

You have engaged in battle with Minotaur: Level 20! Multiple people engaging in battle will lower your victory Exp! Good Luck Hero!

Standing before me now is the cocky, arrogant and durable Minotaur. I need the courage, I need the strength, I need to use it...

It wont matter the amount of pain, or the shivering fear, all that matters now is winning. All that matters is destroying anything that stands in my way.

Activating Variant: All The Possibilities at MAX POWER!

Every permutation, every muscle movement, every punch... I have already seen it.

Seen, learned, adapted. Seen... Learned... Adapted.

SEEN... LEARNED... ADAPTED...

S E E N... L E A R N E D... A D A P T E D...

NO MATTER THE COST. KILL THE BULL.

The Minotaur huffed, it always would. A right hook, duck. With my left hand, grab the wrist and restrain.

Minotaur brakes free in a struggle, there's a clear height disparity I should be worrying about, yet I'm not..

Because I'm not the one pulling the strings, Fate is, and fate is on my side.

Ill turn this disease into my safe space. I will take refuge in the victories of countless futures. I will cherish every move that I make, for no matter the step, inch, jab or punch, everything I do, I do it perfectly!

Letting the Minotaur's hand brake free, he's staggers back, not expecting me to let his hand go so easily, he put too much force and imbalanced himself. I cannot feel my own face muscles, I cant tell if I'm smiling, but it never hurt to get cocky, especially when you win "You are wide open!"

Right fist, straight into the gut of the beast, its mouth opening in reflex. I am still not done!

Leave no room to breath, if he hits you, you're dead, stay on your feet, combo.

The Minotaur staggers back a bit further, the punch didn't do much. Before he can rebalance himself, left uppercut from the floor till his jaw.

Knocked up, bit his own tongue, the pink flesh flies off.

And I'm still not done