Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Kaizen and Linus stared at each other as they reassembled, then looked up at the large, labyrinthine stone door.

"Are you ready?" Linus asked, wiping the remaining blood between his fingers with a small white cloth that was already ruby red.

Kaizen nodded and then, without much trepidation, swung his silver sword to the ground, just to wipe off some of the blood that covered his blade.

Soon after, Kaizen and Linus moved cautiously toward the entrance of the labyrinth that lay before them.

The vegetation around the place was dense and imposing, with tall trees blocking the sunlight and creating deep shadows. The air was humid and full of fungal spores, mixed with the smell of moss and damp earth. As they walked, they could hear the sound of their boots on the stones and the dry leaves crunching under their feet. The place had been louder before, when the mercenaries laughed as they teased the caged monsters, but now only the strange and chilling sounds of the monsters being held captive echoed through the air. It was not yet time to release them.

When they finally stepped through the stone door, Kaizen and Linus were struck by the size of the building inside. The walls were high and made of dark, jagged stone, with vines and tendrils sprawling across the surface. The main corridor was wide enough for carts and wagons to enter, but the parallel corridors were narrow and winding, making the labyrinth look less like a giant snake and more like the roots of a tree.

The floor was made of stone, and in places it was covered with moss and lichen, making it slippery and dangerous. Sunlight filtered through small cracks in the ceiling stones, creating iridescent reflections on the walls.

The inside of the labyrinth seemed both alive and dead, a strange sensation to behold. The sound of Kaizen and Linus\' footsteps echoed off the walls of the main corridor, creating a startling cacophony.

Kaizen and Linus made their way down the main corridor of the labyrinth, ready for whatever lay ahead. They stayed alert, ready to react to anything that came their way.

"This place is impressive," Kaizen commented as he looked at the high, shadowy walls of the labyrinth, lit by seemingly endless torches of bluish flame.

"Yes, but it\'s also a dangerous place. They say the Minotaur is not the only danger. There are traps and illusions and secrets hidden here," Linus replied cautiously. "We can\'t let our guard down for a second."

Kaizen nodded, knowing his companion was right. They had a mission to accomplish and could not afford to be surprised by anything. As they advanced through the labyrinth, Kaizen felt more and more tense. He was used to fighting, but this mission seemed different. There was something about this place that made him feel uncomfortable, like he was being watched, and the place was claustrophobic in a different way than the Estheno Gorgon Labyrinth, because although it wasn\'t cramped, the atmosphere was suffocating.

"Something\'s wrong here," Kaizen muttered to Linus. "I feel like we\'re being watched."

"I don\'t doubt it," Linus replied with a dark look. "This place has a strange aura, and many brave people have died here for over a thousand years."

Kaizen nodded again, knowing that his companion could sense the tension in the air as well. They continued down the corridor, their footsteps echoing off the walls of the labyrinth. Suddenly, they heard a strange sound coming from one of the narrow passageways to their left. Kaizen immediately went on high alert, ready for battle.

"What was that?" he asked in a low voice.

Linus frowned, also concerned. "Your hunch wasn\'t wrong. I think we have company."

The two stopped and moved forward through the narrow passage. As they looked down the narrow corridor from where they had heard the noise, they saw a solid wooden door with ancient runes carved into the surface at the end of the corridor.

"This doesn\'t look good." commented Kaizen.

"Not really." agreed Linus. It was more than clear that they had not found this part on purpose, but had been drawn to this door. "We can\'t go back now. What do you think about getting on with it?"

"If it\'s trying to communicate with us, it wouldn\'t hurt to be polite." Kaizen said with a smile, as the rune door looked very much like the entrance to a boss room.

So they crossed the hall and, without any fear, carefully pushed open the door and entered the dark room. In the center of the room stood a tall, dark figure with a black cloak and hood covering his face. The figure had his back to them and seemed to be concentrating on something in his hands. Kaizen and Linus approached cautiously, swords in hand. As the figure became aware of their presence, it slowly turned to face them.

Kaizen held his breath as he saw the figure\'s face. It was an old man with cold, lifeless eyes. There was something about him that sent shivers down his spine.

"Who are you?" asked Linus with a firm voice. "And what do you want?"

The old man smiled slowly.

...

Edited by: DrHitsuji

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