106: Chaos Labyrinthos
-Labyrinthos. The Labyrinth, in other words. Jason had mentioned 'Alter Ego' had the Minotaur at his disposal, so I guess this is his Noble Phantasm.
But on that note, how the hell did he find us so fast? Last time was one thing - we were just milling around near Jason's boat, so if the enemy was looking for him it wouldn't be a big shock for them to find us. But what about this time? We were pretty far from the boat, and we had taken care to avoid any main trails. Hell, Cu had mentioned something about giving us an anti-tracking spell.
And yet, despite the driving rain, with all those things working against him, Alter Ego's goons found us in the same amount of time as before, if not faster.
"...He looks like me, huh?" I mutter. That's right - to his enemies, Natsuki Subaru has always seemed to know everything. If it's not just a coincidence, if there's anything to those nightmares, then… it wouldn't be strange for Alter Ego to possess a [Clairvoyance] skill.
The worst case, though… is that in addition to that [Return From Death] thing, he has [Return by Death] as a Noble Phantasm. But I don't want to believe that's the case, since in addition to its obvious status as a probably unbeatable obstacle… the idea of using Return by Death offensively like this is one of the most disgusting things I can imagine.
There were no trails to follow. There wasn't even a lead to tell him which way we were going or where we had landed. In order to find us… I've got no idea how many times he would have had to kill himself.
So it's Clairvoyance. It has to be. Considering how I've seen Servants be twisted by their legends, he might not even know about [Return by Death] - 'since nobody but me knows about it it didn't get recorded' - is a real possibility. That would explain why he's trying to kill me, too - if he knew about Return by Death, he'd know there's no point, right?
…I really hope that's the case.
But with that thought through, let's return to the Labyrinth. Gazing around, I take in my surroundings for a moment. White marble hallways, illuminated by torchlight, stretch outwards from each of this room's walls. The others who were with me are nowhere to be seen.
"I didn't think it would be this well lit…" I mutter. Anyway, as far as getting split up again goes, I've got an obvious answer. "By my Command-"
No. No, that would be way too stupid. I've already learned my lesson last singularity about spending Command Spells willy-nilly. If I had been forced to teleport someone in when we fought the Phantom of the Opera in Paris, I would have died to Prelati in the final fight. I already know what's in this singularity; if I spend command spells on anything other than Heracles or Alter Ego, I'm sure I'll end up regretting it.
So with that in mind- "[Cor Leonis]." There we go. Three 'stars' spring to life in my awareness. Jason, of course, makes no appearance - it's not like I was thinking of him as an ally, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual. As for the others- "They're all the same direction, huh? Alright, [Detect Gold]." The stupidly named mapping spell on my Pirate cosplay Mystic Code springs to life, and the next instant a holographic display of a map is floating above my wrist. "Okay! With the power of cheat codes, even a moron like me can solve a maze!"
With that slightly immoral excitement raising my spirits, I start off in the direction that I can tell Mash is in.
{Alright everyone, I've got this stupid mapping spell, so just stay put and I'll be right there.} I say telepathically.
{...Isn't that dangerous, Senpai?} Mash asks.
{Nah, in the worst case I'll just-}
There's a sound of grinding stone from my left, and I start to look that way. Oi, that wall-
"...Where are you?"
-wasn't this close, right!?
"...Eh?"
I'm standing in the first room again, suddenly. The projected map is gone from my wrist… no, rather, I never cast it. Because I just died.
"Did I just get the Shaula treatment from a freaking wall…?" I mumble. Not to mention…
Oi! Satella! What the hell's going on here!? Don't just dump me right back in the Labyrinth! The Professor just got done saying how every loop was chosen for my benefit a little bit ago, don't tell me you've gotten tsundere now!?
"...[Cor Leonis]. [Detect Gold]." Even so, I've got to be the one to do this. If there are traps like that in this labyrinth, the others stand a chance of dying for real. {Okay, everyone stay put. There's a lot of traps around, so leave it to me. I'll use a Command Spell if things get bad.}
{...Senpai, I'd prefer if you just used one now. But I'll respect your judgment.} Mash says.
{Thanks.} I reply, as I begin walking. Okay, straight is certain death, so let's go left.
My footsteps echo on the marble floor as I follow a winding passage to another branching room. A right turn, and-
The floor drops out from underneath me. Oh come on-!
I scream as my legs break on impact.
Okay. Okay, I'm still alive, so I just need to-!
"Ahh! Argh!" I scream as I drag myself against a wall. I need to set these, and…
Ah, Da Vinci didn't give me a healing spell this time.
It's fine. Healing a clean break isn't that hard. The Director taught me the basics. And then… can I climb out-?
"Found you!" An unfamiliar voice calls from the top of the pit, and looking up, I see a white-furred face grinning down at me in sadistic glee.
"[Shamak]!" I flood the pit with black smoke on reflex. Please. Please. Please go away. Legs, legs, okay, the healing spell is-
Something lands on them. I can't feel anything below my waist anymore. Pressure around my chest, the vague sensation of motion-
Something wet surrounds my head. Enormous incisors slice through my neck. Tombstone-like molars grind against either side of my head-
"Where are you?"
-And I gasp, staring down at the map displayed on my wrist. It moved!? Why the hell did my checkpoint move again-!?
No, there's no time! That thing is nearby! Right is no good, so I start running straight ahead, into the next room, until suddenly, someone lunges at me-!
"Aaa-oh, it's you." Jason says, swiftly aborting his terrified scream.
"Aaa-oh, it's you!" I say, swiftly aborting my terrified scream.
…I don't really want to be on a similar wavelength to this guy.
"Um, in case you don't know, we're in the labyrinth! It's full of traps, and the Minotaur is gonna be here soon, so any input-" I start to say.
"Dude, just use your command spells to summon your Servants," The Rider deadpans.
"...I can't do that." I reply after a moment's thought. "If I'm going to be facing Heracles, and that Alter Ego guy, I know I can't afford to waste command spells here. I won't stand a chance otherwise."
"You don't stand a chance to begin with! The best your command spells will do is buy you time - which is why, hurry up and use them, 'cause I don't wanna die!" He shouts back.
"I'm not gonna sabotoge us long term-!"
"Idiot! There is no 'us'!" He says, shaking me by the shoulders. "You don't seriously think I'm gonna go along with your suicide mission, right!? Fuck that! So hurry up and call your servants to save me! I don't care if you lose after that, so hurry up and do it!"
…This guy!
"As if I'd agree…" I headbut him, and he loses his grip. "...with that reasoning!"
"Tch," He glares back at me, rubbing his bruised forehead. "I didn't want to stoop to this, but-" He draws his sword. "Summon them, or I'll kill you."
"I won't," I reply. "Alter Ego will know the second I do, and evacuate the Minotaur."
I don't have any evidence that's his plan, but… it feels right. That's what I'd do, in his situation; run me out of resources I can't take back, before evacuating and returning once the advantage is gone. The whole point of the Labyrinth is to split us up; if he knows I've reunified with everyone, he'll dismiss the maze and resummon it.
Jason walks towards me, pressing his sword against my throat - but I won't change my mind, and so I glare back at him, watching pained realization grow on his face, his teeth grinding in despondency. Death threats won't work on me.
"...That guy, has something to do with you after all, doesn't he?" The Rider asks.
"Probably."
He sighs, and steps away from me, tilting his head back and pinching his brow with his free hand. He stays that way for a full ten seconds, before finally-
"...Fuck this," Jason says, and plunges his sword through his own chest.
"What-!?" I shout.
He just gives me a spiteful grin and raised middle finger. "See you in hell, asshole."
The next moment, he dissolves into golden mist.
…
No, there's no time. I still need to head towards Mash, so I turn right, and start moving-
Something lunges out of the darkness of that corridor.
A snarling, golden-furred monster - I dodge its claws, but something shoots from behind it, and I feel two small punctures in my arm as it jumps past.
"[Minya]!" I fire a spell at it, and it finds its mark, the creature staggering as bits of its body start to crumble, but I can see it now, in the light of my previous room.
Through blurring eyes, I can see the goat head stretching from its shoulder, and the snake writhing behind it where its tail should be.
My veins feel like they're on fire. I'm dimly aware that I'm screaming.
It lunges again, and claws tear into my chest as its lion head tears my throat out. I can't breath, it hurt, I can't breath-
"Don't hide from me."
-"Fuck this." Jason says, and plunges the sword into his chest again. "See you in hell, asshole."
"...I might already be there." I admit through gritted teeth as he disappears in a cloud of golden dust.