Chapter 8 - Adapt

Renji’s eyes narrowed. “I can kill them then?”

The leader asked Alina sharply, “What is he saying?”

“He says he wants to surrender,” Alina lied.

Renji assessed the four assailants and the current situation.

Ten metres and closing. Carbine’s on the ground, wrapped in cloth. They’re in plate armour with padding—might stop a 9mm round. Headshots, then…

A round chambered? Can’t remember. I’ll chamber one anyway.
Should be able to drop them before they reach melee range. Left to right is most efficient.

“We know you’re out of magic,” the leader said, pointing his sword at Alina. “Using a crystal takes longer—don’t bother trying.”

In a single motion, Renji drew his sidearm and pulled back the slide.

He brought the pistol’s sights onto the leftmost assailant and squeezed a quick double tap.
Blam! Blam!
Two rounds struck the guard in the face.

Two spent, he counted.

Alina cried out and covered her ears.

Before the first guard hit the ground, Renji shifted his aim right and fired another double tap. Both rounds snapped the second guard’s head back sharply, dropping him.

Four.

The leader was next. Renji dropped his aim to the knees and fired a single shot, shattering one. The man crumpled to the ground with a bone-chilling scream, clutching the mangled limb.

Five.

Renji brought his sights to the face of the last guard and double-tapped. The man dropped dead before he even registered what was happening.

Seven spent. Eight rounds left.

The whole gunfight—if it could even be called one—was over in three seconds.

Renji holstered his sidearm and noticed Alina crouched nearby, hands clamped over her ears, eyes tightly shut. Until now, she’d only seen him fire the suppressed carbine.

Ah. Her first exposure to unsuppressed gunfire.

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked up. Her gaze widened at the corpses, then shifted to him.

“It’s over. You’re safe. Sorry for scaring you,” he said gently, brushing a hand across her cheek.

Alina nodded, sitting down and tucking her knees to her chest, trying to compose herself.

Renji turned his attention to the groaning assailant.

He stepped over and pressed a boot to the leader’s thigh, just above the ruined knee.

“Alina, can you translate?” Renji asked. His voice was calm—too calm—but the edge was unmistakable.

“Y-yes, I can,” Alina replied, sitting up straighter.

It’s like he’s a different person… she thought.

“Ask why the duke sent him.”

Alina translated.

“Piss off!” the guard spat.

Renji’s face remained neutral, but inside, his thoughts churned.

I’m stuck in a world I don’t understand. Dragged here without consent. And this bastard says ‘piss off’? I didn’t even want to be here.

He pressed harder with his boot. The guard screamed.

“Screw you!” the man growled.

“I do not have time for this shit,” Renji muttered, voice low.

He drew his sidearm again, took his foot off the man’s leg, and dropped to a knee. He pressed the barrel against the man’s right hand and pulled the trigger.

Blam!

Alina flinched as the guard wailed in agony.

Renji moved the barrel up to the man’s elbow.

“He needs the mage dead!” the man shouted, cracking before the next shot could fire.

“Why?” Alina asked, translating again.

“No one’s supposed to know the duke tried to summon a hero,” the guard groaned.

“Why does he need a hero?” Renji asked.

“He wants to take over other floors. A hero has the strength of an entire army. You can’t send a real army through the portals.”

“Which floors?”

“I only know of Fifteen and Twenty-Five. I swear, that’s all I know.”

Renji glanced at Alina. “Any more questions?”

“N-no…” she said, shaking her head.

It’s the same person… but his voice is different. His eyes are different. Is that where all his anger went?

Renji stood and fired two more rounds into the man’s face. Alina winced and covered her ears again. He holstered his weapon.

Ten spent. Five left.

Renji searched the bodies, taking only their coin pouches. He returned to Alina and knelt beside her.

“You alright?”

“Y-yes. I am now. Thank you,” she replied shakily.

“Want to rest here a little longer?”

“No, I’m fine. It was the loud noise that shocked me,” she admitted, eyes flicking to the sidearm.

“Ah, I understand,” Renji said, nodding.

He drew the weapon again and removed a bullet, explaining how the propellant creates a small explosion that propels the bullet forward—hence the noise. He added that confined spaces like the cavern amplified the sound due to the lack of dispersal.

“Thank you, Renji. I feel better now,” Alina said, standing and brushing off her robe.

“You’re welcome. There’s a saying in my world: ‘We fear what we do not understand.’” He slung his pack over his shoulder.

Alina found herself staring as he adjusted his gear. Gentle Renji is back. Angry Renji… no, not gone. Just asleep.

“We should stay on Floor Fifteen for now,” Alina suggested. “The safe floors are ruled independently.”

“Good idea.” Renji nodded. “More frogs, or are we done for the day?”

“I’ve had enough excitement for one day,” Alina muttered, picking up her pack. “Let’s find an inn in Durren. We’ll sneak down to Floor Twenty in a week or so to meet Master Rovan.”

***

It was what passed for late afternoon in the labyrinth. As they exited the cavern, Renji took in the green open expanse before him. He paused a beat, breathing in the scenery.

Crossing a bridge, he spotted a few men fishing along the riverbanks.

“There’s fish here?”

“Yes! Not on every safe floor, though. Fifteen has several nice rivers. Oh, and Thirty-Five has a beautiful lake.”

“How big are these safe floors?”

“Hmm… hard to say. They’re all different. Floors like Fifteen and Twenty take a day or two to cross. Some are larger, some smaller.”

Thirty to forty klicks wide… Renji ran the numbers. Damn. Is that even possible?

He nodded silently as they continued toward Durren, the main city on Floor Fifteen.

A short while later, as they entered the city gates, Renji spoke.

“Alina, can I ask a favour?”

Alina turned to him. “Of course! What do you need?” she asked, bright-eyed.

“Whoa, didn’t expect that much enthusiasm.” He scratched his cheek. “Looks like I’ll be stuck here a while. Can you teach me the language?”

“Yes! We’ll start today!” She grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward a familiar bookshop.

He’s depending on me for once… I can’t help him get home, but this much I can do.

Half an hour later, they were inside. Renji spotted a book with a swordsman on the cover. He flipped through it—couldn’t read the text, but the diagrams made its purpose clear.

“Alina, what’s this one say?”

She leaned over. “Master the Sword. Interested?”

Renji nodded. “Yeah. Seems useful.”

“Let’s get it.” Alina took the book and paid the clerk. They left with four books in total and went searching for an inn.

***

Later at the inn, Renji washed up and put away his gear. There was a knock on the door.

He opened it to find Alina holding a book to her chest, beaming.

“We’ve got a couple of hours till evening meal. Want to start your first lesson?”