The Morvain, thought dead, rose again with a guttural shriek that echoed through the cavern like a thousand tormented voices stitched together.
Its rebirth was grotesque, a surge of fungal limbs and broken bones snapping into place, skin blooming like rot-soaked petals.
Its gaping maw twisted into a new shape, lined with even more sharpened human teeth, glistening with spit and gore.
It caught everyone off guard.
A sudden swipe of one of its many arms hurled an Explorer straight into the stone wall, blood splattering across their hood before they crumpled like paper.
Another scream followed. A second fighter was pulled in by a coiling limb and consumed whole, his body crunched like glass inside the Morvain's churning, ever-shifting form.
Syras stumbled back, his eyes wide with horror. Around him, cloaked Explorers fought with everything they had, flinging daggers, striking with blades, using raw strength and speed, but even their coordinated effort barely slowed the creature.
One by one, they were struck, knocked aside, or narrowly dodged the Morvain's sprawling attacks.
All except one.
Omen moved through the chaos like smoke through cracks. He didn't leap, duck, or flinch. He simply stepped, and every blow missed him. The Morvain swiped, and he wasn't there.
A claw slammed down, and he had already walked past it. His coat fluttered in the ash and heat, his heavy eyes locked on the beast without emotion.
It was as if the creature couldn't even see him.
Syras blinked, stunned. He's not dodging… it's avoiding him.
But then the ground shook, trembled with force, and all heads turned.
The woman in black had returned.
She jumped from the rooftops, blade in hand, cloak flaring like wings of a dying phoenix. Her boots hit the ground with an echoing boom, cracking stone beneath her.
Without a word, she launched at the Morvain, black blade glowing as it carved deep gashes into its mutated flesh.
She was fast, inhumanly fast, cutting through arms, legs, torsos before the Morvain could even react.
It roared and reshaped itself, forming dozens more mouths and limbs. A massive slit opened across its abdomen, widening, widening. Until it swallowed her whole.
Gasps filled the air.
"No!" Edward shouted, charging forward,
but Omen raised a hand, stopping him.
"Wait," he said softly.
The Morvain hunched in on itself. Its huge stomach bulged, then convulsed violently.
Black blood poured from its mouths. The creature twitched… then screamed, a shriek that shattered stone and silence alike.
And then it exploded.
A fiery bloom tore through its core, bursting out from within. Flesh, fungus, bone, and blood disintegrated into ash. The shockwave knocked Syras onto his back.
From the center of the smoking crater, she stood.
She wore a red devil like mask, wicked and sharp with jagged teeth and forward-pointing horns.
A black hood rested over her head, shrouding most of her blood-soaked hair. Her long crimson cloak flowed like liquid fire behind her.
A long, red blade. curved and jagged like a fang rested in her gloved hand, steaming with the monster's remains.
Syras' breath caught in his throat.
Edward took a step forward, frozen.
They looked at each other, eyes wide in disbelief, and said nothing.
They didn't need to. They knew her. They had seen her before. In unison, the words burned in their minds like a brand.
Ember Rose.
The room was thick with silence. Five figures stood in a loose circle, each bloodied and breathing slow, shallow breaths. The tension between them was nearly as heavy as the scent of iron that clung to their clothes.
Without a word, Omen reached up and removed his mask. He set it down on the table with a quiet clink.
One by one, the others followed, Edward, Syras, and a blonde man who stood next to Omen. Each placed their mask beside Omen's, revealing tired, wary faces beneath.
Only Ember Rose kept hers on.
They stared at one another, the silence stretching on like a drawn blade. Then, at last, Omen's voice cut through it.
"What were you doing?" he asked Ember Rose, coldly. "I told you to stop wandering. The entire village was almost destroyed because you were late. And take off the mask already."
Ember Rose didn't budge. Instead, she stepped forward, unsheathing her sword in one smooth motion. The tip stopped just short of Omen's neck.
"I told you already," she said, voice low and dangerous behind the mask. "I'm not under your rule. Next time you try to give me an order… I'll kill you."
Syras's gaze flicked to Edward, who stood calmly at his side, his expression unreadable.
Omen didn't flinch. He simply sighed and turned toward Syras. "Newcomer, right? Thanks for your contribution. Your ability… it's impressive and useful. It's good to have one of the few whispers who can still use their ability, even with the Trial's restrictions."
Syras nodded once. "Glad I could help."
Edward stepped in smoothly. "Syras will be joining the Explorers. He'll be under her." He said as he glanced at woman with a red mask, Ember Rose.
Omen glanced at Syras, then returned his eyes to the table, fingers brushing the edge of his mask.
Edward's tone shifted, becoming sharper.
"Now, what exactly happened out there? How did you even let that monster get in?"
Omen's eyes narrowed. "The newcomers. They were infected before they even reached the village. Worst of all they were at their final stage. That's what gave birth to the Morvain."
A chill passed through the room at the name.
"We can't take any more risks," Omen continued. "From now on, every newcomer will either die before they enter… or be sent straight back to the Labyrinth."
Suddenly, Syras stepped forward, his voice cutting into the heavy silence.
"I thought the guards were supposed to check if someone was infected before letting them into the village."
Omen gave a sharp nod. "They were. Geroe himself handled the inspections. But—"
He stopped.
Everyone stilled, the tension thickening instantly.
"…Where the hell is Geroe?"
Edward stepped forward. His voice was cold, precise. "Geroe's dead. We found his body thrown from one of the upper buildings, he was fully covered with mushrooms and Morvain's flesh parts."
A beat passed before Omen added, "So the Morvain didn't absorb him."
Behind them, Enren turned slightly away and covered his face with one hand.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath.
Omen's teeth clenched. "Search for him Now. He's the one who is currently carrying the infection, if he reaches the final stage…"
"We can't let another Morvain be born."
He spun toward the tall, blond young man with piercing blue eyes. "Enren. Go. Warn the Defenders. Tell them to prepare for lockdown."
At the sound of Enren's name, Ember Rose, already halfway to the door, suddenly stopped.
Her steps froze in place. Syras noticed. So did Edward. The air shifted again as Omen turned towards her.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
But Ember Rose said nothing. She turned her face slightly toward them, still masked, then resumed walking and left the room without a word.
Enren's eyes followed her, narrowing, his expression unreadable.
Ember Rose, Edward, and Syras stepped out from the building into the dim street beyond. The air was still damp with blood and smoke, and silence hung between them, until Syras broke it.
"You are… Ember Rose," he said, walking a step behind her, "you're from Sanatria, right?"
She stopped, turning her head just slightly. Her mask reflected the pale overhead glow. "How do you know my title?"
Syras continued. "I remember your wanted poster. You appeared a few days before our academy was sent into the Trial of Truth… What was your goal back then?"
Ember Rose was quiet for a long moment.
"…I was looking for someone," she finally said.
Syras stopped walking. That wasn't the answer he expected. His eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
She turned her head again but didn't face him. "Not your business."
Syras made a face, annoyed, and walked past her with a faint scoff. Then he paused.
"Last question," he said, glancing back. "Do you know a way to the end wall of the Labyrinth? The side closest to the giant tree?"
Ember Rose tilted her head slightly. "Obviously. I'm an Explorer. I have access to the symbols and maps left behind by other explorers."
"I need one," Syras said.
She nodded once and began walking again. "Just go to the black building. Third floor. There's a shelf with rolled maps, take any you need. I wish you good luck." She said it as she disappeared into the crowd.
Edward, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "What are you planning, Syras?"
Syras sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I have to go. Dune might still be waiting for me at the end wall."
Edward ran a hand over his face in frustration. Syras glanced at him. "Idiot, we barely made out alive, you literally saw power of Morvain, and you still want to go back?"
"You can stay, Edward. I'm going alone."
But Edward shoved past him with a shoulder bump and kept walking.
"I'm coming too," he muttered. "Don't you dare try to stop me."
Syras blinked in surprise, then smiled faintly. "Alright."
"That's it? Don't tell me it was your plan all along."
Syras chuckled, "it would be really hard to go alone, i don't even know how to read maps properly hehe."
"Idiot." Edward sighed.
"It will be getting dark soon, so the ocean will fall, it's better to rest for today and move tomorrow."
Syras sighed, but eventually nodded and accepted Edward's suggestion.