The labyrinth groaned with echoes of distant monsters. Somewhere on the lower floors, a hulking beast lumbered through the halls, each step shaking the ground. Hidden within the shadows, completely undetected, moved a lone figure.
Cliffhard.
His body was one with the darkness, seamlessly slipping past monsters with the agility and silence granted by his Gift, "Shadow Assassin."
> "My day just couldn't get any worse," he growled internally. "I couldn't destroy Lumiel, and now I'm sneaking around like some rat just to survive."
As he slithered from one shadow to another, a loud crash echoed from a distant classroom. Cliffhard's instincts froze. The nearby monster he was evading immediately turned and sprinted toward the noise.
> "Was that someone else? I need to see."
He followed quietly, hugging the walls. The monster burst into the classroom. Cliffhard crept closer but paused when the door creaked open again. Skye bolted out in a panic.
> "Oh. That coward. Lumiel's pathetic friend. Figures he'd be the first to die."
Skye didn't notice Cliffhard as he fled past him. The monster chased close behind.
> "Why don't we have some fun..." Cliffhard sneered, amused by the boy's panic.
He kept tailing from the shadows, eyes gleaming with sadistic curiosity. But something changed. Skye began to run faster—much faster.
> "What the hell?! Since when could he move like that?!"
Cliffhard tried to keep up, but was rapidly falling behind. He growled and changed tactics.
> "Fine. If I can't catch you, I'll let others do the job."
He darted through intersecting halls, drawing the attention of several monsters and herding them all in Skye's direction. A horde soon chased after the unaware boy.
> "Yes! Go get him! Let's see how long he lasts."
Unbeknownst to Cliffhard, someone else had taken interest.
Jestervyne watched through the shadows, grinning.
"This kid is something else," he whispered to himself. "He's cruel. He's calculating. Perfect."
Cliffhard trailed Skye until the boy found a hiding spot. But a moment later, Skye fled again—just as a bull-like monster crashed through the door.
Cliffhard's face twisted with glee.
> "This is gold. No way that coward gets out of this one."
They reached a dead end. Cliffhard crouched near a corner, peeking.
> "Nowhere left to run. This is it."
The bull monster charged. The ground trembled from the impact.
> "Dead. He's dead."
But there was no blood. No scream. Instead—the bull was hurled back with a thunderous crash. Cliffhard stared in disbelief. Skye stood tall, his arms monstrously large, his face devoid of emotion.
Then acid flooded the hallway.
> "W-What is he?! That strength... that poison... that stare... Is that even the same guy?!"
Cliffhard's heart raced. Jestervyne chuckled from the shadows.
"Guess you picked the wrong kid to toy with. Still powerless, aren't you? How perfect."
Cliffhard watched, horrified, as Skye shredded the bull like a butcher. Not once did the boy hesitate. Not once did he blink.
Skye vanished into a nearby classroom.
> "I-I need to get out of here."
He turned to run—and the shadows around him came alive.
The world dissolved into black.
---
A void. Cold, silent, infinite.
Cliffhard floated, weightless.
> "What the hell is this? Hello?!"
"Hey, kid."
A voice. Playful. Sinister.
From the shadows emerged a jester-like demon, his face twisted into an unnatural grin.
"Who are you?! Did you bring me here?!" Cliffhard drew his blade, pointing it forward.
"Relax. Name's Jestervyne. I'm the one who built the labyrinth you're lost in."
"Why show yourself now? What do you want?"
"You caught my eye. All that scheming, all that hatred in your heart. You're fun to watch. But let's be honest..."
He leaned forward.
"You lost. Again. Just like every story where the bad guy always loses."
"Tch... What's your point?"
"Let's flip the script. I'll make you the winner. Lumiel, Skye, all of them? They'll lose. You'll finally win. All you have to do... is work with me."
Cliffhard's hands trembled. He thought of Lumiel. Of his humiliation. Of his weakness.
> "If this demon can give me power... then I'll finally crush him. Finally win."
He lowered his sword.
"Fine. I accept. Help me destroy Lumiel."
Jestervyne's grin widened, teeth stretching unnaturally.
"Good..."