Floor ??? — Labyrinth of the Deadly Embrace
The cavernous chamber echoed with the screams of men as the humanoid bat descended upon them like a specter of death. Its grotesque wings unfurled, casting a shadow over the trembling warriors. Those who had succumbed to their fears fell first—sliced apart by razor-sharp claws, their bodies reduced to bloody fragments before they could even raise their weapons in defense.
A few brave souls charged forward, their swords gleaming in the dim light. Steel met the creature's armored hide with a resounding
Clang
Only to shatter on impact. The bat's tail lashed out like a whip, cleaving through armor and flesh alike. One man's torso was severed cleanly from his legs, his lifeless form crumpling to the ground. Others were crushed beneath the beast's massive fists, their bones snapping like twigs. Desperate, a handful of bandits hurled fire spells at the monster, but the flames licked harmlessly against its dark, scaled skin, leaving no mark.
Fear spread like a plague. The men staggered back, their resolve crumbling.
Don't be afraid!
Roared their leader, his voice cutting through the chaos. He stepped forward, drawing the broadsword from his back. A blue aura flickered to life around the blade, humming with power. With a battle cry, he lunged, driving the sword into the bat's chest. The steel didn't pierce the hide, but the sheer force of the blow made the creature snarl in pain. It reared back, raising a clawed hand to strike—but the leader was already leaping away, landing deftly on his feet.
We can do this! he shouted, rallying his men.
Hope flickered in their eyes. The sight of their leader standing firm against the beast reignited their courage. With a unified roar, they surged forward once more, weapons raised.
But Adonis sensed it—a shift in the air, a predatory gleam in the bat's crimson eyes.
Wait—it's dangerous! He warned.
Too late.
The bat's chest expanded as it inhaled deeply, its maw stretching wide. Then, with a guttural roar, it unleashed a torrent of fire. The inferno engulfed the charging men, their screams swallowed by the flames.
The leader barely managed to encase himself in a protective aura, but even that wasn't enough—the searing heat scorched his skin, leaving patches of raw, blistered flesh. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he stumbled, his vision swimming.
The bat didn't give him a chance to recover. Its arm blurred as it swung with terrifying speed. The leader's body was hurled through the air like a ragdoll, crashing against the pulsating, fleshy wall of the labyrinth before slumping to the ground, unconscious.
Silence fell—save for the ragged breathing of the few survivors.
Then, the bat's gaze locked onto the girl.
She turned and ran, her heart pounding in her chest. But the creature was faster. In an instant, it was upon her, its clawed hand poised to strike.
A blur of motion—Adonis teleported between them, his fist slamming into the bat's face with enough force to send it reeling. The girl gasped, stumbling back in shock. The bat screeched, its fury palpable as it wiped a trickle of dark blood from its snout.
Adonis knew his sword would shatter against the beast's armor. Without hesitation, he willed it away into his inventory. In its place, his sheathed sword materialized in his grip. He held it like a club, muscles coiled, ready to strike.
Adonis tightened his grip on his sheathed sword. Sweat trickled down his temple, not just from the stifling heat of the labyrinth, but from the cold dread coiling in his gut.
This thing… it's not normal.
Earlier, he had tried to assess the creature's stats, but the system had thrown back a chilling response:
Name: Humanoid Bat (Genetically Enhanced)
Level: Your Level Is Too Low
Stats: Your Level Is Too Low
Genetically Enhanced? The words echoed in his mind like a death knell.
A low growl rumbled from the bat's throat as it fixed eyes on him. Adonis swallowed hard.
If I can't even see its level, that means it's far stronger than me.
This is going to be a tough fight.