The torch’s light flickered, casting jagged shadows along the hallway. Jin brushed off cobwebs; the dust stung his eyes and lungs, forcing him to cough.
“We have been going around for hours now. It’s supposed to be straight hallways, right? Not labyrinthine?”
“Cho? Hanma?” Ironshield turned to the two instructors who had entered the pyramid before.
“This isn’t right,” Instructor Cho muttered, running a hand along the pyramid’s stone walls. “This hallway wasn’t here before.”
“Exactly,” Instructor Hanma added. “From the entrance, we go straight, then left and left again before going right. And there is a stair at the end that leads to the upper level.”
“We followed that,” Old Man Sid added, checking through his Cryscomm. “But we ain’t finding any stairs anywhere. Heck, we can’t even find the entrance.”
“Sid’s right,” Jin added. “Our maps are all useless now. So, what do we do? Go back? Or forward?
All eyes fell on Ironshield as the team leader. “We move forward,” he said without a hint of hesitation. “No detours. No going back.”
Jin didn’t intervene. Instead, he followed Ironshield’s lead, acting as the team’s crowd controller as he marched in the middle of the formation with the rest examinees alongside Instructor Cho, Instructor Hanma, Old Man Sid and his two remaining crew members. At the vanguard, it was the trio of Eustace, Instructor Lila and Ironshield.
Emilia lingered at the rear, her fingers twitching around her staff, while Jin could feel Ka Fei’s intense glare as he stomped right behind him. Unlike Eustace, the two had not been given a role in the team.
Though the group reached dead ends multiple times, it didn’t slow down their pace. They even managed to clear some rooms or solve some hidden mechanisms before finally reaching the long-searched stair that led to the next floor.
The second floor, however, proved a different beast altogether. A low growl echoed from the darkness ahead, followed by sickening skittering of bones.
“Formation,” Ironshield barked.
The team moved like a well-oiled machine – except for the two outcasts. Ka Fei lunged forward, only for Jin to step sideways, blocking his path with a raised hand.
“Anchor formation,” Jin reminded with a monotonous voice. “Ka Fei, fall back to the rearguard. You don’t move unless Ironshield calls your name.”
The Berserker’s jaw clenched, but he fell back, cursing under his breath. Jin shot a glance at Emilia. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her knuckles turning white around her staff.
“That goes for you, too,” Jin added. “One wrong move, and it won't be the RIFT’s monsters that finish you. I will.”
Neither dared argue back.
It didn’t take long for Ironshield and Instructor Lila to dispatch their enemies. Eustace tried to, but his attack bounced off the skeletal frame of the Hypocalcemic Skeletons with a loud, useless clink.
“Swords are for flesh, boy,” Ironshield said. “Listen up! To defeat bones or stones, you need blunt weapons. Like this.”
He then smashed his shield into the nearest skeleton – one that Eustace was fighting with earlier – pulverising it into a cloud of white dust.
“Or you could use this,” Instructor Lila added after stringing a couple of skeletons together with her whip. The ensnared enemies became a heavy flail, striking its brethren as she pummelled it against the walls.
The other examinees were awestruck. Even Eustace beamed at the lessons taught by the veteran instructors. The same with Jin, who observed the scene from the rear.
Although he was quite well-versed in the art of fighting himself, he still took the lessons to his heart. After all, the greatest masters were also the humblest and easiest to teach. And he aspired to be one.
“Next batch, all of you except those two at the rearguard will be fighting. So, get ready.”
Ironshield’s instructions were met with cheers. Emilia and Ka Fei, however, did not. The two confronted the team leader of the arrangement.
“I’m a Berserker. With better CP than that wimp!” Ka Fei swung his greatsword around, showcasing his techniques and movements, which were leaps and bounds better than Eustace's. “So, why is he at vanguard and I’m not!”
“I’m a Sage!” Emilia shouted, casting a golden AOE buff that shimmered over the team. She looked around, expecting praise for the sudden surge of power in their bodies. “With me, every battle is a cinch. You can clear all the monsters even with your eyes closed.”
Ironshield didn't even look at his status bar. He stared at her until her smug smile withered.
“Cool party trick. You might impress your father and some newbies, but here?” Ironshield turned his attention to Ka Fei. The Berserker pulled his face away in silent disgust, but Ironshield didn't let up. “Both of you are a liability.”
He dismissed them with a cold shoulder, his eyes locking onto Jin next, who waited at the end of the formation.
“Hey, Frank. You want to show these kids what real skills look like?”
Jin walked toward the vanguard. “Sure. But let’s make a bet while at it. More fun that way.”
Ironshield raised an eyebrow, followed by a grin. “Oh? A bet? You two up to it then?”
“Fuck yeah. Bring it on, you cheap trick bastard,” Ka Fei said, pointing his greatsword at Jin. “You joining, Emi?”
Emilia’s gaze never left Jin. “I’ll show you what a Lowenhald is capable of. So, what’s the bet?”
Jin smiled. It was so easy to work these young adults up. Naive, inexperienced and extremely oblivious to how the real world works.
“The two of you versus Eustace and me. Whoever kills the most monsters before we reach the upper sanctum wins.”
“And what do we get if we win?” Emilia asked.
Jin rubbed his chin. "I guess the winners get to do whatever they want to the losers."
“And if I want to kill you?” Ka Fei sneered.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Jin shrugged, showing no interest in the threat. “Go ahead. But first, you've got to win.” He then turned to Ironshield and gave him a thumbs-up.
The raid party leader shook his head. Though he agreed with the bet, he didn’t like one bit what was at wager. But since the bettors themselves had already given their permissions, he’d go along with it. Besides, he trusted Jin to win.
“All the other examinees will be involved too. But the bet will not apply to them. It’s between you four. Got it?”
“Got it,” Jin said. “And you?”
Ka Fei grinned. “Heh. It’s your funeral, man. Come, Emi. Let’s get ready.”
As the two returned to the rearguard, Eustace came over to Jin, looking very nervous.”T-Those two are very strong. And I know you’re stronger, Frank. B-But I’m afraid that I will bring you down.”
Jin patted his shoulder. “Nah, you won’t.”
“B-But-“
“Have a little confidence in yourself. You’re no longer a coward. And that is battle halfway won.”
First round, eight Hypocalcemic Skeletons and two Wild Martyrs – a hound-type creature that looked like an elongated jackal – appeared blocking their path. The skeletons were a fragile bunch. But the hound-like creatures proved a little challenging; they were fast and their bites poisonous.
Ka Fei and Emilia teamed up and killed six of them, including the two Wild Martyrs and the rest of the mob were cleaned up by the other examinees. Eustace and Jin didn’t even join in.
The next round, twenty Tattered Mummies awaited them as they reached yet another dead-end. Of the twenty, Ka Fei and Emilia duo turned fifteen of the monsters into piles of rotten flesh and bandages. The other examinees killed the rest. Still, Eustace and Jin opted out.
After the battle, Ironshield ordered a short break. As Jin expected, Ka Fei came over to his side and started talking, taunting him.
“Prepare to lose your head, bastard. We got twenty-one. And I see you failed to even get one in.”
Jin didn’t even bother to reply. Instead, he turned to Eustace. “Remember what I say?”
The blond nodded. “Identify enemies’ pattern. Remember my skill rotations.”
“Exactly. If you don’t want to rely on your Pathfinder’s skill, you need to learn new skills outside of your class.”
“Got it!” Eustace gave a fist pump. “I won’t disappoint you!”
Jin cracked a smile. “And don’t forget your fighting style. Learn some proper moves. Else, you’d be-“
“Oi! I’m talking to you!”
Ka Fei edged closer; his shadow loomed over the two. He reached out as if to grab Jin’s collar, but stopped when he saw Ironshield glancing their way.
“But I’m not. Save your words when you actually win.” Jin waved his hand away like a bothersome fly. “Now, leave. Or do you want another pounding?”
“You dare? I will-“
“Hey, Frank. You alright, there?” Ironshield’s words cut off Ka Fei’s threat. “And you, hothead. Return to your position. We will move soon.”
Not getting the reaction he wanted from Jin, plus the heat he was getting from Ironshield, Ka Fei turned away, but not before flipping Jin off. He even tried to jostle Old Man Sid out of the way, but the veteran Cleaner was quick-footed.
“If I’m twenty-no, ten years younger, I’ll teach that raging fool a lesson or two. What a fecking child.” Old Man Sid cursed under his breath as he approached Jin and Eustace. “But really, why aren’t you two fighting?”
“There will be time for that. Wait for a sec, you two.”
Jin then turned to Instructor Lila and went to her. A while later, he returned with a club.
“Here, Eustace. You could use this instead of a sword.”
The blond took the weapon, gave it a couple of swings and nodded. “Thanks, Frank. I’ll definitely bash those skeletons to dust with this.”
He didn’t have to wait long. The break ended, and when the group rounded the next corner, their buoyant mood vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold, crawling dread. Even Ironshield and the other instructor hesitated.
Ahead, the dimly lit floor moved. Hundreds of golf-ball-sized Rotten Flesh Scarabs skittered across the stones, their rotting carapaces clicking in a rhythmic, sickening wave.
“If you don’t want to be eaten from the inside out,” Ironshield barked, “don’t let the damn things near your mouth!”
Most physical attacks missed the small, nimble targets. Ka Fei nearly met a gruesome end, a scarab already vibrating against his bared lips, but Instructor Lila’s whip lashed around his waist in time. She yanked him back with a sharp crack, the force throwing him clear right as a cluster of the insects lunged at the space he had occupied.
For the AOE specialists, the Rotten Flesh Scarabs were no more than experience fodder. Instructors Cho and Hanma incinerated the front swarm with waves of arrows and fireballs, but the creatures were relentless, scurrying over the charred remains of their kin.
Then Jin took the floor.
He transformed the hallway into a spider’s larder. His sticky webs caught the flying stragglers, while his razor-thin threads sliced through those crawling along the ceiling. Their greenish ichor hissed against the stone floor until Jin finished them off, using nearby torches to burn the remains. Beside him, Eustace struggled to keep up, his movements chaotic until Jin’s hand steadied his shoulder for a split second.
“Don't just swing, Eustace,” Jin said, his voice calm despite the scuttling tide at their feet. He didn't look back as he skewered a scarab on a knife. “Watch the legs. If they tuck them in, they’re about to leap for your face. Aim for the joint between the head and the thorax. Kill the brain, or they’ll keep burrowing even after they’re dead.”
Eustace nodded, his knuckles white around his weapon. He mimicked Jin’s short, stabbing motions, his fear replaced by a grim, focused imitation of his idol.
Together, they turned the swarm into a pile of hissing, greenish slush. By the time Jin touched a torch to the final pile of remains, the air was thick with the stench of burnt rot. The rest of the expedition watched in a mixture of awe and horror; they saw a master at work, but they also saw a man who was far too comfortable in the middle of a nightmare.
“A hundred and twenty-four!” Eustace shouted, his breathing ragged. “We got all of them, Frank!”
Jin didn’t say anything but cracked a smile. His mind was elsewhere. While killing the scarabs, he noticed something was off about the whole journey inside the pyramid. A feeling of dread he couldn’t shake off once he had a taste of the vanguard’s duty.
“Fenrir,” Jin commanded through his thoughts. “I want you and your pack to scout ahead. Mark every route, every monster, and most importantly, find us a way out.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Once he gave his order, he motioned to Old Man Sid, leading him beyond anyone’s earshot.
“Remember when Cho and Hanma said that the path is straightforward and not this damned labyrinth?” Jin whispered.
Old Man Sid nodded, his eyes narrowed. “What about it?”
“Don’t you find it strange? We’ve been Cleaners in more RIFTs than we can count, Sid. And one rule stays the same – the geography doesn't change. Caves will be caves and not a maze. A mazy forest will be mazy and won’t turn into a walkthrough park.”
“And straight hallway won’t turn into a labyrinth.” Old Man Sid added, his voice dropping a trembling whisper. “Unless…”
“Unless…”
Jin didn’t finish his words. Instead, he turned to Bahamut through his telepathic communication.
“Hey, Bee. Mind if I ask you something?”
“Proceed.” Bahamut’s regal voice rumbled in Jin’s mind.
“Is this an evolved RIFT?”
“Evolved RIFT? You mean this dimension? No.”
Jin felt a momentary surge of relief, but it died in the next instance.
“But it is maturing. In three days, this dimension will reach full maturity.”
“Maturity?” Jin’s stomach twisted. “What do you mean by maturity?”
“Do humans not mature, too? The same. It grows. It expands. It becomes stronger.”
“Wait! That’s evolved RIFT, Bee!”
Jin’s blood ran cold. The relaxed mask that he often wore shattered, replaced by a stark, hollow-eyed expression that made Old Man Sid recoil in terror.
“What? What is it?” the veteran Cleaner Sid whispered with a trembling voice, grabbing Jin’s shoulder.
“T-This RIFT. It’s going to evolve.”
“Oh sweet mother of hell…” Old Man Sid’s expression darkened that even the lingering shadows on his face seemed to blend in with the surroundings. “We are going to die, aren’t we?”
“Fuck if I know all the answers. But we’re not going to die,” Jin replied with a hushed tone. He then tapped on his Player Status Screen. “According to Bahamut, this damn place is going to evolve in three days. RIFT’s time.”
<< Your Mission Objective: Solve Anpu’s Gift.>>
<
Old Man Sid brought out his Cryscomm. There were two times displayed on it – the real world and the RIFTs. “Three RIFT days. That gives us about ten hours. Five hours before the damned place goes tits up if we don’t clear it on time.”
“No point in clearing,” Jin added. “When the RIFT evolved, completing the mission objective will be secondary. There won’t be Cataclysm, but this RIFT will not be Rank-F any longer.”
He turned to the group of examinees, including the trio of Eustace, Ka Fei and Emilia.
“These kids will die before they know what hits them.”
“So, what now?” Old Man Sid asked. “We bail?”
Jin nodded. “If we drop everything and run, we might make it. Fenrir is looking for the exit. We wait for his signal, then we move.”
“And Ironshield? Think he’ll believe us?”
“He can try not to,” Jin said, turning toward the team leader. “But I’m sure a man of his experience would rather be safe than sorry.”