FLASHBACK

Hajime was falling, the stones of the bridge cracked and cratered as the Behemoth barreled forward. He had stopped its advance, but now he was doomed. He could only look back as darkness devoured the light around him.

His classmates could only look on in fear and panic as he fell into unknown depths. Meld was busy holding back Kaori, Kouki and Shizuku were trying their best to aid him. All the rest just watched, feet planted in the ground as they grimaced.

All except one.

They had hidden themselves behind the others, but he caught a glance of someone smirking. A breif moment of confusion hit him before it turned to anger.

He had been betrayed, cast into this abyss by the actions of one of his own classmates. He heard a cry as the lights faded away. Kaori had gotten out of Meld's grasp and jumped after him.

His last moments of consciousness were that of Kaori diving towards him and pulling him into an embrace before they both disappeared into the darkness below.

Pain and fear pushed them to desperation as they ran from the bunny. It was large, moving faster than they could see with blades of wind flying with each hop. It was then that Kaori tripped and brought Hajime down with her.

A blade of wind flew over them, taking only bits of hair that had flown to high during the fall. The blade broke against a red and grey surface which let out a low growl. Hajime looked up and froze, Kaori following suite. In front of them stood a large Red and Grey bear with an exposed jaw and extending claws. It took only one swipe of its claws for the bunny to be destroyed with it's own blade of wind.

The two injured teens scrambled up as the bear turned its attention too them. They bolted as fast as their legs could carry them, the bear letting out a roar before breaking into pursuit. They clambered over rocks and pools of water as the bear swung its claws with almost human like precision.

Hajime just managed to dodge the first swipe. Kaori was not so lucky; the strike dug into her right leg and liberated it from the rest of her body. She let out a wail of agony as Hajime rushed to stop her fall. She cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he carried her away.

The bear caught up, slashing its claw once more. Hajime felt his left side grow lighter as Kaori shifted in his grasp. Her eyes wide in fear and shock as Hajime pushed himself to continue running. Not daring to look back as he heard the tearing of flesh and crunching of bone.

He fell once again, blood now flowing from their wounds in excess. He let his remaining hand grasp the floor. "Transmute." he said weakly as his magic glowed. Rock and stone parted, carrying the two teens into a deep hole which Haiime quickly covered up.

The two laid in it. Blood seeping from their wounds as they struggled to keep their eyes open. "Kaori." Hajime weakly said. "Nagamo." Kaori responded, sounding half dead. Tear flowed down their cheeks as they lay dieing. The two of them closed their eyes as water from the ceiling of the cave began to drip onto them.

And the pain lessened.

Hajime opened his eyes once more. He felt gaunt and tired, his body screaming from food.

He wasn't dead.

He pushed himself up, ignoring the pain which flared throughout his body. He looked to his side to Kaori. She was asleep, his chest rising and falling to show she was still alive. He looked around, the cave they had taken shelter in was illuminated by a series of small magic crystals which lined the walls. He could see the large stains of dried blood left by their now... closed... injuries.

Hajime looked at the stumped that was his left arm. Everything pasted the elbow was still gone. Yet the rest of the wound was completely closed, he couldn't even feel pain from poking it. He turned back to Kaori, a quick glance showing her leg was much the same.

The hunger pains struck again as Hajime slumped back down. From here he could see water flowing down from the ceiling of the cave. A large crystal of pure mana was slowly dripping along the whole ceiling out from the centre of it. His mouth agape with thirst as a drop fell. The moment it touched his tongue he felt his pain lessen, and aches go away.

Yet this was only for a moment as they returned in a moment as though nothing had happened. His eyes began to darken as conciousness faded. Hajime passed out once again, his hunger bringing nothing but pain to his self.

When he next awake it was on something soft. His eyes blinked several times before they fully opened to the sight of Kaori. She was slightly gaunt and her eyes had dark rings underneath them. "Nagamo. We're..." She trailed off, looking down at him with sadness in her eyes. "We're alive." Hajime replied, looking back at his surroundings.

He too was gaunt and thinned, the hunger pains growing worse with every second as his body caught up with his mind. "We... need food." Hajime summarized, weakly flexing his fingers with the limited strength they could provide. "But... where?" Kaori asked. "Where else." Hajime replied, shooting a look to the sealed off wall they had come from.

"I can't." Kaori weakly said as she gestured to her missing leg. Hajime got close to her, their noses almost touching. "I'll do it." he said. "No, please... I don't want to lose you." Kaori protested as she crawled to him. Hajime looked her in the eyes; "Someone has too. I'd rather die hunting for food than just sitting around all day and dieing of hunger." Hajime said before he grabbed some of the stones on the ground.

"I just need a weapon." he said while using Transmutation magic to twist the durable material of the stone into a shape. It took some time before it eventually resembled a mixture of a spear and a drill. "This will do it." Hajime said. "Just... Come back alive, promise me." Kaori said as she held him close. Hajime returned the embrace; "I will." he said before transmuting the wall to allow him access to the rest of the Labyrinth.

Kaori watched as he walked away. Tears slowly falling down her cheek. "I'm too weak." she muttered as she looked down at her leg once again.

Hajime returned many hours later, two dead wolves being dragged behind him. Kaori had taken the time to organize their small cave for what they had. There was a small corner which held their bags, a rock that had been set up to eat their food, and several cups and bowls which were littered across the floor to collect the water from the Stone in the centre of the room.

He was quick to stick a knife into the gaps created by the drill and cut off the wolf hides from there. His attempts were clumsy and slow as the tough meat and skin fought with his weakened form for every cut. Eventually they had some actual food, steak sized pieces of wolf cutlet laid out on another rock and slowly cooking over a magic fueled fire.

Hajime just watched as the mana rich blood trickled off the floors and pooled in another small corner of the room. Kaori was keeping her eyes on the meat, unwilling to let it burn up and go to waist.

The moment it was done cooking Hajime took a large bite from his steak while Kaori took a slightly smaller bite. They got only a few moments before an unimaginable pain shot through their bodies. Kaori fell to her back and began to thrash wildly on the ground. Hajime grabbed his throat and choked as his body began to tear itself apart. He quickly grabbed one of the bowls of water that collected the healing water and downed it without hesitation. Kaori doing the same with one of the cups.

Their screams of agony echoed far past the cave. Soon turning into a deep growl, before it became a sound akin to a newborn child wailing at the top of its lungs.

Hajime ran through the Labyrinth, a small collection of Rabbits following after him. His new physique and power increase allowing him to outpace the rabbits at a reliable rate. Not far from him Kaori lay in wait, ready to strike. "Come on, don't you want a piece of me." He taunted them.

The rabbits let out a screech of anger before picking up their pace. Hajime ducked and slid as they fired off blades of wind. A large puddle flew up and surrounded the monsters as Kaori readied her magic. Hajime did the same as a vast array of lightning fired the rabbits alive.

"It worked." Hajime cheered as Kaori straightened up. She used the remains of her stave to pick herself up as Hajime offered his hand. She leaned onto him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he began to rope the rabbits legs together.

They had become monsters. The flesh they had consumed tore them apart, the water they drank fused them back together. They stood taller than they had before, muscles made themselves known which weren't present before, their hair had become bone white while their eyes were now pure red.

Hajime pulled Kaori up into a piggyback ride before he started dragging the rabbits behind him. This was their best hunt yet, and with the new weapons Hajime was working on it would just get easier.

The Claw bear swung once again. Hajime dashed out of the way as Kaori fired her new rifle at the monster. The shot tore its arm clean off as Hajime unloaded Donner into its other arm. The bear roared in pain as it backed up, only to be met by more gunfire tearing into its form.

Its shredded remains fell dead as the two of them cheered. Revenge has been had, and a feast was to be had.

They ventured downwards. Kaori being given a basic artificial leg to aid her in this regard. They tore through any monster in their path. Any strange beast or other such creature which so much as looked at them wrong was shot dead and later devoured.

By now they stood a fair distance away from a massive doorway. Two large statues stood on either side of it. "Should we go in?" Hajime asked Kaori. "I don't think we should, no point in it." She replied. The two began to walk away, only for the statues to start breaking.

"Never mind then." Hajime muttered as he retrieved Donner from his side while Kaoir leveled her Rifle. Two shots rang out as the twin cyclops were depraved of their eyes in a mere moment before they fell dead.

"Practically nothing." Hajime shook his head as Kaori just slung her rifle back over her shoulder. "Less than nothing." Kaori added in. The door parted ways, leading to nothing more than a large expansive room with a massive cube in the centre. A lone girl was sealed within, she was small and blonde, seemingly starved yet not withered.

"Please, help me." she begged in a low voice. Hajime looked to Kaori, Kaori looked back and the two of them shook their heads. "Can't just step into a trap." Hajime muttered just loud enough for the girl to hear as they turned away. "PLEASE I was betrayed and sealed away in here." The girl begged louder. They both stopped and turned back to here.

Hajime breathed in before he looked back at Kaori. "Let's just be careful." Kaori said as she looked around the room. Hajime made it to the cube in no time and put his hand on it. Mana began to surge as the cube resisted. "Kaori." Hajime shouted as she came to his aid. She put her hands to his back and began to supply him with more mana.

The cube broke, and the girl fell to the floor. Hajime wrapped her up in the wolf pelt he had been wearing as a cape while Kaori checked her for injuries. "We need to move." The girl muttered as stones began to fall from the ceiling.

A massive Scorpion fell to the ground, letting out a ferocious roar as it did so. Hajime raised Donner as Kaori leveled her Rifle. The girl wrapped herself around Hajime's left shoulder and raised her hand to the monster. Bullets flew first as mana grew and clashed against the charging beast

Hajime shrugged as their new trio made their way deeper into the Labyrinth. Their new companion, who had named Yuu, was at odds with Kaori for much of the journey. Not that it affected him much.

"For the last time no." he heard Kaori exclaim. "Are you sure, maybe he would be better with a more mature girl." Yuu retorted. "Don't even try it you old cougar." Kaori growled. "Just a few more hours, then we're out of here." Hajime muttered as he checked the walls.

He looked back, seeing Kaori and Yuu glaring at one another. The auras of beasts radiating off the two. "Knock it off," he said with a deadpan. The two girls huffed, but didn't continue.

"One last door, then we're free." Hajime said as the group found themselves face to face with a massive door. Hajime let the door open as he readied Donner. Kaori leveled her rifle once more and took careful aim. Yuu raised her hand as mana surged forth, a spell ready to be used at a moments notice.

A most horrid Multi-headed beast made itself known. striking with elemental magic and colossal size. Bullets were let lose and magic was fired between the two groups.

The walls and floor broke as the trio dashed and weaved between the destruction around them. Every injury brought upon the beast was healed, every path blocked and every attack countered with one of it's own.

Hajime tossed a grenade to the ceiling while gesturing to the others to fall back. As the explosion let rocks and debris bury the hydra in their path, Kaori and Yuu did so. "How much ammo do you have left?" Hajime asked. "Down to two extra magazines and three shots in the clip." Kaori responded. "And you Yuu?" he asked. "I'm running low on mana, that beast just keeps healing itself." Yuu responded.

"Well I have a plan. Yuu and I will distract it while Kaori aims for the white head. After its killed off we'll have to get the other heads just as quickly so that it won't regenerate." Hajime surmised the plan. Kaori nodded as Yuu bit into Hajime's neck to regain her strength.

By the time the Hydra was pulling itself out of the rubble they were ready.

Hajime rushed forward, firing Donner straight into the heads of the Hydra. Several bits of flesh and scales fell as he continued. Yuu followed this by unleashing a whirlwind of mixed elements in the Hydra's general direction.

As the Hydra's attention became split, an opening was found. Kaori's shot rang true as a heavy piercing round cut into the white head of the Hydra. Another bullet followed suite, piercing the Blue head this time. The green head swung around, unleashing a horrid blast of magic, and struck Hajime into the wall. Kaori gasped and Yuu doubled her effort to destroy the monster.

The remaining heads acted quickly, biting into the necks of the others. Another bullet cut into the green head, killing it before it could continue. Hajime stood back up, taking a moment to clutch his head in pain. His vision was blurry, blood running down his face.

He stepped out and raised Donner once more. Several shots fired in rapid succession as the Hydra was left with only a single head left alive. Kaori did the honors, putting a round clean between the beast's eyes.

Kaori approached as Hajime began to wobble. Yuu joined her as the two girls helped carry Hajime onwards. The door behind the Hydra opened, revealing a place of greenery and serenity. The door closing behind them as they entered.

Hajime relaxed in the warm water of the bath. Kaori and Yuu not far from him. They had spent the past several weeks taking it easy. The injuries and tribulations of the Labyrinth being a vacant memory for the time being.

He had spent time working on new weapons, new armor, and other new equipment. He had lost his right eye during the fight with the Hydra, but he had replaced with something better. His left arm and Kaori's right leg being in a much similar boat.

Yuu and Kaori had... sonewhat calmed down. He could still hear their arguments from time to time, but they had become far less common than they had been before.

He let out a sigh before standing up. He could feel Kaori and Yuu just staring at him as he did. "So, when are we planning on leaving this place?" he asked nonchalantly. Kaori seemed to think it over for a moment before she opened her mouth; "Oh, A few months maybe." she responded in an unsure voice. "Will we have a way to return to here? This place is rather nice and its a shame to let it gather dust after we leave." Yuu raised her own concern.

"A few months is more than enough time for that." Hajime replied as he sunk back down and rested his eye. He didn't see Yuu and Kaori get closer to him. "Well, there is one thing we'd like to do before we leave." Kaori started. Hajime raised a brow and opened his one good eye.

It was too late as Kaori and Yuu had already moved to either side of him. A large blush spread over his face as they got closer to him. "We... should do this in the bed." Hajime almost stuttered out as the girls began to lick at his neck.

Today was the day they had to, reluctantly, leave their little paradise. Weapons were stored, vehicles prepared, information was gathered, all for this. Hajime stood dressed in a fine suit and long coat with his eye patch and artificial arm on full display. Kaori had changed her old priest attire for a mid-length dark blue coat over top a dress shirt and a dark blue skirt about knee long, leggings and boot stood parallel too her newly upgraded artificial leg. Yuu was now wearing a dress shirt and short skirt of her own.

"Is it ready?" Yuu asked. "Yes, the location has been marked and pathways set. It won't be much of an issue for us to return should the need arise." Hajime answered as his new 'Demon Eye' glowed from beneath his eyepatch. "And now we can work on other things." Kaori suggested.

"Like finding a way to kill a god." Hajime replied. "Only if need be." Kaori shot it down. "Or just because." Yuu added in. "Anyway, we're off." Hajime smiled as Kaori took his aritificial hand and Yuu snuggled into his side. He raised his right hand and let the ring glow.

They were transported away, leaving nothing but the house and garden which had stood there long before they had arrived.

When they left, they found themselves falling to the ground. Sounds of panic overhead as they glanced to the sky.

And watched as it cracked and shattered like glass.