Denizens of the Labyrinth

The gate was more like a corridor and Jazmel felt himself enthralled by the dense Mana that had built up the gate and its expanse.

“This is thrilling and somewhat unnerving.” Gilmore said and Jazmel hated that he had agreed.

“We are not even travelling together, and the trial gate has brought us through together. This is something strange.” Gilmore expressed, Jazmel had just begun to walk the expanse of the gate and Gilmore soon followed too.

Jazmel led the way; he hadn’t drawn a sword, but he was definitely prepared for anything that would appear. The corridor wasn’t too long, it was like the walk of a wing and soon they had walked the entire length. But opened up into a much larger room and there, standing before a wondrous door; stood his friends and party members.

“HEY!” he shouted, and they all turned, Katie, Patton, Bannerman and Sadé. They rushed over to him and to his surprise Katie hugged him.

“Where have you been!” she said, pulling him away to look at him and then hugging him again. Patton came over and hugged his shoulders. Bannerman merely inclined his head with a gruff. But Sadé looked at him and her eyes told him everything, he hugged Katie back and then moving past them he hugged Sadé, she hugged him back and it was all that was there in that moment. He hugged her for mere moments, but it felt like an eternity.

“Get a room!” Katie jeered but it was lovingly. Jazmel let her go and then turned to the side, to see the stoic figure of Baek. Who merely inclined his head and nodded after Jazmel. After hugging her again, he let her go and then he turned to introduce Gilmore, who was merely standing away from the group on his own.

“This is Gilmore Twain, a friend.” He introduced him and Gilmore dipped an imaginary hat to Jazmel’s party.

“Well, this cannot be a trial of friendship. So, what are we doing here.

THE TRIAL GATE OF THE OUTPOST

…

SEVEN STAND BEFORE THE WAR DOORS

…

WILL YOU TRY YOUR HAND AT THE OUTPOST TRIAL?

The system rung out to them, in this interspace made up of Mana. Immediately falling back to old habits, Jazmel turned to Baek.

“I have not heard of a trial gate for an outpost. But if it functions like how a domain does, you have to earn the right to the domain. Once you do, you and your party will have access to the domain. It will be your land, a base of operations if you will.” Baek explained.

“So, like a kingdom?” Katie asked, suddenly excited.

“An outpost is far from a kingdom, but I imagine they would function in the same sort of way.” Baek smiled as he answered.

“But we all have to start from somewhere.” Jazmel uttered and the others agreed.

“What if we don’t want to do it?” Patton asked, and the room looked around.

“All you have to do. Is walk away from the expanse and the system will deem it as a cancel and open the way back.” Baek offered, opening one palm as an option.

“But I think we should.” Jazmel said and the others looked at him.

“We are clearly travelling together, and we will continue to do so. But having a base that we can return to and plan our labyrinth dives. That would be an advantage. Don’t you think so?” Jazmel offered.

“All packs have a den, even if they roam far.” Bannerman offered and even Patton smiled at that.

“An outpost is just that, an outpost. It doesn’t have to be permanent, and the further you get in the labyrinth, the better prospects will appear. if you choose to build a kingdom, you can. It will just be arduous work, but the Seeker is not immune to challenging work. In fact, it completes your journey, the harder you work the greater the fruits of your labour.” Baek confirmed for them all and Jazmel nodded in agreement.

“I don’t know what I want to do in this labyrinth. Right now, I am simply happy to see these unfamiliar places with you all and learn new things about myself. An outpost is a safe place for us while we do that. Why wouldn’t we do that?” he said, and everyone murmured in agreement.

“Though I am not part of the party. I do have to say, he.” – he beckoned at Jazmel.

“Makes a good point, it is better to travel in here with people you trust. It will allow for greater discoveries.” Gilmore said.

“You would join us?” Jazmel asked and Gilmore shrugged.

“Why not? You are a good person, if you are in this party, then that already says they are all good people too.”

“I don’t know who he is, but he seems to be supporting you all. You are all good in my books.” He said with another shrug after pointing at Baek.

“So, are we doing this?” Katie asked, already loosening the chains she bore on waist and wrists.

They seemed to unanimously agree, once this happened the system appeared again, a hollow voice that shrouded the whole expanse in sound.

TRIAL OF THE OUTPOST.

ACCEPTED

…

BEGIN!

As this was said, a great double door appeared before them. it was larger. Much larger than any gate Jazmel had entered. He placed a hand on it and Mana inscriptions skirted across the doors in a design. He couldn’t make out what they were, but he imagined that they were designs of some history of the labyrinth.

“Bannerman help.” He called for his friend and together they pushed open the doorway for them all to enter.

TRIAL GATE ACTIVATED

BEWARE THE HORDE

SURVIVE THE HORDE

1/5

As soon as the words floated across his status screen, he knew the others had seen it to. The doorway now open, led into a room much bigger. It was like a platform hanging open in the abyss and he was awed by the size.

“Focus.” Baek said loud enough for everyone but never a shout.

The platform lit up, in the air just above where they all stood, a huge lanterns burned bright with fire and lit up the entire platform. On one side, stood Jazmel; his party, Gilmore and Baek. On the other side monsters of all species and sizes. They rushed forward and immediately everyone began their fight.

Thunderfire

Sadé yelled and her attack tore through a pack of ghouls rushing before her.

Chain ripper!!

Katie yelled as she jumped into the air and struck out with her chains, they had been lined with sharpened edges; which gave them the look of metallic thorns. She whipped them about her and struck a cyclopes in the air and piercing its head. It fell backwards crushing some others, but she already had landed and was aiming a new attack at another.

Bannerman was already fighting in his wolfen hybrid form. Much more muscle and almost like a werewolf. Immediately Jazmel jumped in and was beside him, swinging his blade carving through the horde. He fought beside Bannerman, Gilmore, and Patton. In minutes they had defeated every creature.

FIRST WAVE DONE

ALL EXP AND STATS WILL BE REWARDED AT THE END

SECOND WAVE BEGINS

The next monsters to attack were creatures Jazmel had not seen before, winged women who were featherless but ugly and scornful, they flew in from the sky and attacked them. Katie was the first to kill one, driving her chain through the skull of the one that dived the lowest.

“What are these?” Sadé shouted as she threw fox fire up at them, but they dived out of the way.

“Furies.” Baek said and Jazmel noticed that he was standing away from them, letting them fight without his involvement.

The others dived again to attack and this time they were ready. Gilmore jumped up and blew ink into the sky and it scattered around.

“Crows!” the crows appeared and crashed into the furies as they flew low. The toxins in the ink did their work because they fell from the air immediately and the group made short work of those also.

SECOND WAVE DONE

EXP AND STATS WILL BE REWARDED AT THE END

THIRD WAVE BEGINS

The air grew hot, and Jazmel watched as the ground peeled back as skeletal hands and bodies began to pull their way up out of the holes, they were made in.

“Fire demons!” Katie shouted and immediately rushed forward.

“Kill them before they raise the temperature anymore.” Katie had loosened her chains and was whirring them around her, whirling them in great arcs. Jazmel was almost enamoured by them but when he thought about it more, he realised that she was drawing the heat out of the air. Presenting them all with a chance.

Mana swords

Patton said and from his place, he cast Mana swords and threw them at fire demons. They were struck and immediately everyone was upon them. Jazmel hands jarred as his swords hit the bone of the skeletal demons. It was for a split second, but he finally cut through his first. But not before he was seared by the fire it combusted with. Gilmore was beside him using ink to block the blast of another fire demon.

“Cover yourself with some health potion, rub it in.” he told Jazmel, and he did, pouring a little into his hands and then rubbed it on his face and his hands. The pain subsided but he didn’t stop, he moved past the shade of the ink and began cutting through the last few fire demons as Patton and Sadé did their best against theirs.

THIRD WAVE DONE

EXP AND STATS WILL BE AWARDED AT THE END

FOURTH WAVE BEGINS!

From out of the shadows bobbed bulbous heads that floated and materialised out of the darkness. Tentacles formed and the first formed body screeched and out of nothing a beam formed from its dangerously wide mouth and pulsed as it aimed at Gilmore. He formed a shield from ink, but the force knocked him off his feet.

Bannerman was moving first, he caught hold of it and crushed it before tearing it apart.

“What are these?” Jazmel asked, and Baek explained.

“Beholders, flying heads that can muddle the mind and crush the weak willed.” Baek explained.

“They usually appear in the larger places in the labyrinth. This is quite low for them; the system is being hard on you all.” Baek seemed to admonish but it wasn’t without reason. The beholders, as they were named. Didn’t slow down and as they materialised, they quickly shot beams at the group without relent and it took thunder and fire from Sadé to blot them out. Katie took that moment to whip her chains about her and strike them from the sky.

They made short work of the beholders, but not without their own injuries. Jazmel suffered a blast that tore through his left shoulder. They had poured salve on it, but it didn’t heal well, and he couldn’t use his left arm for now.

Even Bannerman was struck by one of the beams and though he had chugged a potion, the scarring of where he had been hit was still apparent. He had alluded to having a stronger body than most, it might be due to his wolfen abilities. But the beam had hit him almost at direct range.

FOURTH WAVE DONE

EXP AND STATS WILL BE AWARDED AFTER THIS

FINAL WAVE

BEGIN!

At the other end of the platform a new gate appeared, this one was black. Even darker than the area surrounding the platform but the Mana that was seeping from the gate, was buffing the entire area and Jazmel could tell that the final opponent was going to be strong.

“The Mana coming from that gate is very strong.” Jazmel shared with everyone; his party prepared as best as they could. Gilmore drank two Mana potions, Jazmel pulled one from his own storage ring and tossed it to him.

“Get ready.” Baek said and Jazmel realised he had moved closer to the party, if he was going to close down the proximity, then it must be a strong monster.

The pressure seeping from the Mana gate coalesced into a small opening, a tiny window. Then it imploded and opened wide and large. A giant knight of black matter and metal stepped out. The room exploded with Mana and Jazmel shivered at the touch of this knight’s Mana. In one hand it held a mallet of the thick iron, blackened, and chipped from years of use. In the other hand it clutched a heavy tower shield, dented, and bruised. Jazmel wondered who had come face to face with this behemoth before and if they had won out.

“A Wight Knight.” Baek declared and the group settled in, for their most dangerous fight.

“It is a tier III monster; it is dangerous and extremely strong. This will need all of you. Be careful of its spectral flare. It affects the whole area.” Baek warned and they leapt into action.

“Bannerman, Gilmore assess its defence from the flanks.” Jazmel said and they darted off either side.

“Sadé, see if thunder of fire can make a dent in that defence.” She split off and began to build her attack, she said something, and he didn’t hear her, but a halo or a crown formed of pure thunder above her head. Immediately her Mana jumped and with her three tails also present. Her Mana was immense. She had clearly grown in the time he had been away from them.

“Patton evaluate the Mana, you can feel Mana as much as any of us, but you can manipulate it better than others. See if your Mana swords can get beneath the armour.” Patton entered the fray and harried the knight who was already being assaulted by Bannerman and Gilmore’s joint effort.

“What about me?” Katie asked, excited to jump in and help.

“You have the best job of all of us, I need you to build up and strike it whenever it looks like it’s going to get one of us. I don’t know how strong it is, but the size of it. tells me that one hit from that knight and we might die. I need you to draw its attention when you can and where you can. But I also want you to prepare for the final attack. If you see a chance, take it. but you need to make it count.” He explained and Katie nodded and rushing in with her chains swinging around her.

“Yes boss!” he laughed mirthlessly and pushed forward himself.

“You have a good head for strategy.” Baek said and Jazmel nodded at his words of affirmation.

“Will you not join us this time?” he asked and Baek inclined his head.

“If I intervene with your growth, you all may not overcome tribulations within the labyrinth of your own skill. I will intercede if there is a need, but not too much.” He explained and in his heart, Jazmel knew he was right.

“Thank you then Baek.” He said and stepped forward to join his friends.

“It is my job.” Baek said from behind and Jazmel nodded over his shoulder.

The knight was big, to Jazmel he was about the same size as Graug the troll ogre was and while it was not as near in speed. He made it up in sheer defence, its armour covered everything, even its face was covered and only the eye slits which shone with an ethereal glow.

Jazmel darted in, in one movement. He drew his sword and struck at the elbow joint. His blade bounced off as if he were nothing of consequence. He spun under the legs of the knight and struck at a knee joint, to the same effect. But this time it pierced a little the knight whirled and raised its mallet to strike him. But not before a fist made up of chains struck its helmet and knocked it off course. In that moment, everyone struck with their skills.

Mana swords

Sword of dense Mana pierced the shield and arm, denting it further and even catching the shoulder and the neck of the Wight knight, even though it didn’t seem moved.

Abyss

A new one and a bead of black ink grew quickly as it fed on the darkness and the shadow surrounding them. it grew till it was about the size of a giant pearl, it could fit in the palm of Jazmel’s opened hand. It floated to the arm of the tower shield and swallowed it whole. The arm and the shield in one gulp. The knight howled.

Thunderfire

The skill of flaming thunder struck the gaping hole in its armour now and this time the knight screeched. Under the torrent of thunder and fire merged together in a terrible arc of pain and power.

Frenzy

Bannerman leapt into the air and landing on the shoulder blade he clawed the face and helmet of the knight. He tried to pull it off, but the knight waved its sword over its shoulder and Bannerman leapt out of harm’s way.

Chain Maiden!

Jazmel had not seen Katie use this and he watched as she looped her chains to form a massive knot and then she crashed her chain into the top of the head of the knight. It was stunned and Jazmel knew this was his moment.

Slash

He uttered and maybe it was the focus of the strike, or all of his friends attacks managing to hit the knight. His last attack struck and cut through the battered armour of the knight. It fell in on itself, and the Mana that had been used to animate it, split up and separated. Into ample parts that filled each member of the group.

ALL WAVES COMPLETE!

WELL, DONE

THE TRIAL IS COMPLETE

YOU HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO THE OUTPOST AND THE DOMAIN IS YOURS

WHAT WILL YOU NAME IT?

The notifications popped up in multiple screens and he began to look at them all.

LARGE EXP AMOUNT ACCRUED

…

+6 WIL

+5 INT

+5 VIT

+5 PER

+4 DEX

+3 END

+1 STR

…

EXP EARNED

LEVEL UP!

TIER II HARPY CORE X3 COLLECTED

TIER II BEHOLDER CORE X2 COLLECTED

TIER II FIRE DEMON BONE X6 COLLECTED

TIER II FIRE DEMON CORE COLLECTED

TIER III WIGHT KNIGHT BROKEN SHIELD

Jazmel nodded at the notifications and the stats and smiled to himself, he looked around and saw his friends all making the same faces.

“I need to tier up!” Sadé said and Jazmel smiled at the good news.

“I need to tier up!” Katie said and they all looked at her, she was about to break into Ranker.

“Well done Katie!” they all said and crowded her to congratulate her.

“I think we need to claim this outpost and enter it before any of us tier up.” Jazmel said and they all agreed.

WHO WILL BE THE LEADER OF THE OUTPOST!

Jazmel looked around and then for the second time, he realised that everyone was looking at him.

“Wait what?!” Jazmel said and Patton strolled forward.

“It is the right move; you are the best man for the job.” He said and clutched Jazmel’s shoulder.

“I don’t know enough about the labyrinth.” He confessed and Patton shook his head in disregard.

“We all know enough to help you.” He told Jazmel, looking around the others wore the same face.

“You are the best man for the job.” Katie smiled at him.

“A pack needs a leader.” Bannerman offered and Katie punched him in the shoulder.

“You already know what I think.” Sadé said with a shy smile.

Jazmel turned to Gilmore, and he nodded too.

“I only just met you, but I can tell you are trustworthy. If you do plan to create a faction and grow with it if you will let me join. I would be happy to share my knowledge.” He offered and Jazmel shook his hand and forearm.

“I think you will do exceptional things in this labyrinth young master, but a base is always a good place to start. Use it for now, you will move further and further in the labyrinth. This base is just a place to retire to.” Baek inserted and Jazmel finally accepted it.

WHO WILL LEAD

The system echoed and Jazmel cleared his throat.

“I will.”

…

CONFIRMED

OUTPOST WILL BELONG TO JAZMEL

WHAT WILL YOU CALL YOUR FACTION?

Jazmel thought for a moment and then smiled.

“The black wing faction.”

…

OUTPOST OF THE BLACK WING FACTION HAS BEEN APPOINTED

LEADER; JAZMEL

The double doors appeared again, the inscriptions were brighter now, and Jazmel could make out varied species of creatures. Some he did not know and others he had not seen but one he did know. Was the massive form of a black wing dragon.

“Let’s go.” Jazmel said and walking through the opening first the others followed after him.