Chapter 43 — I almost Died

As Yasu makes his way further through the winding labyrinth, he froze mid-step, eyes locking onto the ominous door at the end of the corridor. The wood is blackened and cracked as if scorched by something unnatural—its surface almost breathing in a way that makes Yasu's instincts scream at him to turn back.

"A random door...?" he mutters under his breath.  He doesn't move closer yet though; just studies it warily from where he stands. 

Yasu's eyes scan carefully over the door, looking for any sign of a trap or trick. The air is thick with tension; the only sounds are his own breathing and the faint thud of his heartbeat in his chest.  

This door isn't natural, that much is clear. And yet... something about it draws him forward too. A strange, undeniable urge to enter.  

Yasu grits his teeth, trying to shake it off as he edges closer. "I'm getting weird feelings from this," he says before reaching out to touch the door's scarred surface.

"Almost as if-" His eyes narrow, fingers brushing against the scorched wood. "It seems to be... alive in some way."  

His hand trembles briefly against the door, as if trying to find the right words. "Not like that skeleton I fought earlier," he continues after a moment. "Alive with something... darker. Stranger. Older. Like there's something ancient sleeping under these walls waiting to be awakened. Could this be the end of the labyrinth?"

Yasu's fingertips trace the outline of the blackened door, his mind racing as he tries to make sense of all that's happened since he stumbled into this twisted place. The traps... the skeleton... the voice... and now this ominous door that seems to breathe and pulse with a life of its own. It makes his skin shiver and his instincts scream at him to run.

Yasu makes a praying gesture, "Whatever sleeps beyond this door," he mutters under his breath. "I hope it stays asleep."

He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes, steeling himself. What lies beyond this door could be anything—and yet he knows he has no choice but to enter.

The only way forward is through, even if every fiber of his being is screaming to turn back.  

"Here we go," he mutters more to himself than anyone else as he pushes the door open.

As the door creaks open, the first thing that hits Yasu is the smell. A thick, cloying scent hangs in the air like smoke; something sickly sweet and rotten that makes him grit his teeth and suppress a cough.  

But the second... the torches. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of torches line the walls, casting a dim light that illuminates the room but still leaves thick shadows in the corners. The light flickers faintly, as if a draft is stirring in the still air around them.

Yasu wrinkles his nose, a sharp grimace twisting his expression as the stench of decay hits him full-force.  

"Smells like rotting bodies," he mutters under his breath, pressing the back of one hand to his mouth for just a second—long enough to take another shallow breath before lowering it again. His free hand remains on the hilt too; ready to pull steel at the slightest movement from these flickering shadows around him.  

The torches cast eerie light but do little else beyond revealing more darkness ahead than there was before.

Yasu feels his heart beat faster, adrenaline surging through his veins as he catches sight of a figure in the shadows up ahead. He slows, his shoulders tensing instinctively as a chill runs up his spine. He can't make out the face or the details of whatever lurks there, but something about it sets him on edge in a way nothing else has so far… and he's felt a lot of things since this twisted journey started.  

"Who's there?" He calls, his voice echoing in the silence as he edges closer… and reaches for his sword in one smooth, practiced move.

Yasu's gaze locks onto the figure as it moves into the flickering light of the torches, eyes narrowing at first as if preparing for a fight. But as the form comes into focus, his grip on his sword falters—and his tense expression turns to confusion instead.  

It's... a wolf pup. Just a small, black pup with bright eyes that seem almost unnaturally intelligent as it sits there in the shadows, watching him intently.

Yasu lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the tension in his shoulders releasing just slightly as he processes what he's seeing. A small, vulnerable creature, far less terrifying than what he expected to find. A small, wry smile even quirks up the corner of his mouth as relief washes over him.

"You had me scared for a second there," he mutters, slowly sheathing his sword again. "What are you doing here, little one?"

The pup doesn't speak, of course, just continues to watch him with those sharp eyes, as if sizing him up. For a long moment, they just study each other silently—taking in every detail without saying a word.  

Then, after what feels like an eternity, the pup lets out a soft, high-pitched whimper. It's a surprisingly sweet sound coming from something so wild-looking, and something about it causes Yasu's expression to soften too.

Yasu kneels, his movements slow and deliberate as he approaches the pup. The second his fingers make contact with its head, a strange sensation ripples through him—not just warmth from touch but something else too; like an echo of some deeper connection buried beneath layers of time forgotten.

"How did you end up here?" he murmurs aloud while stroking between those ears absently still. His eyes narrow slightly as they flicker over the rest body for any sign of injury or worse yet... how it even got in this labyrinth at all. "This isn't exactly puppy-friendly territory."

The pup doesn't seem to mind the contact at least, tilting its head as Yasu runs his fingers through its fur. Its eyes flutter closed almost as if in contentment now, and the soft whimpering from before is replaced with a low rumble, almost a purr.  

Yasu can't help but huff with some faint surprise at the sound. "Guess you're not that scared," he says, giving the pup's scruff a gentle squeeze. "You're actually kinda cute, huh?"

The pup tilts its head at that, bright eyes peering up at Yasu as if it understands his words perfectly. It lets out another low rumble then, almost a response of sorts... as if agreeing with him.  

For a moment, Yasu just stares, his hand still gently resting on top of the pup's head as he tries to comprehend its behavior. The labyrinth itself is dangerous, filled with creatures that attack anything that moves, and yet... here he is, kneeling in front of this tiny creature, talking to the wolf pup like it's some kind of friend.

Yasu straightens, his hand lingering for a second longer before finally pulling away. He sighs—deep and heavy—as he turns to survey the rest of the chamber again, eyes scanning for any sign of what else might be lurking in these shadows now too. The torches flicker eerily, their light dancing over the rough stone walls. 

"I have no idea how you ended up here," he says, running a hand through his hair with a weary sigh. "This place isn't meant for something small and defenseless like you."

Yasu's mind drifts back to the words the village chief spoke earlier—the strange warning about the labyrinth's dark legacy, and the creature that supposedly resides in it. "Is that it?", he wonders, his gaze sweeping around the room once more as he takes in the shadows that still loom ominously in every corner.  

The pup behind him lets out a low whimper, as if sensing his sudden tension. Yasu's fingers tighten on his sword reflexively, but he doesn't turn around. Not yet anyway... not until he knows exactly what he's up against here.

Yasu feels like he's missing something and thinks to himself: "A walking corpse, traps, and a damn door? The chief made it sound like something was going to tear my throat out. Where's that creature he's talking about anyway? Was that skeleton earlier just a pawn? I have so many questions— just what is this curse they're talking about anyway?! The only discovery I made was a gentle wolf. But..."

He pauses a bit before continuing, "How could one end up in this labyrinth, let alone in a dangerous one? Unless... It's with the labyrinth itself. Yeah... that's probably the possible answer to that, I-it's completely ridiculous if it isn't. 

Yasu's eyes widen as he slowly looks back at the wolf, but he is met with something far more unexpected.

As he whirls around, his hand already on the hilt of his sword—but it's too late.

Where the pup had been crouching just moments ago, there now stands something... else. A massive monstrous fusion of lion and wolf—powerful as a predator king but sleek as shadow given form. Its fur is dark gray, almost black, shimmering faintly like void-stuff that drinks in light instead of reflecting it. Those same bright eyes from before? Now they burn with an eerie crimson glow that seems to pierce straight through Yasu’s skull.  

And then—the tentacles. Dozens sprout from its back in sinuous coils; living shadows writhing with unnatural hunger too… each one pulsing like veins filled not with blood but pure corruption instead! They are capable of lashing out towards prey faster than human reflexes can dodge.

It was quiet for a moment. Yasu stood still, eyes locked on the creature as he struggled to maintain the reality of what he was facing.

"Uh?"

That was the only thing that managed to escape his lips.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity Yasu managed to gain courage and move fast, desperate—but the tentacle still grazes his right leg, leaving behind a searing burn that makes him grit his teeth hard enough to hurt.  

"What the hell is that?!" he snarls as he barely deflects a strike with his sword blade, steel screeching against something far too slick for it be natural flesh. 

The creature looms closer now; those glowing red eyes locked onto him like prey while more of those writhing shadow-tendrils rise from its back in eerie unison and Yasu's stomach drops realizing: This was what Edward, chief warned about all along! The real curse hiding within these walls this whole time instead of just mindless skeletons or simple traps set up beforehand.

The creature lets out a low, almost mocking growl as it circles Yasu, stalking closer still now. Its body moves with a preternatural grace, muscles rippling beneath that shadowy fur like liquid night.  

But it's those damned tentacles that are truly terrifying up close, like they have a mind of their own. Each one is almost as solid as a physical limb, yet more at the same time—like living shadows given form.

Yasu grits his teeth, a flicker of fear flashing across his expression despite his best efforts to keep it at bay.  

"Is this what the Chief warned me about?" he hisses through clenched jaw as the creature slowly starts closing in on him.  

His heart is pounding now, adrenaline pumping through his veins as the fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. He shifts stance now, sword raised and ready to defend himself as best he can against this monstrous monster.

With a quick lunge, the creature surges forward, those writhing tentacles striking out with a speed beyond humans' ability to track—but Yasu barely dodges at the last second, twisting away just barely in time to avoid being ensnared by them.  

Yasu feels adrenaline pump through his veins as he barely manages to dodge out of reach of those writhing, shadowy tentacles again.  

"It's fast", he thinks, his heart thumping in his chest with each narrow escape, desperately trying to find its weakness

His mind races, scrambling for some way to bring down this monstrous monstrosity. "How can I attack it without getting pierced by those tentacles?! He speaks between clenched teeth.

Yasu's breath hitches as the creature lunges at him again, his body twisting to avoid the lashing tentacles.  

"Should I use Harmony and auroral?" he thinks—before immediately dismissing it with a sharp shake of his head. "No. Not after what happened earlier when it failed on me by fighting that skeleton-"

The thought is cut off abruptly though as one shadowy tendril whips past too close but he was able to dismiss it with his blade.

Yasu runs, adrenaline and fear feeding his legs as he sprints away from the monstrosity. His mind is racing, trying to think of some way to fight back... but every thought ends with the same conclusion: he's outmatched, in every way.  

"Think," he hisses to himself as he circles the creature, keeping just enough distance to remain out of reach of those dark, sinuous tentacles. "Think, think, think..."

Yasu's heart leaps as his eye flicks towards the door he entered through earlier; suddenly an idea starts forming in his mind...  

"That's it!"

But to pull it off, he needs to get close...  

Yasu's hands clench tight around the hilt of his sword as he watches the creature stalking him with an almost feral intensity in its glowing red eyes. Can he get close enough to that door without being ensnared?

The creature seems to sense his hesitation, almost as if it's picking up on his thoughts... because it lets out a low, guttural growl and abruptly lunges forward, the shadowy tentacles lashing at Yasu like a whip.  

He barely manages to dive to the side in time, but the creature is fast—it recovers swiftly, circling him with a predatory grace that's hard to keep up with. Yasu feels a sharp spark of fear flare up in his chest, but he knows this is likely his only chance.

Yasu dives to the side again, narrowly avoiding another lashing tentacle as it whizzes past his face. The creature lets out a low growl of rage at his continued escape, and Yasu grits his teeth, adrenaline coursing through his veins now in furious torrents.  

The creature charges again, its shadowy form a blur of deadly, sinuous power—but Yasu moves, dodging out of its path with an agility born of sheer desperation now.  

"Come on," he hisses, a mocking smile twisting his lips. "Is that all you've got?" Yasu mentioned, while breathing heavily, that he recognized his body was nearing its maximum capacity.

The creature's jaws twitch with irritation as Yasu's words hit a nerve, and its eyes narrow in fury, those dark, sinuous tentacles flaring out like a living curtain around its body.  

For a moment, it just stands there, still—almost as if it's surprised by his audacity. Then it lets out a deep, guttural snarl and pounces again.

Yasu's mind races, thinking as he circles the creature—distract it, get close.  

And then he acts. With a sharp breath and a surge of adrenaline-fueled speed? He charges forward, blade flashing in an arc meant to catch the beast’s attention for just a moment needed. 

The sword spins through the air on its path toward the creature's face… but Yasu isn't aiming to hit the true target anymore; no instead? He slides beneath its body mid-sprint like shadow himself too—right between those writhing tendrils while they lash out wildly at a weapon flying past them both.

The creature is briefly stunned by Yasu's feint, its attention focused entirely on the spinning blade hurtling toward it instead. It lets out a startled growl and tries to pivot, but Yasu is already beneath it by then—too fast for it to react in time.  

Yasu can feel the creature's confusion and anger as he sprints towards the door, each pounding step sending a shock of adrenaline coursing through his veins. "Come on..." he huffs under his breath, desperation fueling his limbs. "Almost there..."

Yasu slams the door open with a sharp kick, diving through just as those writhing shadow-tendrils lash out behind him—missing by inches.

The second he's inside, Yasu whirls around and shoves the door closed, bracing his back against it to keep whatever monstrosity is on the other side from following too soon. His breath comes in ragged gasps now; his heart is pounding so hard that his chest aches from the force of each beat.

In the relative quiet of this place, Yasu lets himself sink to the floor, every muscle in his body throbbing with a mix of adrenaline and exhaustion combined. His heart is still racing, each thump against his rib cage feeling like a hammer against his chest.  

"I almost died..." he mutters, breathless. "I almost died..." His hand presses against his chest, feeling the wild-fluttering beat of a heart that somehow, somehow, is still alive.

Yasu lets out a shaky, half-hysterical laugh, his shoulders sagging as relief floods through him.  

"Holy shit," he wheezes between breaths, dragging a hand down his face—like he can't believe he just survived that nightmare. "That was... that was insane."  

For a second, he just sits there on the hard, cold floor, trying to catch his breath and slow the frantic pace of his heart. The silence that hangs in the air is almost deafening, and yet, he can still feel the faint aftershocks of the battle that just took place.  

"I can't believe I'm still alive," he murmurs, shaking his head. "I was sure that thing was going to tear me apart."

Yasu leans his head back against the door, exhaling a slow, shaky breath as he stares at the ceiling. His chest is still rising and falling too fast—his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm on his knees like they're trying to burn off leftover adrenaline.  

"Of course it was that damn pup," he mutters bitterly under his breath while dragging his palm down his face again.

"Should’ve known it was a trap."

A pause then? He huffs out another laugh.

Yasu pauses in the midst of his thoughts, head snapping up at the sound of a new voice echoing in the quiet.  

"A visitor...?" the voice murmurs, soft and melodic—and distinctly feminine in a way that leaves Yasu's heart skipping a beat in his chest. "It's been far too long since I've gotten one of those."  

Yasu pushes to his feet, turning towards the source of the voice with a sharp turn. "Who's there?' he calls, voice a bit strained with leftover adrenaline.