Chapter 14: The First Kill

Chapter 14: The First Kill

Ray's arms still ached from countless swings of his makeshift chokutō, but he forced himself to follow Alkan deeper into the labyrinth. They moved cautiously, guided by the faint, pulsating lights in the fleshy walls. The air was damper than usual, carrying a musty odor that churned Ray's stomach. He had grown used to the labyrinth's unsettling nature, yet every turn brought a fresh wave of unease.

Alkan paused at an intersection, raising a hand to signal Ray to stop. Ray obeyed, swallowing his questions. Over the past month, he had learned to trust Alkan's instincts without hesitation—especially when danger was near.

"We're going to hunt a dormant beast," Alkan whispered. "You're strong enough to handle one now—or at least, I hope so."

Ray nodded, though a pit formed in his stomach. He had never fought an Outer creature head-on before. The memory of the desert beasts flashed through his mind—savage, relentless monsters that had nearly torn him apart. Here in the labyrinth, everything felt more oppressive, as though the very walls conspired with their denizens.

Alkan glanced at Ray's trembling hand. "You'll be fine," he said quietly. "Just remember your training. And if things go south, I'm here."

They took the right corridor, its walls rippling with a sickly greenish glow. As they walked, Ray noticed old scratches and dark stains on the ground—signs of previous battles. His pulse quickened. So people have fought here before… and lost?

"Stay alert," Alkan muttered. "Dormant beasts might be the weakest type of Outer creatures, but they're still deadly. Let your guard down, and you're finished."

Ray swallowed hard. "How will I know it's dormant?"

"You'll know," Alkan replied grimly. "They're smaller than the fallen or accursed types, less... twisted. But don't underestimate them. Their ferocity makes up for what they lack in intelligence."

They emerged into a wide chamber where the floor dipped into shallow pits filled with a strange, viscous liquid. Pale fungi clung to the walls, casting a faint glow that revealed the chamber's far corners. Shadows flickered along the edges, suggesting movement just out of sight.

Alkan raised his arm, and a swirl of spark-like dust gathered around his hand, forming the hilt of his summoned sword. The blade appeared with a brief shimmer. Ray felt a pang of envy, as he always did when Alkan summoned his weapon so effortlessly. If I were awakened, I could do that too…

Alkan tilted his head, listening. A distant scraping sound echoed through the chamber, and Ray tensed. He gripped his chokutō, reminding himself to focus on the fundamentals—stance, balance, and controlled breathing.

"There," Alkan hissed.

From the far side of the chamber, a hunched figure emerged. It moved on all fours, its elongated limbs skittering over the slick floor with a wet slapping sound. Its eyes glowed faintly in the fungus light, reflecting an animalistic hunger. Unlike the monstrous devil that haunted the labyrinth's upper levels, this creature was smaller—perhaps the size of a large dog. But the tension in Alkan's posture told Ray that it was no less lethal in its own way.

So that's a dormant beast…

It sniffed the air, its jaw opening and closing in a silent clack. Then, without warning, it charged.

"Remember your drills!" Alkan barked, darting to the side.

Ray planted his feet and raised his sword. The beast closed in faster than he expected, claws scraping against the stone. At the last moment, Ray swung downward—just as he had practiced a thousand times before. The chokutō's edge bit into the creature's shoulder, sending a spray of dark fluid across the ground. The beast screeched, recoiling in pain.

I hit it… Ray's heart pounded with adrenaline. For a split second, triumph flashed in his mind. I can do this—

The beast twisted, lashing out with its uninjured arm. Ray barely managed to leap back, but the blow caught him in the ribs. He staggered, gasping as pain flared through his side.

"Focus!" Alkan shouted. He darted forward, feinting a strike to draw the beast's attention. The creature snarled, swiping at him with its injured limb, but Alkan pivoted gracefully, avoiding the blow. In the same fluid motion, he slashed across its back, forcing it to stumble.

Ray steadied himself, ignoring the throbbing pain in his ribs. Don't let fear paralyze you. He gripped his sword again, recalling Alkan's lessons on timing. He had to wait for the right moment—not too soon, not too late.

The beast hissed, whipping around to face Ray once more. Its eyes burned with primal fury, but its movements had slowed. Dark fluid oozed from its shoulder and back, staining the ground. Its limbs trembled—it's weakening.

With a roar, the creature lunged. This time, Ray stepped forward instead of backward, aiming a precise thrust at its chest. The chokutō sank in, the impact jarring his arms. The beast's momentum carried it forward, nearly knocking Ray to the ground. Its claws raked his arm, leaving shallow cuts in his leather armor.

Then, it collapsed with a final wheeze.

Ray stood there, panting. His hands shook, and he almost dropped his sword. I killed it…

Alkan approached, still cautious, and nudged the creature's corpse with his foot. When it didn't move, he gave Ray a small nod. "Not bad," he said quietly. "You handled yourself better than I expected."

Ray wiped sweat from his forehead, staring at the body. Dark fluid pooled around it, the stench nauseating. His stomach lurched, but he forced the bile down. This is the labyrinth… it's kill or be killed.

Alkan dismissed his summoned blade, letting it dissolve into sparks of essence. "Quickly, retrieve its soul fragment. We don't need the meat for now."

Ray grimaced, crouching by the corpse. He wasn't used to cutting open something this grotesque, and the thought of eating these creatures every day was even worse. But at least he got to eat. Better than starving.

He carefully picked up the soul fragment—a transparent crystal, its size determined by the beast's rank.

Alkan nodded. "Let's take it back. You need to focus on feeling its soul essence flow into you."

Ray hesitated, then asked, "So this is how you've been surviving all these years? Collecting relics and soul fragments from kills?"

Alkan nodded. "It's part of it. The labyrinth is cruel, but it gives us just enough to keep going." He glanced down the corridor. "My soul core has been saturated for a long time—I can't absorb them anymore. But you still can, so don't waste it."

He turned, motioning for Ray to follow. "Now, let's hurry before more show up."

They retraced their steps through the pulsing corridors. Ray's mind spun with a whirlwind of emotions—relief at surviving, pride at his first real victory, and a gnawing sense of dread at what still lay ahead.

This was just a dormant beast. He thought. What happens when I face something stronger?

He glanced at Alkan, who walked calmly, the newly acquired relic tucked away. Alkan had said the path to awakening would take years.

But do I even have that kind of time?

As they reached a safer passage, Alkan finally slowed. "You did well," he said, glancing at Ray's wounds. "We'll tend to those scratches, then keep training."

Ray exhaled, nodding. "Right… training."

And killing. It was a bitter truth, but it was all he could do to survive. Yet, in the flickering shadows of the labyrinth, he couldn't shake the feeling that each battle brought him one step closer to a destiny he still barely understood.