Shina and Yuri ran as though the maze itself was hunting them.
Stone corridors twisted like living veins, each turn stealing breath, each dead end closing like a tomb. Behind them echoed the sound of pursuit—wet footsteps, fractured laughter, the scrape of claws against cold stone.
The monsters were wrong.
They wore the silhouettes of humans, but not their mercy. Flesh bent unnaturally, sins carved into bone—greed bloated their frames, rage sharpened their limbs, despair hollowed their eyes. They moved with terrifying speed, as if the maze urged them forward.
The distance vanished.
Every heartbeat pulled the abominations closer. Every breath tasted of rust and fear.
"Don't stop," Shina whispered, though her legs trembled and her vision blurred.
The path betrayed them.
Stone rose ahead—smooth, unbroken.
A dead end.
They turned.
The maze had already closed its jaws.
From every corridor, the monsters emerged, slower now, savoring the moment. Crooked smiles split ruined faces. Corrupted souls writhed beneath their skin, screaming in silence.
Yuri stepped forward without thinking, placing herself between Shina and the encroaching darkness. Her hands shook. Just as Yuri and Shina braced themselves to fight, the maze moved first.
The ground beneath their feet gave way.
Stone shattered into nothingness, and the world dropped out from under them.
They fell.
The air tore past their throats as their screams were swallowed by the abyss below. Walls blurred into shadows. The light above shrank rapidly, distant and uncaring, as gravity claimed them completely.
There was no time to think.
No time to pray.
Their bodies struck the ground with a sickening force.
Bones cracked. Breath exploded from their lungs. Pain surged once—sharp, absolute—before darkness rushed in to claim them.
Yuri lay twisted against the stone, unmoving.
Shina collapsed beside her, blood slowly spreading beneath her.
The maze grew quiet again.
Not the silence of peace
but the silence after something has been taken.
Their chests rose faintly.
Alive... but broken.
Unconscious, defenseless, and deep within the maze's lower depths, where light did not reach and rules were far more cruel.
Somewhere far above, the abominations waited.
And somewhere else
The maze smiled.
As they slowly awakened. To their astonishment, they discovered that their bodies bore no scratches or bruises from the fall. Heart racing with a mix of disbelief and hope, they quickly checked their hands, desperately searching for any sign that their life points had diminished. Relief flooded over them when they realized their points remained intact. Still, confusion lingered in their minds—how had they escaped unscathed from such a perilous situation? Their eyes met, questions swirling between them, igniting a shared sense of wonder about the mysterious forces at play.
The maze voice announced: In this round, players will receive infinite healing. Face the waves of monsters to escape. If your head is not in line with your body, you will die. The waves will get stronger and stronger, and there are a total of five waves. After the fifth wave, you will fight the ruler of these waves and piece of your freedom is in the rulers hands.
Yuri spoke, "what does that mean 'piece of our freedom'."
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them as the maze announced the start of the first wave. Shina and Yuri stood frozen, eyes wide, as they spotted at least a hundred monstrous figures charging toward them.The maze declared: "Level: Low Level Grade 3." Each creature towered over them, ranging from 100 to 120 centimetres in height.As the monsters closed in, chaos erupted. The beasts tore through flesh with a terrifying ferocity, and though Shina and Yuri's bodies began to heal infinitely, the pain was unbearable. They fought valiantly, dodging attacks aimed at their heads, using sheer willpower to push through.After what felt like hours of relentless battle, they finally overcame the first wave, but their victory came at a harrowing cost. Emotion drained from their eyes, they curled up on the ground, tears streaming down their faces as they screamed in agony. The onslaught had left them not only wounded but also haunted by trauma, suffering from phantom pain that lingered long after the monsters had fallen silent.
The maze declared the next wave will start in two hours
Daniel and Alex stood at the edge of the next challenge, peering into the labyrinth that lay before them. The maze presented them with three intriguing options, each promising a different path forward. The first choice was tempting: sacrifice 5 life points for a direct path to the boss. Quick and straightforward, but at what cost? The second option promised a boost to their strength and speed, but with a catch—the journey would be longer and more treacherous. Finally, they could choose to continue as they had before, navigating the maze at a steady pace without any enhancements or sacrifices . As they weighed their choices, the tension in the air was palpable. Which path would they choose to conquer the challenge ahead?
Daniel leaned forward, his voice intense. "The third option is the safest choice," he asserted, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "I disagree," Alex shot back, crossing her arms defiantly. "I really think the first option is better. It's more direct. "Daniel's frustration bubbled over. "What?! Are you serious? You'd be willing to sacrifice five lives just to get to the end faster? "Alex responded, unwavering. "But look at it this way: we have plenty of lives to spare. We can share them and charge straight for the boss!"Daniel shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "But we have no idea what the boss is capable of! We can't afford to waste lives like that." "And how do we even know the safest path forward?" Alex countered, determination in her eyes. "For all we know, we could lose just as many lives going the long way!"The air was thick with tension as the two friends found themselves locked in a heated argument, each convinced they were right.
After their intense argument, both decided to take the alternative route. At least this way, they could boost their powers and come out stronger together.
As they stepped inside, a chilling scene unfolded before them. At the center of the dimly lit room stood a table where two figures sat, their faces eerily pale, reminiscent of porcelain dolls. One of them leaned forward and spoke, their voice smooth yet unsettling: "Welcome to the game. This is not just any game; it's a double-player challenge. Here, you will encounter eight unique types of cards: God, Death, Darkness, Light, Magic, Human, Balance, and War." "This isn't a battle," the figure continued, "but a winding path that you must navigate together. Though you will move separately, your fates are intertwined. Assist one another, for the path may twist and turn unexpectedly. But beware, for freedom comes at a price—blood pays the toll, and it is a price you can pay only once." "You will have to walk blindly at times, exposing your very souls. Save one, and the other will suffer. Your goal is to reach the centre of this labyrinth, or risk wandering aimlessly until you break. Choose wisely, and tread carefully, for your journey has just begun."