CHAPTER 11
— THE JOURNEY BEGINS
The torch flame fixed to the stone wall flickered, its light diminished to a small orange circle only able to illuminate a few meters around them. The shadows of the three figures loomed large and wavering on the rough, damp stone surface, like shadow dancers witnessing the silence that fell after the battle. The atmosphere in the small chamber felt heavy, not from danger, but from fatigue and settling thoughts. They sat in a perfect triangle, slowly chewing on dry rations. The sound of chewing and soft breathing was the only melody in the Abyssal Dungeon's oppressive silence.
To Kyoichiiro's left, Amura sat cross-legged. His usually agile hands, which normally held a sword, now only held a piece of hard bread with a listless motion. His eyes, usually sharp and alert, were now empty as they stared at the flame, as if his soul had flown far away, leaving his body trapped deep within the earth. This unusual, gloomy expression clung strongly to his face, contrasting with his normally more open or enthusiastic nature.
Kyoichiiro, with his ever-alert instincts, caught even the slightest change in his surroundings. In a dangerous world like a dungeon, a shift in mood could signal a crack in the team, or—worse—a symptom of the dungeon's own mental influence. He decided to test the waters.
Kyoichiiro: "What's wrong?"
His voice was flat, without rhythm, deliberately neutral so as not to sound like an interrogation. Yet, it was enough to break Amura's reverie.
Amura flinched slightly, blinking a few times before his focus returned to reality. A thin, somewhat forced smile graced his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Amura: "Ah—it's nothing. Just... thinking about something unimportant."
His tone was light, even trying to sound cheerful, but it came across as thin and fragile. It was the tone of someone lying, or at least holding back something heavier than he admitted. Kyoichiiro observed him for a moment, then looked away. He understood that forcing trust was the quickest way to destroy it. If Amura wasn't ready to talk, pressing him would only push him further away. The wisdom of silence was sometimes more effective.
His gaze then shifted to Aetheria in front of him. The contrast the girl presented was so extreme it was almost comical. In the midst of this grim and lethal environment, Aetheria sat neatly, her small hands clutching her dry cake tightly. Her cheeks were slightly puffed full of food, and she chewed with earnestness, her brow slightly furrowed as if the act of eating was the most important task in the world. Her movements were innocent, childlike, and completely mismatched with the image of a mage who had just fought a three-headed monster.
Unconsciously, the corner of Kyoichiiro's usually stern and tightly shut mouth shifted. It lifted slightly, forming a very subtle curve. It wasn't a broad smile, just a small flash of warmth that escaped the fortress of his indifference. An almost invisible little smile.
However, Aetheria, who seemed to have a radar for things related to Kyoichiiro, caught it immediately. She raised her head, and her emerald green eyes met Kyoichiiro's gaze.
For a fraction of a second, the world seemed to stop for Aetheria. Blood rushed to her face, heating her cheeks which suddenly turned a bright crimson. Her eyes widened, filled with surprise and flooding embarrassment. With an awkward reflexive movement, she spun her body 180 degrees, turning her back to Kyoichiiro, and resumed chewing with determination—now with her ears, still glowing red, clearly visible behind her silver hair. She tried desperately to look normal, though her heart was pounding like a war drum.
Kyoichiiro did not comment on it. Only a short breath escaped his nose, more like a held-back sigh than a sign of frustration. He then leaned deeper against the cold stone surface behind him, one arm supporting his head, which was beginning to fill with heavy thoughts.
His mind wandered, leaving the silent chamber and his two new companions. He returned to the basic questions, the ones that had been gnawing at him since he first opened his eyes in this strange world.
Kyoichiiro. That name remains the same. The name attached to me even before I took my first breath in this world. But everything here... doesn't make sense.
He focused his thoughts on language. The language used by Amura and Aetheria, the language written on city signs, the language he magically understood completely. Not just vocabulary, but complex grammatical structures, idioms, even the emotional nuances behind each sentence. He mastered it instantly, without going through any learning process.
This defies all logic. Knowledge doesn't appear from nothing. If this world can violate basic principles of knowledge acquisition like this... then its own laws of reality must be malleable, manipulable. There is something—or someone—with power far beyond my understanding, playing behind the scenes.
His memory drifted to the moments before the void. His death. No light at the end of a tunnel, no soft voice calling, no heroic pain. Just... cessation. A sudden and total end of all consciousness.
If death is just nothingness... then why am I here? Is there truly an entity like God? Or perhaps a cosmic system that allows the transfer of consciousness? If so... then this is a second life. A chance that shouldn't exist. And if this is a chance... then dying in this world—
He cut off his own thought. Letting that thought linger was a path to despair. He let out a long sigh, the sound clear in the silence, as if expelling all the doubts and fears residing in his chest.
The sound of that sigh caught Amura's attention, who had been quietly observing the changing expressions on Kyoichiiro's face. The furrowed brow, the distant eyes, and the heavy sigh painted a picture of someone wrestling with their own thoughts.
Amura: "Hmm...?"
His tone was full of genuine question marks and curiosity, breaking Kyoichiiro's concentration.
Kyoichiiro turned, his sharp eyes refocusing on Amura.
Kyoichiiro: "Are you done eating?"
His question was simple, a smooth diversion from his own reverie.
Amura blinked, then looked at the half-eaten bread in his hand. A small, more sincere smile this time appeared.
Amura: "Ah... I guess so."
Then, almost simultaneously, both Kyoichiiro and Amura turned their gazes towards Aetheria. The sight presented was still the same: Aetheria, with full concentration, was still munching away, a few crumbs of cake adorning the corner of her mouth. There was a purity and naivety in her eating manner that made the dungeon's danger momentarily forgotten.
Kyoichiiro and Amura looked at each other. No words were spoken. Just a brief exchange of glances, followed by an almost simultaneous blink. A perfectly conveyed non-verbal message: She's cute, huh?
However, their silent exchange lasted too long. Aetheria once again felt the sensation of being the center of attention. This time, she turned her body with a firm movement, her brows furrowed into what she thought was a fierce scowl, but which actually made her look like an irritated kitten.
Aetheria: "Is... is there a problem with the way I eat?"
Her tone was defensive, but her large, blinking eyes radiated innocent confusion.
Their reflexes kicked in immediately. As if scolded by a teacher, they answered in unison with voices slightly louder than necessary.
Kyoichiiro & Amura: "It's nothing!"
The simultaneity of their answer only made the situation more awkward. Aetheria looked at them alternately, her scowl gradually melting, replaced by a small, confused smile, and finally a burst of light laughter. Her bell-like laughter filled the room, wiping away the remaining tension. She then went back to her eating activity as if the little episode had never happened.
After the atmosphere calmed and their stomachs were full, Amura was the first to take the initiative to discuss something important. He sat up straight, his face showing the serious expression of a leader planning strategy.
Amura: "The fight earlier... showed that our strength is still lacking if we act separately. I think we need tighter coordination. How about we clearly arrange our formation and roles?"
He then explained with enthusiasm, his hands moving to illustrate formations in the air.
Amura: "I'll be the first attacker, drawing attention and looking for openings. When the enemy focuses on me and I retreat to dodge, that's when you, Kyoichiiro-san, come in from the opposite direction to deliver the decisive blow. Aetheria, you focus on support. Place a protective barrier around Kyoichiiro-san when he starts attacking, to protect him from any sudden counterattacks. Meanwhile, I'll use mid-range magic to distract or incapacitate any other threats that might approach."
His explanation was detailed, full of enthusiasm, even a bit fiery. However, it was precisely that detail that made Kyoichiiro frown. A potential weakness was visible in the plan.
Kyoichiiro: "Wait. There's one thing that bothers me."
His voice was calm, analytical.
Kyoichiiro: "You said a barrier to protect me. That assumes the counterattack comes at me. What if the situation is reversed? What if the enemy ignores me and focuses on attacking you while you're busy deflecting it? Or if the enemy has an area attack that sweeps all positions? A plan that's too rigid can fall apart when the battle becomes dynamic."
Amura fell silent for a moment upon hearing that rebuttal. His smile faded slightly, and he averted his face briefly, as if embarrassed that a hole in his plan had been exposed. When he looked back at Kyoichiiro, his expression changed completely. No longer the confident, spirited youth, but a deep and serious determination.
Amura: "When it comes to technical details like that... I don't know what to answer either."
He admitted it honestly. Then, he took a deep breath, and his gaze pierced straight into Kyoichiiro's eyes.
Amura: "But, what I meant isn't just about battle strategy, Kyoichiiro-san. It's about trust. We have to trust the person next to us. If we're busy thinking about every worst-case scenario and can't trust our comrades to watch each other's backs, then we'll never be able to move forward, let alone face greater threats deeper in this dungeon."
His voice was firm, full of conviction.
Amura: "I don't care how dangerous this dungeon is. I've chosen to trust you and Aetheria. And with that trust, I'm ready to bear the risk. I'll protect you both as best I can, and I believe you'll do the same. That's enough for me."
Those words echoed in the small chamber. It was no longer tactics, but philosophy. A sincere confession and request for trust. Kyoichiiro was silent for a long time, processing Amura's words. Within his calculating and skeptical self, those words were like a stone thrown into a calm pond, creating ripples of disturbance. Yet, he also saw the logic behind it. A team without trust is a team that will crumble from within. Finally, he sighed, a sign of acceptance.
Kyoichiiro: "Alright... alright. I understand what you mean."
His tone was resigned, yet within it was a small seed of willingness to try, to lower his defensive walls a little.
Amura smiled, this time a relieved and satisfied smile that reached his shining eyes. As the tension between them dissolved, a small, hesitant voice came from the side.
Aetheria: "Um... are we going to keep sitting and talking here? I... I'm starting to feel cold."
The girl shivered slightly, reminding them they were still inside a damp, cold dungeon. Kyoichiiro and Amura looked at each other. Once again, without words, their communication happened through body language. They nodded almost simultaneously, then both blinked, a signal that the discussion was over and it was time to act.
Kyoichiiro: "You're right. Time to move."
Kyoichiiro stood up, his rested muscles tensing again, ready to face whatever awaited. Amura quickly followed, his characteristic confident smile having returned to his face. Aetheria gave a small hop, stood up, and brushed dust off her skirt.
Amura: "Let's go. Let's continue our journey."
Amura raised his left hand, and with a whispered incantation, a fist-sized ball of fire appeared and floated above his palm, illuminating the path ahead with a brighter, steadier light than the torch. They reformed their formation: Kyoichiiro in front with a watchful gaze, Amura on the right flank with his fireball, and Aetheria in the middle, alert with her magic.
They resumed their journey along the quiet stone corridor. The sound of their footsteps echoed, sounding louder in their ears due to the enveloping silence. Several minutes passed without incident, until—
"ARGHHHHHH-!!"
A piercing scream, full of pure suffering and terror, ripped through the dungeon's silence from somewhere far away. It wasn't a monster's voice, but a human voice—or something very much like it.
The reflex was instant. Aetheria and Amura, startled by the sudden cry, instinctively sought protection from the nearest figure they deemed most capable: Kyoichiiro. Aetheria grabbed his right arm, while Amura grabbed his left, both clinging tightly.
Kyoichiiro, who was also identifying the sound's source, paused momentarily due to their grips. He looked at each of them in turn, with a flat, slightly bewildered expression.
Kyoichiiro: "Oi."
Just one word, uttered in his characteristic flat tone, yet enough to snap them out of it.
Amura immediately let go, standing straight and fussing with his collar as if busy, his face slightly red. Aetheria, on the other hand, released her grip shyly, her two index fingers twirling restlessly in front of her chest, her cheeks crimson.
Kyoichiiro: "Let's just go on."
They continued their journey, this time with a slightly wider gap between them, the embarrassment still hanging in the air. The next fifteen minutes were spent walking through corridors that grew wider, yet empty. No monsters, no traps, nothing. Just stone, darkness, and the sound of their own footsteps. This empty silence was even more suffocating than monster roars.
Amura: "How long are we going to walk aimlessly like this...?"
His voice sounded tired and beginning to wear thin, a natural complaint after tension without release.
Kyoichiiro: "Usually, in a situation like this..."
He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping the high ceiling of the corridor.
Kyoichiiro: "...something will happen soon."
As if the dungeon heard him and wanted to prove him right, the stone ceiling ahead—about twenty meters away—suddenly emitted a loud cracking sound, followed by a rumbling roar.
BRRRAKKK-BOOOM!
A large mass of rock and debris collapsed from above, slamming into the dungeon floor with a force that shook the ground. Dust billowed in a thick cloud, filling the corridor. They stopped abruptly, a small magical shield instantly deployed by Aetheria to block flying dust and small stones.
After the dust began to settle, Kyoichiiro cautiously approached the collapse site. Fortunately, the large mass of stone had fallen right in the middle of the corridor, blocking the path, but not hitting them.
Kyoichiiro: "Luckily it was far enough. We weren't hit."
However, his sharp eyes caught something strange. Behind the curtain of dust, atop the newly formed pile of rubble, was a gap—a hole gaping towards the ceiling or perhaps a higher level. And from that gap, reflecting the light of Amura's fireball, was a brief flash of something... metallic.
Kyoichiiro: "What's that glint?"
His curiosity, a mix of adventurer's instinct and vigilance, was piqued. He approached the pile of debris and began climbing nimbly, using his right hand to shield his eyes from the still-swirling dust. After reaching the top of the rubble and looking into the gap, his eyes widened slightly.
Kyoichiiro: "There's a room up here. And there's something."
He looked down, gazing at Amura and Aetheria who were watching him full of questions.
Kyoichiiro: "I'll go up to check. Wait here."
Amura: "Wait, alone? That's dangerous!"
Kyoichiiro: "Just a quick check. If there's danger, I'll come right back."
Without waiting for further response, Kyoichiiro jumped, his hands gripping the edge of the gap, and with the strength of his upper body, he pulled himself up and disappeared into the darkness above.
Amura, not wanting to be left behind, immediately followed. With a more graceful leap, aided by a slight gust of wind magic at his feet, he floated up and entered the same gap.
Aetheria, still below, watched them disappear with anxiety.
Aetheria: "I-I... I can't jump that high!"
Her voice was panicked. From above, Amura's voice was heard.
Amura: "Use your wind magic, Aetheria! Gather air beneath your feet and push your body upward!"
Aetheria nodded, though no one could see. She closed her eyes, concentrating. The air around her began to swirl slowly, then faster, forming a cushion of air beneath her boots. Carefully, she directed the push upward.
Her body lifted off the ground, floating up towards the gap. However, her control wasn't perfect. At the peak of the push, just as her head passed the edge of the gap, her concentration faltered. The wind pushed her forward too strongly.
Kyoichiiro: "Eh-?!"
Kyoichiiro, who had just stood up and was examining the empty room above, only had time to see Aetheria's figure flying uncontrollably towards him like a released arrow. No time to dodge.
THUD!
Aetheria collided with him with her full weight. Kyoichiiro, unprepared, fell backward. Behind him, Amura, who was checking another side of the room, turned and—thump—was also pinned down by the falling Kyoichiiro. A chaotic pile of human bodies formed on the stone floor.
After a few seconds of scrambling, they managed to disentangle themselves. Aetheria immediately sprang up with a face as red as a tomato, bowing repeatedly.
Aetheria: "Sorry! I'm sorry, Kyoichiiro-san! Amura-san! I lost control...!"
Her voice trembled, almost crying from shame and guilt. Kyoichiiro sighed, stood up, and brushed dust off his clothes.
Kyoichiiro: "It's fine. No one's hurt. That's what matters."
Amura, smiling wryly, also stood up and adjusted his sword.
Amura: "Yeah, calm down. Good for a warm-up, I guess."
They then looked around. The room was small, square, and empty. No door, no corridor.
Amura and Aetheria looked around the empty room. Amura let out a small sigh.
Amura: "Nothing here... Well, Kyoichiiro-san?"
Amura looked to his side, but only found empty space. Kyoichiiro was no longer near him. Aetheria then pointed towards a corner of the room behind Amura. Indeed, Kyoichiiro was already standing there, in a crouching position, gazing at an object in front of him.
They both quickly approached. In front of Kyoichiiro, leaning against the stone wall, was a fairly large treasure chest, made of dark wood and bound with rusty iron. A large padlock hung from its front.
Amura: "You could have told us if you found something, Kyoichiiro-san...."
Kyoichiiro didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the padlock. In its center was a strange keyhole—shaped like a spider figure with eight sprawling legs. His mind worked quickly.
A spider-shaped keyhole? What's the connection? Is there even a key shaped like this? Very suspicious.
The three of them exchanged looks, equally filled with curiosity and a bit of caution.
Amura: "What kind of hole is this? It looks like a spider. That seems really weird."
Once again, their glances shifted between each other. The same premonition began to crystallize. Almost simultaneously, Kyoichiiro and Amura muttered.
Kyoichiiro & Amura: "Don't tell me?...."
And sure enough. From the shadows behind them, on the ceiling that had seemed empty, a large figure suddenly dropped with a deceptive, silent movement. A giant spider, its body earthen brown with glowing red spots on its swollen abdomen. The monster attacked immediately, its two sharp front legs slashing towards their backs.
Their reflexes were well-honed. Amura, Kyoichiiro, and Aetheria shot sideways simultaneously, dodging just before the strike hit its target. They landed in a guarded formation in the left corner of the room.
However, in that sudden dodge, Aetheria's small bag came loose. Its contents—a few packets of snacks and cookies—scattered across the stone floor.
Aetheria: "A-ah! My food!"
Panicked, she tried to gather her provisions. Meanwhile, the giant spider had turned. Instead of crawling slowly, the monster ran quickly, writhing using all its legs, heading straight for them.
Kyoichiiro: "Hahh? A running spider?"
His bewilderment broke upon seeing Aetheria, who was still busy picking up her food, unaware of the danger that was almost upon her.
Kyoichiiro: "No time left...."
Without thinking further, Kyoichiiro approached Aetheria, grabbed the girl's body, and lifted her.
Kyoichiiro: "Sorry."
With Aetheria in his arms, Kyoichiiro jumped to the side, followed by Amura who was already ready with his sword. The spider, now within striking distance, raised the rear part of its body. From the tip of its abdomen, sharp like a wasp's stinger, a thick white web was shot out at high speed, forming a wide net that blocked Kyoichiiro and Aetheria's escape route.
Kyoichiiro exerted force to turn, but the web was too fast. At the last second, Aetheria, still in his arms, stretched out her hand.
Aetheria: "Barrier!"
A shimmering layer of transparent energy formed in front of them. The spider's web hit the barrier and stuck, but did not penetrate. The attack was successfully blocked.
Seizing the opportunity, Kyoichiiro quickly set Aetheria down and retreated a few steps, his eyes carefully observing the monster. Something caught his attention. At the tip of the sharp, red-colored abdomen, it looked like a soft organ, different from the rest of its hard, hairy body.
Kyoichiiro: "What? What's that sharp thing on its abdomen? Red... and looks soft. Don't tell me...."
His mind spun quickly. If Aetheria's barrier alone could deflect the web, its material might be flammable. Its weak point might be there.
The spider seemed confused that its web attack had failed. Its body moved restlessly, its legs tapping the stone floor, preparing to attack again.
Kyoichiiro: "Amura! Use your fire when the spider shoots its web again! Aim for the sharp red tip on its abdomen!"
Amura immediately shifted his gaze to the monster's abdomen. True, in the darkness, that red spot glowed faintly. He nodded, a fireball beginning to gather in his open palm.
They didn't have to wait long. The spider raised its abdomen again, and once more, a white web shot out.
Amura: "Now!"
A glowing red fireball shot from Amura's hand. He didn't target the spider's body, but aimed directly at the web flying through the air. When fire and web met, the result was instant. The seemingly strong web immediately shrank, curled, and burned to black ash in a flash. However, Amura's fiery stream didn't stop there. He maintained the flow of his magic, continuing the fire stream that had burned the web, heading straight for its source—the red tip of the spider's abdomen.
Sssssssst!
A loud hissing sound accompanied by a pungent, foul smell filled the room. The stream of fire hit its mark perfectly. The red spot burned, and instantly the giant spider writhed violently, letting out an ear-piercing screech. Its movements became uncontrollable, hitting the walls and floor. Thick, dark fluid began to ooze from its burning abdomen, melting the surrounding body parts. Within seconds, the fire spread across its hairy body, and the monster burned fiercely before finally collapsing into a smoldering pile of ash.
From within that pile of ash came the sound of metal falling and rolling on the floor.
Kyoichiiro, Amura, and Aetheria looked at each other. Carefully, they approached the still-warm ash. In the middle of the black charcoal debris lay a small metal object. Kyoichiiro bent down and picked it up. It was an iron key, cold and heavy in his palm. Its shape was exactly like a spider with eight detailed legs.
Kyoichiiro just stared at it silently. Aetheria and Amura approached, peeking from his side.
Amura: "Kyoichiiro-san, what is that..."
Amura stopped talking because Kyoichiiro suddenly turned and walked with certainty towards the still-locked treasure chest. Amura and Aetheria exchanged looks, confused, then hurriedly followed.
Kyoichiiro crouched again in front of the chest, looking at the spider key in his hand, then at the strange keyhole in the padlock. A perfect fit. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and inserted the metal key into the hole.
Amura and Aetheria, now standing beside Kyoichiiro.
Amura: "Eh, wait—!"
Aetheria: "Kyoichiiro-san?!"
They were both a bit surprised by his direct action. However, before their worries could develop further, a satisfying click was heard.
Krak.
The large padlock opened by itself, falling to the floor with a thud...