Before starting I want to point out that I made a small mistake regarding the "many eyes" that the creature that killed Dix's subordinate had, I didn't look closely at the image of the character and I wrote it as I imagined it to be but when it came time to review it turned out that it only had one pair of crimson eyes, I already fixed it, but I was only saying it for those who had already read the chapter, without further ado I leave you with the chapter, don't forget to comment and leave reviews, it encourages me to know that this story has support, author out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a remote corner of the 18th floor, within a cave so hidden and secluded that even first-class adventurers would likely overlook it, the damp and jagged walls barely reflected the flickering light of a small fire burning at the center. Around it gathered several figures of varying shapes and sizes. Their silhouettes merged with the shadows, giving little more than an unsettling sense of watchful presences. No one spoke, but the air was thick with tension, as if a storm was about to break at any moment.
Suddenly, a sharp, deep female voice sliced through the silence, her authority undeniable."We have everything we need. If we wait any longer, the door might stop responding to the key that garbage from the surface had."Her crimson eyes glowed intensely, like embers in the darkness. Her anger was palpable, and her presence effortlessly dominated the space.
From one corner, a figure clad in light armor—leaving parts of their agile, well-trained, red-scaled body exposed—responded with a calm but firm tone, attempting to quell the brewing storm."We can't rush just because of that. You know very well what it means to venture into that man's labyrinth, especially with the weapon he possesses. It's a risk we can't afford. If we all go and never return, who will protect the others?"Though his voice was steady, it carried the weight of responsibility and experience.
The crimson-eyed woman let out a bitter laugh that echoed against the rock walls."So what? Are you just going to let that disgusting human keep playing with us? To trample us, capture our kin, and get away with it? What have we been waiting for then?"Her voice rose, and for a moment, it seemed the fire itself flickered faster in the wake of her fury.
"We can't act without a plan. We can't give in to despair. If we enter recklessly, it will be our ruin."The armored figure stepped forward, locking eyes with the woman, making her recoil just slightly."We've lost too much already. Do you want us to lose everything over a rash decision? Over a tantrum?"
Their exchange grew more heated, voices turning coarse, words ripping through the fragile calm."Tantrum?" the crimson-eyed woman spat. "This is war, not a child's game.""And you're not the only one who has to protect others," her counterpart replied. "Who looks after the ones who can't fight? Who takes responsibility for those left behind if we act without thought? Do you want to doom your own people?"
The argument escalated into near shouting, until a deep, resonant voice cut through the air with a single word:
"Enough."
Silence fell instantly, heavy and absolute. Everyone lowered their gaze or respectfully stepped back. The figure who had spoken—smaller in size than the other two—radiated a strength that needed no dramatic display. Their presence, a mix of calm and power, enveloped the space like a blanket.
With a steady voice, they spoke:"I understand what you're saying, old friend. But we can't keep letting that human torment our kind."Their eyes, serene yet determined, turned to the crimson-eyed woman."We must rescue those who've been captured, but we must do so with stealth, cunning, and precision."
Without looking away from her, their tone hardened with conviction."A full assault would be suicide. We cannot afford to lose our few remaining fighters. The best course is to infiltrate the labyrinth carefully, rescue as many as we can, and get out before we're discovered."Then, turning to address everyone present:"We already have a general idea of where they are. We only need to stay alert. Be ready to act at nightfall."
The tension gave way to murmurs of agreement, followed by a burst of enthusiasm from the smaller shadows—those who represented the weakest, the most vulnerable.
"We'll bring our people back," affirmed a stone-gray figure whose entire body shimmered with resolve, a glint of determination in their eyes and in every movement.
As the gears of fate shifted in slow, silent waves that would change everything, far away, deep within the dark heart of Knossos, Kael fought against his own destiny.
He moved swiftly and quietly, desperately searching for any way out. His steps echoed softly, nearly drowned in the cold hush of ancient columns. He knew a single misstep would mean death—but he still clung to the faint hope of escape.
However, after only a few meters, a subtle yet menacing whisper turned into a constant murmur. From the columns, like ghosts emerging from the stone, figures began to appear one after another, surrounding him. They weren't formidable warriors or invincible beasts, but their sheer number—more than thirty—was terrifying for someone in Kael's condition.
A chill gripped Kael's core. Fighting was pointless. He stopped, breathing heavily, now fully aware of the elaborate trap Dix had laid for him.
Before he could react, two stronger adventurers seized his arms with merciless strength. Dix stepped out before him, a sneer lighting his face in the dim space.
"That's more like it," he said mockingly. "Keep your head down, freak. Learn your place."With a harsh punch to the stomach, he made Kael gasp and stumble, spitting saliva.
Dix's subordinates wasted no time, dragging him away without care."Take him to the others," Dix ordered coldly. "I'm sure you'll fit right in—they came from the same disgusting place, after all."
Before leaving, he glanced at Kael one last time, his expression a twisted mix of amusement and menace."Be patient, freak. Once I'm done with things in Rivira, I'll take my time seeing how many punches it takes to wipe that insolent look off your face."
With those final words, Dix departed, and Kael was dragged to another section of Knossos—a grim gallery lined with cages. Inside them, monsters of all shapes and sizes were crammed together. But these weren't ordinary monsters. Their eyes showed intelligence—and, more disturbingly, sadness. The recognition was instant.
"Xenos," Kael thought, his inner voice broken with exhaustion.
Along the way, magical shackles were placed on him, a cruel reminder that his trembling, weakened hands couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried. Dix's subordinates shoved him harshly into one of the cages, slamming him against the cold metal bars. The sharp touch and heavy silence consumed him, and with one last look of disdain and mockery, they walked away.
Alone, with only the echo of his thoughts, Kael sat on the hard floor. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, fatigue devoured his body, and his mind betrayed him with memories and guilt.
What had gone wrong? Should he have left those youths to their fate—to die? Why couldn't he just ignore them and focus on surviving?The questions dragged him into a dark abyss of self-criticism and despair. He tried to hold onto hope—but it was slowly slipping away.
Meanwhile, in Rivira, Lefiya received news that filled the command room with a mixture of relief and concern. The group sent to find the missing young adventurers had discovered them unconscious near a waterfall—collapsed, but without visible injuries. However, they had been wrapped in a strange, silk-like material—hard, durable, and extremely difficult to remove.
Upon waking, the youths recounted what little they could remember:"We only saw a pair of terrifying red eyes… and then something struck us from behind. We couldn't defend ourselves—we just… blacked out."
Lefiya frowned, listening carefully. The threat was clearly deeper than they had imagined.
Riveria, meanwhile, was examining maps and attack records with sharp focus. A terrifying pattern was beginning to emerge: the monsters weren't attacking randomly—they were being guided, drawn to Rivira.
"This is no coincidence," Riveria said quietly but firmly, pointing to locations on the map."Someone's controlling them. Someone who knows how to use mana to lure them."
Lefiya nodded."They found magical artifacts in nearby tunnels—similar to the ones used in Dix's previous attacks. When they were deactivated, the assaults stopped."
Riveria looked up, her resolve unwavering."If those artifacts had remained active, things could have gotten much worse. But now that we've disabled them, we can finally focus on Dix's plan."
Lefiya, with sudden urgency in her eyes, insisted:"We need to go to where Dix's subordinate attacked them. The adventurers said that just when everything seemed lost, a man in a ragged cloak appeared and tried to save them—before falling into a trap in the floor."
It didn't take much for Lefiya to connect the dots: their mysterious savior had tried to help the youths, clearly sensing something was wrong—but he ended up captured by a trap Dix's men had prepared.
As plans began to take shape in Rivira, deep in the heart of Knossos, Dix faced a battle of his own. As Ikelos's shadow materialized in a dark corner of the labyrinth, Dix met him with a mix of weariness and seething rage. The atmosphere grew heavier, as if the very air thickened in the god's presence.
"I don't understand why we've wasted so many resources," Dix began, voice rough with resentment. "That wasn't the plan. Evilus gave us a clear mission: eliminate the Loki Familia. Yet here you are, wasting men, time, and power to capture a worm—a freak who isn't even a real threat."
Ikelos folded his arms behind his back, eyes glowing cold and distant.
"And who are you to question my orders?" he replied, voice deep and cutting. "I'm the one who determines the value of each piece on this board. You're nothing more than a pawn to carry out my will."
Dix clenched his fists, frustration boiling over.
"If I had used all those resources against the elves of the Loki Familia, we'd be much closer to wiping them out. But instead, you changed the plan at the last moment, diverting everything to capture a single insect we could've taken down with two men. It makes no sense."
The god stepped forward, his aura swallowing the surrounding light.
"War isn't a straight line, Dix. Sometimes, you sacrifice smaller pieces to secure the bigger victory. Whatever we've caught—he's no longer just a monster. Not even a phenomenon. He's an anomaly. Something that shouldn't exist, that defies all reason and rules. A complete abomination. And yet, there he is—in flesh and blood. He's a wildcard in a far greater game than you can fathom. I didn't fully grasp his uniqueness through the mirror—but when I saw him again, in detail, I realized how foolish I was to think he was just another interesting monster."
"Wildcard?" Dix snapped. "For what? So you could sacrifice what might have been the total destruction of one of our greatest enemies? You gave me orders—but I feel like we wasted everything on that worm. It only took a handful of men to catch him, while the children of Loki still run free—relentless, dangerous—on our heels, on mine."
Ikelos tilted his head, a cold smile touching lips no one could see.
"You're too human to understand the scope of my plans. That 'worm' represents a future—a variable that could reshape everything we know. That's why his capture is worth more than anything else."
"I see no future—only losses," Dix growled through clenched teeth. "Lost men, lost time, lost resources, lost power. And once things wrap up in Rivira, we'll be hiding like rats for months just to recover."
Ikelos raised his voice, exuding divine authority and menace."Enough! I will not tolerate a mere mortal questioning my decisions. You're nothing but an ant pretending to challenge a god. Know your place, Dix—or this will be your end."
Dix dropped to his knees, breath ragged, fury burning inside him.
"…Forgive me, my god," he muttered through gritted teeth.As Ikelos vanished into the shadows, silence returned—heavy, bitter, absolute.
Once alone, Dix slowly stood, panting, a look of pure hatred in his eyes.
"Damn creature… I hope you're ready for all the pain I'm going to make you feel…"
With those words—promising long hours of torture and blows for Kael—Dix headed back to his control center, determined to salvage what little he could from an operation that, in his eyes, had resulted in nothing more than the capture of a worthless monster.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
longest chapter so far, opinions?