Chapter 04 Corpses Everywhere
Joaquim's smile widened as he saw the reward offered by the system. Since the day he awakened as a zero-star hunter, he had used an artificial method to rise to one star. However, his true power remained at one star.
It was a unique opportunity, and if he failed, there would be no second chance.
Alex was aware of the opportunity before him. As an awakened with no stars, there was practically no difference between him and an ordinary person. If he could obtain two stars, he would have enough power not only to escape prison but also to investigate the mysteries surrounding parallel realities.
The other prisoners were also secretly drooling over the reward. Their chance to escape their fate was right before their eyes. They only had to enter the place, and when they came out, their freedom would be guaranteed.
Blinded by greed, none of the nine present considered the risks and difficulties involved.
At Joaquim's command, everyone clicked "Yes."
With a creak, the door opened. The moment everyone entered apprehensively, the large door closed behind them with a dull thud.
The majestic temple before them was illuminated by several torches embedded in the walls. In the center stood a giant stone altar. On the other side of the altar was a stone minotaur holding two stone tablets covered in strange inscriptions.
Around the majestic temple stood several bluish stone statues of minotaur warriors wearing heavy armor and wielding large axes.
Lines of different colors were drawn across the floor throughout the temple.
The smallest statue in the place was about 2.5 meters tall. All of them exuded overwhelming auras, as if they were alive.
Suddenly, the eyes of the minotaur priest on the altar glowed with a crimson light, sending shivers through the nine hunters in the area.
Alex swallowed hard.
The stone tablet in the minotaur priest's right hand began a countdown, while the glow in his eyes intensified.
With a mechanical creaking sound, one of the statues came to life and began moving toward the hunters.
"Prepare yourselves."
At Joaquim's warning, everyone except Alex, who could not equip a weapon, raised their weapons and prepared for battle.
At Joaquim's command, Cardoso fired several arrows in succession at the minotaur.
However, nothing happened.
The arrows had no effect.
The minotaur only increased its speed.
In just one second, the minotaur struck.
Augusto was thrown far away when he stepped forward to take the blow. In the next moment, Joaquim advanced and used his wind authority to deliver a strike.
To his surprise, his sword was blocked, inflicting no damage on the monster.
As the minotaur prepared to deliver a violent blow to the hunters, the countdown on the stone tablet reached zero.
The minotaur warrior returned to its original position, appearing where it had emerged before turning back into a stone statue.
Before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the tablet in the minotaur priest's right hand began a new countdown.
"What are we going to do?"
Ivana asked the agent, who was looking around for some clue.
Everyone was frightened, and Joaquim was no different. The aura exuded by the statues was extremely intimidating.
"Can anyone here read that?"
Trying to maintain his composure, Joaquim looked at everyone for an answer.
To his disappointment, no one had any idea what was written in the temple. The language was unknown.
Now, where would they find any clues?
"What if we destroy the statues since they're immobile?"
Alex suggested in a questioning tone.
Everyone exchanged glances, finding that the idea was not bad.
"Augusto, use your axe to try to destroy the stone statue."
Joaquim ordered in a commanding tone.
He was apprehensive and did not want to take risks, but the idea still seemed feasible. Thus, it was preferable for someone else to take the risky position.
Seeing the agent's sword pointed in his direction, Augusto swallowed hard and reluctantly decided to obey.
As he left the orange area and entered the red area near the minotaur statue, something sinister happened.
The minotaur priest formed a sinister, malevolent smile.
Its crimson eyes fired a beam of lightning that instantly struck the hunter's head, causing it to explode. Brain matter was scattered everywhere, staining the floor red as the smell of burnt flesh filled the temple.
Everyone was terrified by the bloody and brutal death of their fellow hunter.
In particular, his brother fell into despair.
Alex vomited on the spot.
"Brother, no!"
He screamed, tears streaming down his face and washing the blood from his cheeks.
Cardoso let out a scream of despair upon seeing his brother killed.
Before they could properly process the situation, the countdown on the right tablet reached zero, starting the countdown on the left tablet.
Once again, the minotaur warrior statue came to life, running frenetically toward the hunters.
Everyone raised their weapons again.
Cardoso fired several arrows emitting a yellow glow.
The minotaur simply swung its axe to deflect the attacks while preparing a counterattack.
With a dull thud, the minotaur's axe struck the ground, creating a crater in the temple.
As a result, everyone was knocked down except Joaquim, who dodged in time.
Seeing the minotaur charging toward her, Ivana raised her staff and tried to cast magic to defend herself while running in another direction.
With a single swing of the minotaur's axe, everyone saw the beautiful girl's head separated from her body.
The girl's innocent eyes were still open as her head rolled across the ground, blinking twice without realizing she was dead.
Not content with just one death, the minotaur attacked again.
This time, its target was Alex.
The axe descended like a hot knife through butter. At the same moment, the countdown on the left tablet reached zero.
Fortunately for Alex, the minotaur struck its final blow before disappearing.
Alex let out a scream of anguish when he saw his left arm fall to the ground.
He covered the wound as tears and snot mixed with the dust left behind by the previous blow.
"I'm too young to die."
Trembling visibly as urine soaked his pants, Alfredo abandoned his weapon and ran toward the door leading to the exit.
"Let me out! I'm too young to die! I'd rather go back to jail!"
With desperation in his eyes, Alfredo slammed his fist against the temple door, which showed no sign of opening.
The minotaur priest's smile widened.
The crimson lightning beam fired.
As Alfredo saw death approaching, his body was split into two bloody pieces, his internal organs scattering across the door.
Everyone was in a panic.
Three of them had been killed in terribly brutal ways right before their eyes.
The survivors looked at Joaquim in search of a possible solution. After all, he was the authority on site and also the strongest person among them.
By this point, despite the fear clouding their judgment, everyone could already distinguish a pattern.
"When the countdown on the right tablet begins, the minotaur warriors come to life and attack anyone in their field of vision. When the left tablet begins its countdown, the minotaur priest kills anyone outside the orange area."
Mimi shared her observation.
Although she was the one who said it, the others had already reached the same conclusion.
"What should we do? Time is about to run out, and the warrior will attack again."
Mónica held her sword firmly as her focus authority covered the blade.
"You there. Your name is Pedro, isn't it?"
Joaquim asked with a macabre smile.
"Yes, that's me?"
Pedro replied with a trembling voice.
"Go to the gray zone."
Joaquim's sword hovered over Paulo's neck.
If the latter disobeyed, the agent would have no scruples about cutting his legs and throwing him into the designated area.
None of the other prisoners showed any sympathy or tried to help. Everyone was simply relieved that it wasn't them instead.
Tying part of his orange uniform around the place where his arm used to be, Alex looked at the prisoner with pity.
But deep down, he also wanted to know the outcome.
As he moved with trembling legs, the countdown reached zero, and a new countdown began, bringing the stone minotaur warrior to life again.
It raised its axe and began its charge.
"Prepare for battle. Move faster."
Joaquim warned the others while growling at Paulo to hurry.
Alex didn't know what to do now.
Without an arm, his death was getting closer, and he was certain he would die right there.
Mónica and Joaquim combined their forces while Mimi provided support with her light magic.
Even combining their strength, the two were being pushed back.
It seemed the minotaur was becoming increasingly fierce.