Chapter 1: Betrayal. Mouth of the Abyss.
Cloud and Hajime were exhausted after reading countless pages of books. Both showed a mentally fatigued expression on their face after understanding the different minerals and properties.
"All that knowledge to help you out…" Cloud spoke in a tired tone.
"Yeah… It has been eventful." Hajime agreed.
Having been immersed in the books for too long, Cloud and Hajime left the library.
That night, Cloud was in his room, about to call in the night before he heard a knocking sound from the door. He was startled by the sudden knocking.
"It's open." He replied cautiously.
The door opened, revealing Tifa in a white nightgown. She had a downcast expression, which got Cloud worried. He was initially surprised to see her in the current wardrobe, but her mood got him concerned.
"Tifa?" Cloud asked, perturbed.
Tifa soon walked inside his room, much to his concern. She soon held him in a hug, catching Cloud off guard.
"Wha…?" He said, unable to process what was happening.
"Cloud, please don't go to the labyrinth tomorrow." Tifa said in a concerned tone.
"Why? Did something happen?" Cloud asked.
"I had a nightmare. We were in the labyrinth when all of a sudden, you disappeared. I don't want that dream to happen." Tifa explained.
Cloud could see she was shaking in fright. Her fingers trembled, holding on to dear life for him. He couldn't raise his arms due to how Tifa was practically clenching her grip on his shoulders.
"I know you're worried. I'm also worried as well." Cloud spoke.
Tifa soon looked at him with slight surprise. Seeing him up close, it made her conscious of her current appearance.
"What do you mean?" Tifa asked.
"We were all brought here unexpectedly. This vast world we're in is nothing like we've seen back in Japan. Despite the serene look, there are hazards." Cloud spoke, showing a wise tone.
Tifa remained silent, hearing Cloud's explanation.
"There will be dangers in any shape or form. It's how we can handle them that will prove if we're ready." Cloud finished.
Tifa understood what Cloud told her. Soon, she got lost in staring at his eyes. They were mesmerizing in her view. The aquamarine color glowed in the light, making them look exotic.
"Is there something on me?" Cloud asked Tifa, noticing her looking at his face.
This got Tifa embarrassed and shyly looked away. Cloud looked confused as she gave a shy, but calm expression.
Hajime was in his room, contemplating on what he should do in combat due to his role. Being given a Synergist class didn't seem to sit him in personal opinion.
'I wonder about Cloud's role… What was his given title?' Hajime thought.
He soon heard his bedroom door open. Kaori showed up in a white nightgown. This got Hajime to blush in response, looking away.
"Kaori!? Why are you here?" He asked with surprise.
"Hajime-kun…" Kaori spoke with worry evident in her voice.
Hajime noticed the tone of her voice. He felt concerned upon hearing her voice.
"What's the matter?" He questioned.
"Please, don't go to the labyrinth tomorrow, Hajime-kun." She spoke.
"Why? Did something happened?" Hajime inquired.
"I had a dream where you disappeared from me. You never came back and I was left all alone." Kaori answered.
Hajime had to briefly gasp, hearing of a dream where he would disappear.
"I won't disappear, Shirasaki. Cloud has been supporting and I want to help out." Hajime spoke.
"Still, the dream has left me concerned for you, Hajime-kun. In the dream, you didn't say anything before you were taken in the darkness. It's as though something bad will happen to you." Kaori revealed.
"My job is a common title. As a Synergist, I'm a weapon maker and alchemist for the most part so I shouldn't be exposed in danger." Hajime reassured.
The next day, Hajime was outside. He was trying his best to train his abilities. Cloud was nearby, practicing his swordsmanship. His weapon of choice was a large zweihander. He held it with little difficulty, swinging the sword as though it was light.
"Hey Hajime-san." Cloud called out.
"Oh, Cloud-san. What's wrong?" Hajime inquired.
"Nothing at the moment. I was hoping to help you out with your training." Cloud answered.
"How so? I can't even conjure a simple fire spell without feeling exhausted." Hajime commented.
"This is where you have to visualize. Try to think of a simple spark when creating a fire spell. It should help with this…" Cloud hinted.
Hajime watched as Cloud soon held a small wooden stick before lighting it on fire with a fireball spell. Hajime watched the flames burning on the stick, now having a visual interpretation. He focused carefully, feeling his mana respond to his will before conjuring a small fire on his palm.
"Nice one, Hajime-san. You got it." Cloud complimented.
"Plus, I don't feel exhausted. Thanks for the tip, Cloud-san." Hajime spoke with gratitude.
"Anytime. If you need help, just ask and I can try to make your training easy." Cloud replied.
Soon, Hajime and Cloud saw Daisuke and his gang coming up to them. This got Hajime to look peevish, not liking the obviously hostile stare he was getting. Cloud held his sword, ready to fight when necessary.
"Hope you guys have a good reason to show up here…" Cloud said, equipping his sword.
Daisuke knew he was walking on thin ice. It didn't help he noticed how dangerous the blade Cloud was holding. If he ended up causing a quarrel, no doubt the bully would be overwhelmed.
"I don't care about that. I'm making sure that our Synergist is up to date with his training. He will be providing us weapons to use." Daisuke said with arrogance.
"So you think that just because you have a job that is combat worthy, you have an advantage?" Cloud inquired.
Before Daisuke could retort, Cloud jumped into the air, easily reaching over 7 feet. He swung his sword with all of his might, cleaving into the ground. The result was a powerful shockwave that raced near Daisuke and his group. It left deep gnashes in the very ground they stood on, causing them to briefly shiver in fright from Cloud's strength.
"Got anything to say?" Cloud questioned.
This left them no choice, but to flee. Daisuke knew Cloud would overwhelm him with ease.
'Bullies like them give me no sense of comfort after what they've done. I would be inclined to harm them if they attempt anything stupid.' He thought.
Hajime soon stood up, feeling a sense of confidence. Tifa and Kaori arrived to see their respective boys training with their skills. Cloud was giving pointers to his friend to help with spell casting. This led to Hajime casting a fireball with decent size and accuracy.
"Nice casting, Hajime. Though you may have the role as a Synergist, it doesn't mean you shouldn't have options to defend yourself. I wonder what skills that are unique to you that can be useful." Cloud wondered.
"I can use transmutation to alter the ground if it helps." Hajime responded.
"A good idea and strategy. Maybe we can work that to our advantage." Cloud said.
"How so?" Hajime asked.
"Try casting it around me to form a cage." Cloud suggested.
"Okay. Transmute!" Hajime commanded.
From the ground near Cloud, a cage of stones formed, creating a barrier. Cloud held his sword in a defensive posture, awaiting a counterattack.
"Now with this trick, it can protect anyone, even yourself from monsters. The whole idea is to support not just anyone, but also yourself." Cloud lectured.
"I may not have any combat prowess, but I can learn to make something." Hajime realized.
"Now you're getting it." Cloud spoke with a smile.
Kaori and Tifa both held concerned expressions. Both soon looked at each other in surprise before reassuring themselves.
"They're like brothers with the way they interact." Kaori spoke.
"It's often Cloud's nature to care for his friends. I hope they'll be with us when we head into the labyrinth." Tifa spoke.
"I hope so too. I'm not a combat specialist, since I have the support healing job. You're the monk fighter, Tifa." Kaori noted.
"I know. I've been practicing martial arts prior to our arrival here. Let's hope for the best." Tifa said.
After hours of training, Hajime had to rest. Cloud was also tired as well, having a drink of water to restore his stamina. He gave some water to Hajime as well.
"We should be prepared. Still, I'm quite nervous in entering the labyrinth." Hajime said.
"I'm nervous as well. If all else begins to fail, we need to get out of there." Cloud said.
"Say Cloud, I've been meaning to ask, but what job did you get?" Hajime inquired.
"Well, it's a combat job I got that baffled the priests. It's…" Cloud soon whispered.
Hajime was surprised if not shocked, but didn't say anything. Cloud's whispering indicated him not to share it openly. He didn't want anyone knowing of his job title.
"I'm quite jealous about that, Cloud. Still, I'll keep it secret till you feel confident about revealing your title." Hajime spoke.
Cloud, Hajime and their classmates soon went to the entrance of the labyrinth. It was within a mountain range, where the entrance was shown. The stone doors soon opened, which led deep underground. There was a knight captain whom was leading the entire group of newly trained students to see the labyrinth.
"Everyone, this is the Great Orcus Labyrinth. No one across Tortus has been able to reach the end of the labyrinth. It's teeming with powerful monsters." The commander spoke.
Cloud and Hajime noticed the captain in question. He was a well-built middle-aged man with short spiky brown hair and a short beard. He also had a small scar on the left side of his chin. His combat attire consisted of a suit of armor with a red cape and a large sword mounted on his back.
'Commander Meld of the Heiligh Knights… He's noteworthy for being a master swordsman, with master tactics. He has been supervising our training and even gave us pointers on how to fight.' Hajime thought.
The group made their way deep into the labyrinth. It was a cold humid breeze inside the cavern. However, there wasn't a source of water to find.
"Weird…" Cloud noted.
"What's weird?" Hajime asked.
"The cave is quite humid in here, but there isn't a source of water to be found. Usually caverns that are humid like this often have a water source nearby." Cloud explained.
Hajime understood the explanation and realized what Cloud was saying.
'I see. That means there's a river or a spring somewhere deep underground. As to how deep? We need to find out.' He thought.
Several monsters were shown to attack the group. The students that were able to attack held them off while those that were supportive remained in a defense formation, providing combat spells to buff the attacking members of the group. Cloud managed to cleave through a ratman monster with a single slice from his sword. Hajime crafted a stone barrier with his Synergy skills to trap a few more ratmen, allowing the rest of the group to finish them off.
"Nice skills in using your Synergy job, Hajime." Meld spoke with praise.
"Thanks." Hajime responded meekly.
"Without a doubt a useful skill to hold off the advances of monsters." Cloud followed.
Daisuke wasn't fairing any better. He stood in the background, angry of Hajime getting attention not just from Kaori, but also the commander himself.
After some time, the group managed to make their way to the 20th floor. They were walking through a small cave passage, which had several crystals glowing with phosphorescence. They were providing light for the group to see.
"How deep is this labyrinth?" Cloud questioned.
"According to the details I've read from the library, the Great Orcus Labyrinth has over 100 floors. Supposedly, we have to reach the end to find out." Hajime answered.
"You got to be kidding me…" Cloud spoke with surprise.
"I'm afraid not." Hajime responded with disdain.
Soon, Daisuke noticed a crystal hanging on a cavern wall. It was glimmering with a luster equal to that of jewels. He got everyone's attention upon seeing it.
"Hey guys! Look at this!" He called out.
Everyone looked to where Daisuke was looking. Meld immediately noticed the crystal and recognized it.
"My word, that's a Gantz crystal. They're quite valuable and are often used for jewelry." Meld said.
"Alright then. Time to claim it." Daisuke said, climbing his way up the wall.
Meld noticed something was off. The giant Gantz crystal was positioned to be noticed. If that was the case, what purpose would it serve?
'Oh crap…! This might set off a trap!' Meld realized.
"Hey, get away from that crystal! Don't touch it!" Meld tried to warn Daisuke.
Daisuke didn't listen as he was too focused on acquiring it.
'With this, I can have Kaori for myself!' He thought with greed.
He soon touched the crystal. A bright light soon flashed, disorienting the group. They were transported away.
The group soon took a moment to regain their senses from the disorientation. Upon taking a look at their surroundings, they noticed a large stone bridge hanging above a dark abyss. Meld immediately noticed a sign with details and paled upon reading it.
'That crystal took us too deep underground…! We can't handle the monsters here, especially in the 65th floor!' He thought with dread.
"Everyone, we have to backtrack our way out of here! These floors are dangerous than the monsters we've fought earlier!" Meld warned.
Any attempts to flee were halted, due to the arrival of skeletal enemies. The bones were blackened and appeared more solid to rock than organic. They were wearing battle armor that was visibly torn or rotted, but served its purpose as extra protection. The eye sockets
"What the!? Traum soldiers down here and all armored!? This makes things difficult! We have to flee from this place, now!" Meld commanded.
"We have to prevail against our enemies if we have any hope for escape. Like it or not, we have to fight through them!" Kouki spoke.
"Are you a fool!? Even if you are given the title as a Hero, you won't be able to handle these monsters alone! Don't be foolish to throw your life away!" Meld shouted.
A heavy stomp alerted the group. They turned face to face with a dragon-like monster. It was easily over 10 meters in length, with a head like a bull with two sharp horns at its side. Overall, its body was built like a dinosaur's, specifically, a triceratops. Its eyes were glowing otherworldly red.
"Ooooooh shit…" Cloud commented upon seeing the monster.
"A behemoth!? That settles it! We have to flee quickly! We can't take this monster on!" Meld spoke, hinting his fear and concern.
"We're trapped with the Traum Soldiers up ahead! We can't make our way through them!" Kouki spoke.
"Damn, we have no choice but to fight them off… Spellcasters, start firing your magic spells against the Traum soldiers to make our way out. We'll collapse the stone bridge so the behemoth will die from the fall. On my mark…" Meld said.
Soon, one of the female students got knocked away in the panic, near one of the Traum soldiers. Nahum intervened by creating a dome of earth, several meters away. Cloud finished the monster off, cleaving it in two with a single attack.
"Are you alright, Sonobe-san?" He asked.
The girl in question was a beautiful young woman with shoulder-length wavy chestnut-colored hair. She had armor platings on her school uniform.
'Yuka Sonobe, one of the classmates Cloud and I knew. She's known for her cheerful personality and hidden leadership abilities.' Hajime thought, running to her side.
Slamming his palms on the bridge, he shouted a command.
"Transmute!" Hajime commanded.
The bridge formed a large wall that hindered the behemoth. It tried to fight through the wall, but to no avail. However, this made the monster aggravated in response, charging forward to break the newly constructed wall.
"Go! Get back to them!" Hajime shouted to Yuka.
Yuka nodded. Before running back to her classmates, her thoughts soon became sharp.
'Nagumo-kun, Strife-kun… I won't let this life you saved go to waste. I will hope to repay you two for your kindness.' She thought, looking at the two boys.
Cloud dashed to the behemoth, slashing his sword on the monster's face. Droplets of blood, colored yellow, flew in the air. A drop was unlucky enough to land in Cloud's mouth as he panted, causing him to accidentally swallow the blood droplet. Tasting the blood, Cloud felt weirded out.
'What the hell are these monsters? Somehow the blood of that behemoth is causing changes into my body. I can feel them happening…' He thought, sensing a minor ache.
He casted his thoughts aside as he focused with Hajime on leaving the behemoth. However, while running to their group, Cloud collapsed in pain, feeling something tearing his body apart.
'What the hell!? It feels like something is tearing me apart from the inside…! I can't handle this pain…!' Cloud thought with anguish.
He soon began screaming in pain, alerting everyone. They saw Cloud screaming in agonizing pain as though he was being torn apart. Tifa was worried for Cloud, seeing him writhing around to end the pain.
"Oh no… Cloud!" Tifa shouted.
"I'll try to help him. Divine casting, heal!" Kaori said.
A green glow soon enveloped Cloud, healing the pain caused from inside his body. Though it had the desired effect, it didn't stop whatever it was tearing him apart.
"Ugh…" He grunted.
Out of breath, he noticed Hajime was crafting a wall to slow the behemoth down. He noticed the others retreating before preparing to unleash a volley of spells. However, Cloud knew the risk and decided to run to Hajime, despite the pain from his body.
"Hajime…" Cloud grunted, getting close to his friend.
Soon, a volley of fireballs was launched at the behemoth. Cloud and Hajime made their way to their classmates to avoid the behemoth, knowing the spells will cause the bridge to collapse. However, a fireball was directed to them, causing them to be blasted back. Cloud and Hajime were pushed back by the explosion. The stone bridge began to crumble, taking not only the behemoth down to the abyss, but Hajime and Cloud as well. They both screamed in fear as they were thrown into the depths of the labyrinth with no way for them to return.
"HAJIME!" Kaori screamed.
"CLOUD!" Tifa screamed as well.
Both attempted to reach out to the boys, but were held back by their classmates.
"Let us go! They could be still alive down there!" Tifa shouted.
"Hajime could be alive down there! Let us go so we can rescue him!" Kaori followed.
"We can't risk losing you two. Please, just stop." Shizuka spoke.
During the fall, Cloud soon felt the pain return in his body. He soon realized why he was experiencing the pain.
'Damn it… It's that monster's blood… Just a single drop of it landed in my mouth and I swallowed it by reflex. The blood I swallowed is doing something to me…' He thought.
Despite the agonizing pain, he focused on Hajime's safety. Cloud noticed a nearby outcrop of a rock near their fall. He managed to shift his weight to alter their fall, but the rock was outstretched enough to hit his head, knocking him unconscious. Hajime panicked as his friend was now bleeding from his head. He tried to wake him up, but to no avail. He closed his eyes in fear of his impending death.
'No… I don't want to die like this with my friend. Who would want to throw us down here to our deaths?' Hajime wondered in fright.
Too panicked to calm down, he hyperventilated and fainted, holding Cloud's ragdoll body.