The Betrayal

After all the thinking and pressure Daichi made a decision to aid Kazuki and the others still fighting in the 62nd Floor.

But before they went down, the mages cast a teleportation spell so that they can return without a scratch.

"Daichi-san, the spell is done, should we go now?

"Yes, let's go."

Everyone in the group grabbed their gear and followed Daichi to rescue their comrades.

I'm losing my strength. I cannot go any further.

Kazuki gasping for air realising there's no way out of this labyrinth he continues to fight.

"Kazuki, don't just stand there, move your feet up and fight."

"Will you shut up?"

The floor guardian still looks strong but he's taking damage from my attacks. Speaking of which, my attacks are the ones that deal much more damage than Nakamura's.

As if to make a mockery of those who said I was useless, I pierced through its body with one thrust.

Kazuki, the only party member who doesn't have class skills, manages to stay alive despite being the weakest of the group.

"Ahh shit! I'm losing stamina."

"Nakamura-san can you cover my back while I grasped for air?

"Why would I do that?"

"Can you let a man have a short break besides it's just the 2 of us here and that darn guardian over there."

"Fine and make it quick!"

I pant to regain my stamina while Abbadon is fighting Nakamura's distraction.

"Nakamura!!... Kazuki!!..."

A voice I heard far behind the catacombs where Daichi and the rest have evacuated.

"I can hear Daichi's voice from afar."

"Hey! You too, we're here to save you guys."

"Why did you come back?"

"I'm not gonna leave my classmates behind."

Big talk for someone who's trying to get ourselves killed.

"Kid, you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

Daichi's party went all the way down to the 62nd floor just to rescue both of them. Without knowing that the Floor Guardian, Abbadon, has gone stronger. His strength has been gathering enormous power.

The gate of the catacombs suddenly closed leaving most of the party members inside.

"What's happening?"

I trembled, my hands were shaking rapidly. I looked at my surroundings seeing my teammates fight alongside one another. But we cannot fight much longer since we are trapped here along with that beast.

I am slowly regaining my mana and strength. I take deep breaths to calm myself down so that I can focus on the situation we are in. There’s only one option to escape this dungeon, I ran towards the Knight Chief and the others where they were gathering.

I explained the situation in which I’m going to do the plan: let all the mages gather into a circle and perform a ritual to cast a magic teleportation spell. Inside the Guardian Floor chamber while the Abbadon is distracted from the main fighting classes.

“Are you sure it will work?”

“It’s worth the shot.”

The Knight Chief, Bartolomeo, orders the mages to gather up while a fighting based class will be buying time to distract the Floor Guardian. Kazuki as well joined Daichi and the others to be assigned as a Vanguard to buy time for the spell to be cast.

But unfortunately Kazuki’s sword is losing its durability because of the recent slashes and attacks that he has done before Daichi’s party went here. He trembles in desperation but maintaining his focus to fight, Chizuku gives Kazuki a potion, a restorium potion, that restores mana instantly. He then drank the entire bottle of it. Finally he has the strength to fight again.

“That potion Chizuku gave me, it restores my mana so instantly.”

“It also restores my strength. Okay let’s do this.”

Each of us take turns landing our hits to Abbadon but his skin is thicker than a rock. But managed to slice it with Daichi’s Sword. The sword Daichi wields a Guardian sword called Excelsus the ore of this powerful weapon is very rare to find, it can only be find on 2 locations, first is beyond the Monolith Canyon where a rare ore called axelsiuminia is located the ore is used on crafting powerful weapons enough to kill anyone especially a high levelled adventurer, second is beyond the land of the Demonic League.

While they were distracting the Floor guardian the mages have casted the teleportation spell a light appears in the ground as it spreads widely and fills the circle of which they were forming.

“Guys, it’s ready, we have to go.”

“They’ve done it!”

“Daichi, Chief, take the rest with you.”

“What are you going to do?” Daichi and Bartolomeo looked at me.

“I want to buy time so that you can escape.”

“What?! I can’t leave you here, go just go!”

“I promise you, I will repay the sacrifice you have given to us.”

I turned around and grabbed my sword and rushed towards Abbadon laying my slashed at its back while avoiding his strong attacks. I grabbed my secondary weapon which is a sword sword, I wield it to my left hand holding it backhanded. I landed my strikes until I got hit by his attack.

I tried to head back where my teammates were standing watching me fight Abbadon. As I moved slowly towards them, the rest of them covered me. But suddenly as I took cover from their attacks, a classmate approached me. He then grabbed me by my shoulders like he was hugging me. He whispers at me.

“Go fuck yourself.”

“You are worthless than I thought your services aren’t needed anymore.”

“You can die here with that ugly beast.”

He thrusts his sword against my stomach and blood oozing out of my body. Bleeding, I fell to the ground struggling to hold the wound that he stabbed. After stabbing Kazuki the treacherous classmate left him behind and ran back to their group.

“Guys… I… Have terrible news…”

“Kazuki…”

“Kazuki is what?”

“Kazuki… died…” Everyone was shocked.

Everyone was stunned when they heard the word, Akari felt dead worried about the news and tried to doubt herself if it’s true or not. She then approached the guy who told her.

“Nakamura, Is it true?...”

The guy who reported everyone about Kazuki’s unexpected death was none other than Nakamura himself, Nakamura is one of Kazuki’s bullies back in their world they always meddle with him everyday Nakamura always keep on teasing Kazuki whenever he has the chance. With that being said Nakamura also has a love interest on Akari, whenever he encountered her he would leave an embarrassing expression on himself, seeing her talking with Kazuki along with her best friend Aiya, felt jealous of seeing 3 of them chatting like they were very close with each other. After seeing them together with Akari and Kazuki he felt very angry, he tries to find any opportunity to kill Kazuki if he gets the chance.

“Yes… I saw him getting smashed by the Floor Guardian, and I alone was the only one who survived.

Akari dropped down, as she held herself from breaking down in tears but with her effort of doing so she cried so hard, everyone in the group was horrified by the news and ordered everyone to evacuate to the 13th floor. As they did so Akari stubbornly resisted Aiya’s hand as she called for Kazuki, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“KAZUKI!!!”

Chizuku sends Akari to sleep, losing her consciousness, as they did that they were teleported to the 13th floor safely leaving Kazuki’s body to the monster, ending up being eaten. After they left the 62nd floor they walked all the way to the surface with a shell shock impression , horrified at what they had witnessed from the Labyrinth. As they did, Chief Knight Bartolomeo and Daichi, the leader of the party, report the situation and their expedition on the 20th and 60th floor.

Kazuki was laying down on the floor waiting for death, as blood flowed from his body and the heat of his dying body slowly fading.

“Do I really deserve to die like this?” Kazuki questions himself.

People who I worked for, contributed for, betrayed me just to be used as bait. I can’t live like this. Why did I trust them? Is it because I’m weak? Or is it because I’m a stereotypical shut-in otaku?

I want to survive, I want to fight…

Kazuki says his last words before slowly losing consciousness, as his vision slowly turns dark he finally puts himself at peace under this dark and unforgiving hell he and his former classmates have been to.

“Ugh… what a pitiful sight.”

He slowly opened his eyes from the voice he heard from afar, there was an unknown living being standing from a distance where he was laying down. The unknown being was tall most likely 5’11 her hair was silky smooth long and black haired has the physical appearance of an elegant East Asian woman her eyes were elegantly sharp, she was dazzlingly beautiful in all aspects, her eyes were colour red was glowing like a ruby shining in front of him. She was wearing a traditional Japanese Kimono that suits her charming look and wielded a chinese traditional fan called a ‘Shan’ it most likely her weapon of choice.

“Are you… an angel…?” Kazuki softly asks a question.

“I may not be so, but a saviour.” The unnamed woman politely gives him an answer.

“Are you the worthy one who fought with that Floor Guardian, I vanquished?”

“I guess… so.”

“I see how you fight, I was fluttered about your excellent fighting skills unlike your peers of yours.”

“But don’t worry, young boy I will heal your wounds.”

The unnamed woman casts a healing spell on me. Her chanting is very odd and unfamiliar, like it was from another country. I think it’s ancient magic, something I have read from the Palace library.

Kazuki falls to sleep after the mysterious woman casts a spell on him. Most importantly how Kazuki and his former allies were struggling to defeat the Floor Guardian, Abbadon, while she took it with just one hit from her magic spell.

Even after all the training they have done, one unknown woman managed to defeat a powerful floor guardian with just a wave of her fan. Disregarding that, in this world of magicraft and swords where lies powerful and broken swordsmen, and mages alike mastering their arts around the continent more powerful than the Theocracy’s Hero’s party who have sended from their worlds to fight for them.

After she casts a healing spell on Kazuki, she then carries him from her arms. She carried him like a bride in a wedding, but this is not a happy wedding, more like a life threatening situation. As she carried him, they then found a secret passage, a shortcut to the nearest town; the passage itself is located outside the 62nd floor.

The town was named Silvercrest, Silvercrest is a mediaeval town nestled in a lush valley, surrounded by rolling hills covered in emerald-green meadows and ancient oak forests. The town is situated along a meandering river that follows through the valley, providing a source of freshwater and fertile soil for farming.

At the heart of Silvercrest stands a majestic castle,it is made out of grey stone, its turrets reaching toward the sky, with a large courtyard bustling with activity. The castle serves as the ruling Lord or Lady, who governs the town and its surrounding lands.

The town itself is a bustling hub of activity, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with timber-framed buildings adorned with colourful banners and flower boxes. The buildings are a mix of homes, shops, and workshops, where blacksmiths hammer on anvils, weavers work at looms and merchants barter their wares.

A central marketplace bustles with activity, where farmers sell their freshly harvested produce, artisans display their crafts, and merchants from distant lands peddle exotic spices, fabrics, and trinkets. The air is filled with the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread, and the sound of laughter and lively conversations fills the streets.

The townsfolk of Silvercrest are a diverse lot, with people from walks of life farmers, craftsmen, merchants, knights, and peasants. They are known for their warm hospitality, their strong sense of community, and their love for festivities and celebrations.

Surrounding Silvercrest are fertile fields and orchards, where farmers toil to grow crops and tend to their livestock. The town is also known for its skilled artisans, who produce fine metalwork, textiles, and pottery that are highly sought after in the region.

Overall, Silvercrest exudes a sense of vibrancy and prosperity, with its bustling market, strong community bonds, and picturesque nature beauty, making it a prominent and thriving mediaeval town in the realm.

“Ahh… my head feels heavy.”

Kazuki finds himself in a room, a room that is very spacious with a comfortable bed and a table beside it. He finds himself tucked to bed with a blanket under his body he realised that there's a huge wound on his stomach he checks his body looking for bruises and wounds he saw none. He noticed he had a bandage on his head wrapped around it. Kazuki tries to remember what happened during his time in the labyrinth, he also remembers the woman who saved him.

The one who saved him was sitting on a chair looking at Him. Like she was waiting for me to wake up to say something but I didn’t try to freak out a bit to someone who watches people sleep. But instead he turned his head at her, he was mesmerised by her beauty.

Wow, she's gorgeous. I have never seen a woman this beautiful before.

“Oh, you’re awake. Good, good.”

She was happy that he was awake from his slumber. I don’t know why people felt glad when someone who they didn’t know finally woke up from bed.

“Th- Th… Thank you for… saving me.”

“Huh? Oh that was nothing, oh by the way I saw you and your teammates fight that guardian.”

He then remembers the moment he got betrayed by a snake. Kazuki feels angry about it and refuses to talk about what happened.

“What’s wrong? Something happened when you guys were on the 62nd floor?”

“Well, you see I got betrayed by a treacherous classmate of mine.”

She listens very carefully about my experience in the Labyrinth.

“Oh… that’s harsh.”

She listens to his story very carefully giving a pitiful expression as she tilts her head to him. He saw her watching his face with a cheerful vibe.

“I want to go back and give him a piece of my mind. Whoever did it.”

“Before that, what is your name?” She was dumbfoundedly curious about the person she saved from sudden death in the Labyrinth.

“My Name?”

“My name is Claudia, Claudia Wellenpealte daughter of a Duchess from a different country, I’m a trained assassin.”

Claudia formally introduces herself to me. I cannot contain my excitement from the inside but I manage to cover it with a serious face.

“Claudia is it? I think that’s a wonderful name. In fact, I haven't told you my name yet. My name is Kazuki Fujioka. Well, I’m a Mercenary.”

“It is nice to meet you Kazuki-san.”

Claudia and Kazuki introduced themselves to each other. Claudia smiles at him with a desire to love him. It was love at first sight between the two of them, a heroine who saved the person from imminent death. Kazuki must find his way to get stronger before the catastrophe will destroy Humankind.

I want to experience my life here, at last I have found someone who I have interest in. I want to continue living and will do anything I can to go back to my world whatever the cost is.