(Third POV)
The fight against the undead army was over, and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
The rest of the undead army was back to being empty husks, the mass of rotten flesh from the combined Wraith and two-headed Black Dragon seizing to ignite in the white flames.
Moments later, the Light Spirit that Ruijerd commented of, reminding him of Arumanfi, disappeared into particles flying back to Zenith's bracelet.
Everyone was still confused by the sudden trump card they hadn't known about, especially Roxy, since there was no mention of it in the notebook. Still, she understood why Kagami insisted on letting Zenith hold on to that item. At least, she thought so.
"If this is considered one of the weaker floors, what else could be down here?" Paul asked, already tired of this single floor that felt like an entire Labyrinth itself.
The white fire that he wielded on his sword was gone, and so was the aura that came with it.
"We should properly dispose of the rest of the monsters before they return again from another Wraith lurking around," Ruijerd advised.
No one had any subjection to it and immediately began the disposing process.
Some of the usual canine monsters they had slain earlier that day remained, but the main threats were the two Black Dragons and the Executioners. Usually, Executioners would dissolve into thin air, but these ones did not, indicating that they were not the undead monsters as previously assumed.
As Roxy looked down at one of the bodies, she couldn't help but reminisce about the many adventurers who had been wiped out in their attempts to conquer this Labyrinth and feast on its riches, only for their demise to be their demise, granting it its fitting name: White Fire Coffin.
But as Roxy looked closer at the armored body, she noticed something sticking out of the helmet, giving her a sickening chill.
It wasn't like it had been the first time she'd seen someone's dead body, but it was the suspicion that she knew the deceased adventurer inside.
Using the bottom end of her staff, she carefully lifted the helmet just enough to confirm her anxious suspicion.
A pig head with a flattened snout and tusks coming out of the tattered mouth.
From what she heard from Nokopora, she knew exactly who this was. Blaze, her former companion of her first party.
A sickening surge came from the pits of her stomach as she held back the urge to vomit.
"Roxy? Are you alright?" Elinalise asked, clearly noticing the concerning reaction from Roxy.
But she didn't receive a reply. Instead, the Migurd girl proceeded to chant a Fire Spell and incinerate what was once the former adventuring college of hers.
This didn't go unnoticed by the others, but no one dared to say something, especially Paul.
As he helped dispose of the two dragons, he couldn't help but fear that this might make her blame his son for all of this.
But another thing had been bothering him for a moment as he clutched at his biceps and forarms, checking if anything was amiss.
"Something wrong?"
Ghislaine, having noticed Paul's odd behavior.
"Something didn't feel right."
His reply confused the beast woman, but Paul knew that would happen and explained further.
"I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I couldn't draw out as much power as I could. Like, there could've been more I could tap into the power I'm borrowing from Rudy. My fight against Water God was more... different, and I know if I had the same strength as back then, I would have had less problem dealing against that... thing."
"It's surprising that you could draw it out in the first place," Ghislaine commented, genuinely impressed. "Maybe it's a mental block?"
"How do you mean?"
"When you came to stop the assassins and the fight against Water God, you had the sense of urgency to protect those you care about, knowing they would be in danger if you didn't do something."
"... you know... that actually makes sense." Now Paul was genuinely impressed, as he wasn't expecting her to be so observant about it.
"I just hope it doesn't come as a handicap," he said. "Things in here are already a lot more difficult than I've imagined."
Ghislaine silently agreed, but unbeknownst to her, Paul thought about a different, more logical reason for his sudden decrease in power, looking at the person who shares the same supposed connection, Zenith.
'Maybe... just maybe... am I receiving less because there's one more person?'
He pushed his thoughts aside, sparing them no more time since there were no means to get answers just yet.
***
After the cleanup, the group gathered in a small circle, exhaustion evident in their expressions. Paul took a deep breath, regaining his composure before addressing them.
"Before we go any further, we need to assess our situation. Is everyone still capable of continuing?" he asked, his eyes scanning each of his companions for any sign of hesitation or injury.
There was a brief silence before Roxy finally spoke up. "I need some time to recover my mana," she admitted, rubbing her temples. "I've been using large-area spells, and it's taken a toll. I won't be much help in battle if I'm drained."
Paul nodded, internally relieved. He had hoped she would suggest a break, not just because of her mana depletion but also due to the emotional weight of what had just happened. Losing a former colleague in such a manner was something no adventurer should have to face.
Zenith spoke next, folding her arms. "If things further down are as difficult as this floor was, we might as well rest now. It won't do us any good to push forward recklessly."
A round of nods confirmed the decision. No one protested; they all knew the importance of recuperation. Without further discussion, they moved a bit further away from the gate leading to the next floor and began setting up a temporary camp.
The atmosphere was thick with both fatigue and tension. Despite their victory, they all knew the dangers lurking deeper in the labyrinth would be worse. Paul remained silent as he assisted in assembling makeshift bedding and lighting a small controlled fire for warmth.
Just as the group had begun settling down, Paul's body tensed. A sensation, a whisper of something unnatural, brushed against his innate detection. His instincts flared, and in an instant, his hand gripped his sword's hilt.
The sudden movement did not go unnoticed. Roxy, Elinalise, Ghislaine, and the others immediately reacted, their hands hovering over their weapons, muscles coiled like springs ready to snap, except for one person.
"You can come out."
Ruijerd, with his third eye beneath his forehead protector, already knew who it was.
A series of calm and unwavering footsteps echoed from the passageway they had come from. Unlike someone attempting to move quietly, this person walked steadily, confidently.
The moment she emerged into view, her fiery red hair catching the dim light from the moss, there was no doubt.
Eris Boreas Greyrat.
Her sharp, determined gaze scanned the group, her expression unreadable. She stopped a few paces away, hands clenched as if she had been expecting to find them soon.
Ghislaine took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here, Eris?" she demanded, her tone a mixture of shock and stern authority.
"I came to the Labyrinth to save Rudeus, too," Eris stated bluntly, her unwavering gaze meeting Ghislaine's.
Ghislaine's frown deepened. "When and how did you even know how to get here in the first place?"
Eris smirked slightly, crossing her arms. "Ruijerd taught me how to navigate through the region, and I followed whatever signs of battle I found in these tunnels to find you all."
At that, all eyes turned to Ruijerd. The seasoned warrior remained still, but there was an unmistakable look in his eyes that all but said, "That's not what I taught her that for."
Eris, unfazed, continued. "After you guys left, I waited long enough for Ruijerd's third eye not to pick up on me. What annoys me was that you all defeated the monsters without me."
A heavy silence settled over the chamber. Some of the group once again shifted their gaze to Ruijerd, their expressions subtly shifting with realization. Her words had just confirmed something that only a few were truly aware of—Ruijerd had a third eye.
Ruijerd, noticing the sudden attention, sighed in resignation, knowing that the time had come to reveal his secret.
With slow, deliberate movements, he reached up and untied his forehead protector, letting it slip from his brow. The dim light glistened off the red gem embedded in the center of his forehead, an unmistakable mark of his kind. The sight alone sent a shockwave through the group, freezing them in place.
Roxy gasped audibly, her body stiffening as her hands trembled around her staff. She instinctively raised it, the incantation not escaping her lips as she whispered, "S-Superd?" repeatedly, her voice quivering with fear and her legs almost giving out.
The tension in the chamber thickened like a suffocating fog. The weight of centuries of horror and stigma clung to Ruijerd's very presence, and now that he had revealed himself, the truth could no longer be ignored.
Ruijerd's expression remained calm, yet his voice carried the weight of centuries of pain.
"You've all heard the stories, haven't you? The legends of my people, the Superds. How we went on a rampage, slaying friend and foe alike in that war four hundred years ago. But the stories you've heard… are only half the truth."
He looked at each of them, meeting their gazes with unwavering resolve.
"The reason my people lost themselves to madness… was because of Laplace. He offered us what we thought was a gift—spears imbued with his Magic knowledge. But those spears were cursed, poisoning our minds, twisting us into mindless berserkers. We weren't fighting out of hatred. We were trapped. Enslaved by the weapons we carried."
The revelation sent another wave of silence through the group. The weight of history, of the pain Ruijerd bore, now rested before them, undeniable and raw.
Paul was the first to break the silence. "Then... all this time, the Superd weren't the monsters people made them out to be?" His grip on his sword loosened slightly as he processed the new information.
Ruijerd nodded. "That's right. And for centuries, my people have lived under the weight of a crime we had no control over. I have spent my life trying to restore the honor of my kin, to show the world the truth. But... people are not as understanding as they seem."
Roxy swallowed hard, the fear in her eyes gradually giving way to realization. "Then... you've been fighting against the very reputation forced upon you all along?"
"Yes," Ruijerd affirmed. "And now, here in this Labyrinth, I stand by your side not as an enemy, but as an ally. I ask only for your trust."
A long silence followed before Eris, true to her nature, huffed and crossed her arms. "I already trust Ruijerd," she stated plainly. "I don't care what some stupid old stories say. He's fought beside me, protected me, and trained me. That's all I need to know."
Her straightforward yet powerful words sent a ripple through the group. One by one, the tension seemed to ease, the fear slowly melting away.
Paul exhaled heavily, nodding. "Alright then. We trust you, Ruijerd. We can look past you hiding your identity for obvious reasons."
Ruijerd's eyes softened, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Thank you. That's all I ask."
"Now, moving on," Paul continued, shifting the attention to the other problem in the room. "What are we going to do with her?" He said, looking between Ghislaine and Eris.
Ghislaine, at a loss on what the appropriate approach might be, could only the only solution she could think of.
"We can't bring her to the hut. It will take a couple of hours just to get out of here and another to return to this place. So I suggest she stays with us."
Paul rubbed his forehead, exhaling slowly. "Bringing Eris along isn't exactly an ideal option, but we don't have many choices."
Ghislaine crossed her arms. "She's strong. She's proven herself capable. That's not the issue. The real concern is whether or not she can work with the team. We're in a life-or-death situation in this place. If we're not coordinated, we'll all die."
Eris scoffed, flipping her fiery red hair back. "I know how to fight in a group. I trained with Ruijerd, and I've fought in actual battles. I can handle myself."
Paul's gaze hardened. "Handling yourself and working with a team are two different things. We don't have time for reckless decisions. If you get ahead of yourself and charge in without considering the others, you'll put yourself and everyone else at risk."
"He's right, you know," Ghislaine said. "This place isn't like anything we've encountered before. I would even go as far as to say that this might be the most dangerous Labyrinth I have ever been to."
"But you and Ruijerd are strong. It can't be that hard," the young lady retaliated.
"Yes, the two of us are. But without Paul here, we would have had to retreat just from the influence of a single monster from the first floor."
"Then why is that small kid here?!" Eris said, pointing her finger at the unsuspecting Roxy, who had her I'm-not-a-kid-face on due to Eris's choice of words.
"That's the person who taught Rudeus, and she has her role in this as well."
Immediately after hearing Ghislaine's words, Eris's eyes sprang open in regret, the words not coming out of her mouth.
"Eris, listen," Ghislaine said as she placed a hand on Eris's shoulder. "This place is something that Rudeus has been crafting. You know just as well as I know how smart he is. The challenges here are sure to get worse the deeper we go down, and no one can tell what other surprises he conjured down here."
Eris tensed at the comment but held her tongue. Ruijerd placed a hand on her shoulder, his calm presence grounding her. "Eris is young and impulsive, but she learns quickly. If she fights with us, she will follow orders."
Roxy sighed, exhaustion evident in her features. "As much as I want to argue, we need every capable fighter we can get. If Eris is willing to cooperate, we should let her stay."
Zenith, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "Then it's decided. We'll keep her with us, but she follows our lead."
"That's right," Paul agreed. "You will be on guard duty with Elinalise, protecting our Healer and Magician. Until you are ordered to, you will not leave your spot. No rushing ahead. No reckless behavior. Can you do that?"
Eris gritted her teeth but nodded. "Fine."
At that response, Ghislaine and Ruijerd couldn't help but internally grimace at how Paul is gravely underestimating the young lady's personality, both hoping it won't turn into a disaster along the way.
***
With that settled, the group resumed their preparations for resting. They reinforced their camp, ensuring it was safe from potential threats. Paul and Ruijerd took first watch while the others settled in.
The dim glow of the fire cast long shadows across the cavern, flickering against the stone walls. Paul leaned against a rock, watching the darkness beyond their camp with a contemplative gaze.
"You weren't surprised to see Eris here, were you?" he asked Ruijerd.
The warrior shook his head slightly. "I knew she would come. Her resolve is strong. She won't let anything stand in her way."
Paul sighed, rubbing his temples. "That girl is just stubborn. I can guess where she got that from," He said with a little chuckle as he remembered who her grandfather was.
"But… I can't say I'm not relieved to have another skilled fighter with us. Things are only going to get harder from here."
Ruijerd remained silent, his eyes scanning the cavern, ever-vigilant. Paul took a deep breath, letting his thoughts out for a moment.
"So, about the Laplace betrayal," Paul said in a low voice. "According to what Kagami told Ghislaine and Roxy, you faced Laplace yourself?"
"It was amid the final battle between the heroes and Laplace. I stayed low until I found an opening to strike but got defeated anyway. Yet, it allowed Dragon God Urupen the chance to seal Laplace."
As Ruijerd reminisced of his past, the grip on his spear started to tense.
Paul couldn't help but notice the anger he was emitting, another question escaping his lips.
"Why are you helping us?"
"It was my fault for failing to stop Kagami from getting your son into this nest. Had I arrived earlier, then all of this could have been prevented, and that child's life wouldn't be in danger."
Paul was quiet for a long moment, his gaze lingering on the embers of the fire as Ruijerd's words sank in. The heavy silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—just weighted with understanding.
"…You really carry a lot, don't you?" Paul finally said, his voice softer than before. "Even after everything you've done, everything you've tried to fix… you still blame yourself."
Ruijerd didn't respond, but his tightened grip and the way his shoulders stiffened spoke volumes.
Paul turned toward him slightly, resting an arm on his knee. "You're not the only one who's made mistakes. We've all failed someone. We've all let people down. That's what makes us human—or whatever we are. But what matters is that you're here now. You're fighting to make it right."
Ruijerd's eyes shifted toward Paul, surprise flickering in his usually unreadable expression. Then, almost imperceptibly, he gave a small nod.
The fire crackled quietly between them, the warmth chasing away just a little of the cold in the Labyrinth.
In that moment, no more words were needed.
///