Hinata opens her eyes slowly as she takes a look at her surroundings she notices that all she saw was white, at first she was dead but that couldn't be right because that would mean she went to heaven.
The last thing she remembered was the hydra.
As she gets up she feels the soft feeling under her and as her vision start to clear she realizes she was on a canopy bed.
"Wow...this is nicer than my own bed."
"I see you're awake."
Hinata immediately turns to the source of the voice and sees Meld and Akira come closer.
"After the hydra went down, a door opened, and this place was found, so we put you here to rest." Akira informed.
"Blondie here tried to sleep with you 17 times." Meld added while pointing at Akira.
Hinata smiles as she gets off the bed and asks the two males. "So where to next?"
"Is this a resort?" She said in awe as she is led out. She can see trees, a waterfall, plus a river, even actual sunlight. Things that should definitely not be in underground.
"We were shocked as well. The rivers also contains actual fishes, there's also a garden full of vegetable, spices, plants and a barn filled animals. And what's even more amazing is that they're being tended to by what w presumed to be golems." Meld explained.
"So is this...where the mavericks stayed?"
"Most likely yes." Akira points to mansion that seemed like it was of the stone wall behind it. "We decided to wait until you got better before we investigate."
As they enter they find that nearly all the doors that were locked and unlike the entrance Hinata couldn't open them even with Transmute.
Once they found a door they can finally open they find a massive room with a magic circle in the center. Across from them, they see a skeleton in a black robe with glasses on a chair.
Hinata points at the magic circle. "I guess we're suppose to activate that."
"It could be a trap." Meld remained cautious, he never expected the labyrinth to have twice the amount of floors than presumed or that he himself would reach it anything can happen.
"Then let's do it together, that way, if it is a trap, I can take you guys down with me." Hinata said disturbing Meld while Akira was completely fine with dying with Hinata.
And so they all step on the circle and activates it after it glows the three of them quickly got ready as they see someone appear in front of the skeleton, the man's entire body was glowing and upon seeing that along with the fact the man was wearing the same robe and glasses as the skeleton Hinata quickly realizes it's a projection and tells the other two to stand down as the projection start talking.
"You, who have cleared the trials of my labyrinth. I offer my congratulations. My name is Oscar Orcus, the creator of this labyrinth and one of the Liberators. Let me begin to tell you the truth of this world."
"Well that was a truth bomb."
Hinata watch the projection of Oscar disappears after it does the three of them start to feel a headache. They all saw their experience in the Orcus labyrinth, as if it was replaying their memories. At the same time, they can feel something being imprinted in their heads. It was god's age magic, Creation Magic to be exact, the power to create artifacts which made Hinata very happy but...as soon as it stops Meld falls to his knees.
Hinata understands Meld's shock, finding out their all powerful god that gave you life was nothing but an asshole. Hinata never had any faith in the god that summoned her here.
Another twist was that the mavericks actually called themselves the liberators, a group of people that knew and tried to fight the evil god. But Ehit turned the people they tried to save against them by naming them Mavericks.
So, the liberators came up with a different plan, the labyrinths. The labyrinths are actually some sort of test to see if people were worthy enough to gain the God's age magic used by the liberators themselves. And they hope that their "successors" would be able to stop Ehit.
"How desperate do you have to be to put all your hopes on a stranger that hasn't even been born yet? Come on, Akira." Hinata decided to take Akira to bury Oscar's body outside while leaving Meld alone but not before taking Oscar's ring.
After burying Oscar, Hinata and Akira makes their way to the other rooms now accessible with Oscar's ring they reach his study and find a way out of the labyrinth they also try to find anything related to the other Labyrinths and as they do Meld walks in.
"Ah...so this is where you were."
"Yeah...are you ok Meld?" Akira asked, concerned after seeing the man's previous state of shock.
"Y-Yes, it was hard and part of me still wants to cling to the beliefs that I held in my life, just like most of the people of Tortus, I too regarded Ehit as a mighty god. I've said my prayers and thanks to him like everybody else but...My gut tells me that Oscar wasn't lying... He was never as devoted to Ehit like the pope or the church people, the one time he was really grateful to Ehit was ironically when he met the kids. But there was just something inside of him that makes him believe in Oscar, and that something was Hinata, who he knows very well to have suffered due to Ehit's action.
Hinata with a bored expression of her due to already predicting his reaction asks him. "So...what are you gonna do now? I've already decided to go to the other Labyrinths so I can find a way home."
"And I intend to follow her every path of the way including going back to her world." Akira added, he had no problem leaving his own world to be with the one he loves.
But Hinata gives him a suspicious glare. "And what do you plan to do after that?"
"Huh?"
"Like, where are you gonna live?"
"Uhhh, I would stay with you of course."
"I'm not letting you stay at my place."
"Uhhhh..."
"And what about money? You spent 300 years in a cube, you have no work experience or any proper education, there's no way you can get a job." Hinata narrowed he eyes. "You weren't planning on freeloading off me were you?"
"Huh?! Uh uh don't worry I w-will get a job to support our future family I-I..." Akira was panicking at the thought of being a freeloader to Hinata, seeing the boy fumbling for an answer got Meld to let out a small chuckle which causes the two if them to look at him as Hinata asks him.
"So what are you gonna do, are you gonna go back to the king and snitch on god?"
"Actually, I think it would be best to stick with you for a while"
"Really, why?"
"I can't rely on god anymore, and I never liked relying on children to fight our war, and even if this world is nothing more than a gameboard to Ehit, it is still my home and I wish to protect it." Meld clenches his fist. "I believe god's age magic will help me with that."
Hinata smiles at Meld as she asked another question. "And if god himself tries to destroy the world?"
Meld's face quickly turns frightening as his voice became low. "Then he willdieby my blade." Hinata grins hearing his answer.
"Well anyway, me and Akira were talking and decided that after all the bullcrap we went through we should stay here for a while."
"I think that's a great idea." After going through that nightmare he'd like nothing more than some rest.
"Yeah, I wanna give this new ancient magic a try and make a bunch of artifacts and while I'm doing that, why don't you two spent some time together" the knight and vampire tilts their head at Hinata's suggestions, there's no way she meant for those two to socialize "Akira no offense but you have the physical capability of a cat" Akira was dismayed at her words.
"Meld, compared to Akira, your spells are garbage." Meld was appalled at her comment.
"So how bout this you guys train each other in magic and sword fighting and i make us the most powerful weapons in this world." After a short exchange of glances they all agreed.
It's surprising how fast time can fly, months passed by so easily and now here she is standing in her standing on the magic circle waiting for her two companions
Hinata was still wearing the same clothes she wore when she got here she managed to keep it in good shape thanks to Transmute, she even increased the durability of her regular clothes.
The only thing that's new would be her new ring artifact, the Treasure Trove. Which can store pretty much anything, time is also frozen in it, so you don't have to worry about food going bad. It also stores all the wonderful artifacts Hinata had created overtime. Another thing that's new is her legs now made with azanthium, the strongest metal in this world.
Just then Akira and Meld walks in, Akira was wearing a plain white shirt, and long black pants upon Hinata's suggestion he also wore a short black cape. He also carries a rapier created by Hinata enchanted with Gale Claw after his training with Meld he was found to be more efficient with speed rather than power like Meld. Hewas also wearing a ring and a necklace with green gem on it which were mana reserve artifacts to help him able to use more magic.
Meld was wearing armor similar to the one he wore when he fell. But unlike his old one, the one he was wearing was pitch black azanthium and had been enchanted with the Diamond skin, another skill they had obtained here. The same goes for his sword. All of it, along with Akira's sword was also made with azanthium.
They all stand on the magic circle looking at each other readying themselves one last time.
"I don't think, I need to say this but...You know that all of these weapons and artifacts will attract attention." Meld pointed out
"Yeah...but don't talk like you're not gonna attract any attention Mr. Strongest in the kingdom."
"With your classmates out there, I think you mean former strongest."
"Not with your new stats your not."
"Relax... people knowing my face and my name are two different things, and the ones that do know face would never expect me to wear this." Meld gestures to his new armor. "Oh yeah, speaking of which did you change the name on our status plate?"
"Sure did." Hinata hands Meld his Status plate.
"Now it just says...Eld, how clever..."
"Bite me, it's not like we're staying hidden for long."
The three of them share a short laugh before Hinata activates the magic circle
"So we've all made our minds to go to all seven labyrinths right?" Hinata asked
"Yes, I will stick by you till the end my love" Akira declared as a tick mark appears on Hinata
"And if anybody gets in our way.."
"""WE'LL CRUSH EM!"""
"So this is the outside..."
All three of them walk out of the cave they bathe in real sunlight instead of the artificial one in Oscar's labyrinth especially Akira. After a small celebration, they were about to begin their journey until...
"THEREEEEEEEE YOUUUUUUUUU AREEEEEEEEE!"
All three of them turned to the source of the scream and are shocked to see the sight before them, they see a small boy with short blue hair and rabbit ears running towards them while being chased by a massive 2 headed dinosaur.
"What is that?"
"A bunny?"
"A beastmen, he's being chased by a Diheador."
"Ok, so why is he leading that thing straight to us?"
They see the boy running at full speed towards them acting as though he somehow knew they were gonna be there. Hinata sighs in irritation at the rabbit's cries of joy. She couldn't care less about the boy but she did have to deal with the dinosaur so she pulls out her gun shoots it in both heads. The rabbit boy was surprised that she managed to kill the monster with such ease and immediately leaped for joy towards Hinata.
"OH THANK YOU SO MU-Gah!"
They boy's appreciation was cut short as Hinata punched his head to the ground.
"Ok let's go." But just as soon Hinata finished talking The beastmen gets up with tears on his eye and holding his head due to the pain.
"What was thaaaaaat!? Why would you hit a cute rabbit boy like me." The boy's whining and narcissism was met with Hinata's irritation.
"You're the one, who leaped at me dumbass. And also, the only reason I killed that monster was becauseyouled it to us."
Hinata quickly turns to walk again but the rabbit boy quickly clings on to her leg and started to beg. "W-wait please you have to save my family!"
Hinata kept dragging the boy as she walks when Akira gets agitated at the boy and pulls on his ears. "Let go." He said in a deep tone as Meld spoke up.
"We should at least listen to him first."
Hinata rolls her eyes. "Yeah sure, because last time it was such a good idea that turned out well." she said sarcastically, while pointing to the last person, who had their cries for help answered, andthrn ended up being a pest that kept trying to sleep with her for months.
Nevertheless they listened.
The boy introduced himself as Shu Haulia, son of the Haulia tribe's chief. The Haulia tribe had formerly lived in Verbergen, the beastman nation in Tortus. But then they had to leave because of...him.
Beastmen, one of the three race of Tortus weren't suppose to be able to use magic at all and yet Shu here had somehow gained the ability to see the future that was how he had found the trio in the gorge. Because of this power, he was deemed an abomination and his tribe had decided to leave Verbergen, but the Haulia tribe was considered the weakest due their lack of fighting prowess.
When they left Verbergen, half of them got captured by imperial soldiers and the rest are being terrorized by monsters.
It was a crazy ass story, but as Hinata looked at Shu's face she can tell it's true. 'He doesn't have it either, but...'
"So... Please... I beg of you SAVE MY FAMILY" Shu loudly begged, only to be replied with a...
"No."
Shu dismayed at Hinata's quick reply and starts crying again. "Whaaaaaaa, pleaseeeeeee! If you do, we'll do anything."
Hinata turns with a simple smile. "Can you solve dimensional travel?"
"Uh...what's that?"
"You're useless!" Hinata bonks Shu on the head and was about to leave until Meld places a hand on her shoulder.
"Now hold on...He might be able to help us for our journey..." Hinata raised an eyebrow wondering what he was up to. "There is a labyrinth in the sea of trees correct? It might be best to have his tribe guide us. Verbergen is covered in fog and only beastmen can navigate through it."
Hinata gives a sigh she knew what he was doing...and it was working.
With a sigh, she activates her Treasure Trove and brings out two vehicles.
"Alright you three get on the SUV. I'll take the motorcycle. Let's get this over with."
Shu instantly and literally jumps for joy at Hinata only for her to immediately hit him back down.
Meld was anxious his hands on the wheel never in his life would he expect to drive a horseless carriage of steel or as Hinata called it a SUV.
Back at the labyrinth, Hinata had explained how this one was actually a simplified version of the one in her world because it ran on mana. It was complicated handling something so...advanced but he was still excited to learn. He also saw it as some sort of salvation, because he had spent a fair amount of time learning magic from Akira.
And it was awful.
Akira kept using odd terms that cannot a be a language of any kind, like telling Meld to use magic that goes "roon-roon" or "gyun-gyun".
It felt like hell taught by a three year old.
So imagine his relief when he finally started to get taught with actual words by Hinata about how to drive this vehicle. Granted, she only did it because she didn't want to be the sucker, who drives everyone around. Nonetheless, he is grateful for all the new things the two of them had taught
'Hehe, and to think I was suppose to be her teacher.' He thought to himself as he looked out the window and sees Hinata on the motorcycle pulling out her gun.
Of course Meld has heard of these kind of monsters before but unfortunately Reisen gorge has a unique feature that prevents people from using magic so they would have to rely on very strong archers ...
And yet, right now they are all falling like flies.
"We can't thank you enough."
Hinata stares at the group rabbit eared people with zero interest. Shu had talked to his tribe and his father the chief Cam Haulia and they were more than happy to guide them, they were all making their way out of the gorge but then...
"There are imperial soldiers over there."
Hinata and Meld froze these were the first humans they met back at the labyrinth they both knew that once they get outside it won't be just demons and monsters they have to kill.
Meld always hated when this time would come . He knew that the kids were gonna have to kill eventually but...
He tried to speak...
"It's fine."
But Hinata beat him to it as she walks forward with her gun ready as she approached the soldiers and the moment the soldiers saw the beastmen, all hell broke loose.
*Bang*
"What the hell!?"
"Quick, cast your spells!"
"Kill that bitch!"
Meld watches as Hinata massacres the soldiers, her bullets easily pierce through the armor and the hearts of the knights, she was also able to shoot down a mage before they can cast any spell. When they tried huddling together, Hinata just throws a grenade at the soldier's feet. Hinata walks closer to the last remaining soldier, who is begging for his life, Hinata stares dead straight at the man and aims her gun and fires.
*Bang*
Meld, along with everyone else looked at Hinata, who some blood on her face with some concern. The girl didn't show any remorse or hesitation for her actions.
Hinata walks back to the group. "Let's go."
With that, they free the imprisoned rabbitmen, takes the soldiers' carriage and headed to Verbergen.
Hinata is now sitting across a table from Ulfric Heipyst, an elf and the head chief of Verbergen. After entering Verbergen, they were immediately ambushed by some tiger beastmen, Hinata had "kindly" asked them to let them through with her guns.
Ulfric had arrived at the scene after Hinata dropped the word "liberators" and showed Oscar's ring he welcomed them in. Hinata originally refused, saying they only want to go to the tree, but after realizing that there is a thick mist that even beastmen can't get through. Since it won't get thinner for ten days, she accepted Ulfric's invitation. After punching every single rabbit in the head.
And that brings us to now, Ulfric and the leader of the tiger beastmen, Zel were just briefed about the truth of Ehit and accepted it quite easily mostly due to their less than stellar lives . It was a normal conversation until...
*Crash*
Everybody turns their head to the now destroyed door and sees a big muscular man with bear ears on his head irritation was clear for everyone to see .
"Ulfric what the hell are you thinking bringing, humans and that abomination here!?" He asked angrily.
Ulfric gets up from his chair. "I am just following tradition, these people have met the qualifications." He explains calmly, but the bearmen refusing to believe that the humans before him are strong enough to have cleared a labyrinth charges at them with a punch. Only to to be stopped by Meld who catches his wrist and then delivers a punch of his own launching the bearmen right out of the room.
After the display of strength the elders can't deny that they actually cleared a great labyrinth. Unfortunately Zel found a loophole, according to the tradition they're only suppose to let those who cleared a great labyrinthifthey like them, he also denounces that the Haulia tribe's ability to lead them to the tree for they were all condemned to death for helping Shea.
Hinata watches as Shu got on his knees and begs the elders to at least his tribe live, but his father quickly stops him, assuring him that he and everybody else was ready for this. Just like a true family they stuck together.
Unlike him...
Hinata clears her head from those thoughts as she listens to Zel's taunting and replying with. "Are you an idiot?" Zel's face quickly transform from laughing to irritation. Just when she thought she couldn't hate this world even more she finds out almost everybody is racist as hell.
According to Meld, the reason the humans had discriminated against the Beastmen, was due their inability to use magic making them god's mistake. And yet, when one of them had somehow gained that power, they were still hated by their own kind no less.
"The Haulia tribe is our guide to the tree. Do you honestly think we're gonna just sit by and let you kill them?" Hinata emited her killing intent joined by Meld and Akira who each had their hands on their weapon.
Ulfric had tried to offer them a different guide but was instantly refused by Hinata. "Sorry, I don't go back on my deals." Seeing no hope of changing their mind he decides to consider the Haulia tribe as Hinata's slave and according to Verbergen's law counts them as dead therefore not eligible for execution.
The Haulia tribe celebrates with tears of joy and gratitude towards Hinata's party.
After the meeting with elders they had ten days to kill and when the rabbitmen asked to help them learn how to survive and fight. Meld of course agreed to help without any hesitation and with nothing to do for the next ten days Hinata didn't have a problem with it and she would never admit it but she would be happy if the rabbitmen can survive on their own.
Hinata actually respected the Haulia tribe, they figured Verbergen sucked and left immediately...all for one single boy...for...the sake of family...
Now here she is tossing berries to her mouth while lying down inside the SUV, Akira had taken Shu for magic training while Meld took the rest of the rabbits to train them...or he was until Hinata sensed him coming towards her .
Hinata gets out of the SUV and sees Meld walking towards her looking quite dejected. "What the hell happened ? " Hinata asked
Meld let's out a long sigh. "Training was a nightmare." He then went on to explain what happened such as the rabbits losing to multiple weak and small creatures.
When Meld helped them to finally kill one, they all sobbed and begged for forgiveness and then everybody got distracted by small insects and flowers heck they were even almost too scared to hold the knives Hinata made for them.
Hinata internally groan. Even if the rabbits made the right decision, its no use due to the severe lack of skills and abilities to back it up but...
"So what did you do?"
"Huh?"
"When they were being horrible, what did you do?"
"Well I..."
"You just told them to focus and nothing else right?"
Meld sadly nods.
"Dude...we talked about this"
"Yeah we did."
"Was that how you were gonna train us?" Back at the labyrinth, Hinata had come to know about Meld's hesitation to teach her and her classmates to be ready to...kill. Meld was reluctant to expose such a life to young children especially ones that weren't even part if the conflict.
But Hinata had no problem with it. Back at the gorge she knew Meld had wanted to kill the soldiers in her place but she needed to get used to it. "Dude, it's not your fault, ok? We all had to say goodbye to our normal lives when Ehit brought us here."
Meld felt irritated at the mention of the name. "But even so, I don't think I can..."
"Fine, then I'll help." Meld flinches at her words as she continued. "If you're too nice, I can be the mean teacher, come on." Without even waiting for Meld's agreement she immediately went off as he followed
They make their way back to the rabbits and see that they are still admiring a flower a tick mark appeared on Hinata's head. 'How the hell did they survive this long?' She thought as she pulls out a flamethrower from her Treasure Trove and incinerates the flower scaring everybody away as Meld quickly tried to put out the fire out trying to stop a forest fire while Hinata glares at the shivering rabbits.
"HERE'S MY ONLY WARNING. GET SERIOUS OR YOU'RE NEXT!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
With Meld teaching them how to fight and Hinata giving them the motivation.
What could go wrong?
Ten days later
'EVERYTHING WENT SO WRONG!' Meld internally screamed as he and Hinata stare at the massive pile, the two of them turn to the rabbits who were looking...vicious, yes that was the word.
"I thought I told you to only bring us one." Hinata looked at the new rabbits each one of them now had the body of what could be considered an athlete's and besides that, their faces also looked a bit... deranged.
"Well...we ran to a bunch of them, they had the gall to try and kill us so we killed them." Cam said with a sinister smile on his face, the rest of the rabbits shared his sentiment saying how good it was going as far to even lick their weapons.
Yeah he has to stop this.
"Now hold-"
"Boss Meld, Boss Hinata." Meld was cut off when one of the rabbits ran to them and called out the rabbits nickname for him and Hinata. "A bunch of armored bearmen are on their way to the great tree, they must be trying to ambush us." The rabbit reported as if he were a soldier.
Meld and Hinata cursed in their heads, so the bears were still out for the rabbits. Before either of them can act Cam spoke up. "Boss Meld, Boss Hinata please... let us handle this... We want to test our new skills, don't worry we won't dissapoint."
Meld wasn't sure that was a good idea but before he can say anything. "Uh…sure?" Hinata didn't see the problem.
The rabbits quickly got excited and ran off while chanting "KILL! KILL! KILL!"
After they left, Meld turns to Hinata with a glare she slightly flinches but kept being herself. "Oh bite me, like you were doing any better."
And with that the two of them chased after the rabbits.
'How... did...this...happpen?'
That was the thought that ran through the bearmen's head, a moment they were their usual boastful selfs waiting for the human that attacked their chief but now most of them are passed out and everybody has cuts all over their body, the rabbits are dashing through the bearmen's formation and moving along the trees like shadow all while continually taunting the bears
After his last man was down it was just him. Regin stares the daunting figure that is Cam Haulia. "So...any last words?" Regin knew this was it he quickly got on his knees and bow down "Rab- no Haulia clan's leader, all of this is my doing, please at least spare my subordinates, I beg of you."
"I refuse." Cam immediately shot back "Kill your enemies. That is what the bosses taught us." he holds his knife "BESIDES, KILLING YOU IS SO MUCH FUN!"
*Bang*
But before land the finishing strike he was stopped as a flash of purple Lightning suddenly flashed near his face. "What is the meaning of this...Hinata?"
Hinata snorted. "Sorry but it's just that, I thought I was firing at an empire knight I mean you were just so similar."
At her words the rabbit's confidence was quickly faded as they take a good look at their actions. "Wh- what have we...?"
Meld quickly walks over to them. "Calm down, this was your first fight and you got carried away, so please remember this. Yes, Hinata taught you to kill, but we taught you to kill in order to survive not for the sake of killing itself."
The rabbits quickly bowed their heads in shame """YES BOSS MELD!"""
Meanwhile, Hinata walks over to Regin with a devilish smile. "Ok bub this is what's gonna happen, I'll let you go off the hook this time, then you're going to go back to the elders and tell them that they owe me one and don't even think of playing dumb...or else." Her calm threat brought shivers to his spine.
After the bears recover enough to leave, Meld nudges Hinata while shifting his eyes to the rabbits. Hinata sighs and turns to the rabbit. "Yeah...so guys, sorry about that. I... kinda went overboard with your training." She admitted bashfully.
But her apology was replied with some unexpected reactions. "B-boss Hinata is apologizing..." one rabbit said
"She must have hit her head." Another one said.
"Grrr bite me!" Hinata shouted.
Meld: Having his entire worldview and belief shattered.
Hinata: Kay Akira, let's go outside and bury this dead body we found.
Thanks for reading, sorry if I gloss over things, I suck at writing fight scenes.