Chapter 3

«Recalibrating…»

"Hey Captain, you there?" 

Wait, Rashim? Didn't he—

"Oh let him rest, would you Rashim. He's had a tiring day."

Lisa? What the hell are they doing?

I tried to move my body but I felt… stuck. It's like being under sleep paralysis. I could hear everything, feel everything — but I couldn't move. 

What is my team doing? They… they died— because of my incompetence. What is this? Another one of those fucking—

Suddenly, the scream of Lisa drowned the room. The scream, it's just like th—

*Gunshot*

A sound of something falling followed right after the shots. 

"Who the fu—" Before Rashim could finish his sentence, another sound of the same handgun blew before my ears and another sound of something falling followed, likely Rashim's body. 

I was finally able to open my eyes. As soon I did, I wish I had just kept them shut off. It was identical— no, the same as that time…

"No, why… why this again…" I muttered with a few tears falling out of my eyes. 

I don't remember the last time I cried. It was likely when mother had died. Father taught me to cut off emotion from everything since then. But God, why…?

"Even with this much power, you're still powerless, Darian Henrik." The masked man said as he opened his ski-mask, his voice hoarse, as if he had been running a marathon. 

His face was still etched into my head. After all, my eidetic memory made me never forget anything. His goatee beard, dark hair cut short in a buzz cut, his pale-oily skin, a skinny build which I could easily crush with my arms— every single fucking detail. His light pink tank-top with black stripes. His silver Desert Eagle still had smoke coming out, signaling its usage just now

I don't know how many times I had tried to forget this scene. I guess this memory was both a blessing and a curse. 

"Aww, don't be so down amigo. You don't have to deal with all these army responsibilities anymore, y'know? Your little brother did mention that you were a bit, what's the word.. stressed." He said as he cocked his gun. 

"Adiós idiota." 

*Gunshot*

—

"AAGH" I woke up with a shout, sweating and shaking. 

'I thought I was done with that shit. I hadn't had that nightmare for 3 years. What is this, a fucking joke' I thought, curling up my hands into a fist. 

"Hey, you're finally awake!" I looked at where the sound came from. 

It was a woman. A beautiful woman. Her long blue hair was tied in a ponytail. Her longsword was hanging just fine on her hips, her light leather armor hugged her figure in a way that complimented her athletic body. 

'Who the hell is she!?' I thought as I looked at my body. 

I was covered in bandages, topless.

'Hmm, wonder if SHE saw me…' I thought with a grin. 

"Hey, are you okay? You're… smiling?" The blue haired beauty said as she kneeled down to check me. 

Now that she was closer, I could see her features much more clearly. 

She had the same colored eyes as her hair, her lips pink as a peach, her small nose, symmetrical face— everything made her a girl from my wettest fantasy— SHUT UP! This is NOT the time for daydreaming. 

"Uh, who are you?" I said, a bit dumbfounded. 

"Ah, my bad. My name is Nadia. I'm the leader of the Black Fang Prætor party. Me and my party found you unconscious in this room with… shattered stones around you..? I'm sorry— but what's that about?" 

'Wait, what's a Prætor?' I thought. 

«Prætors are adventurers who take on tasks ranging from delivery, gathering rare materials, battling fierce monsters to uncovering ancient ruins. Organized into ranks from Novice to Legendary, they specialize in various fields like combat, magic, and reconnaissance, operating under a structured guild system. Prætors are vital for maintaining peace, protecting towns, and exploring the unknown»

'Ah, gotcha.'

I immediately remembered what the hell happened as a shiver ran down my spine. The 'shattered stones' she was talking about had almost become my death. 

"It was a.. monster I had been fighting." I said, a bit nervous. 

"Damn, it must have been a hell of a strong one. When Reiner, our Healer was checking up on you, he said that you had: 7 broken ribs, a concussion, lots of internal bleeding and some other broken bones. What surprised him— well not just him, all of us, is the fact that you managed to recover them within just one and a half days. You must have some insane healing skills, huh?" Nadia said. 

"Ahh, I see you're awake." A man's voice came. 

"Hey Reiner!" Nadia said with a wave of her hand. 

Reiner was surprisingly tall. Apparently he was the healer of the group, yet he looked like he could still hold himself in a fistfight. He stood at a whooping 6'2", long blond hair tied up in a ponytail with short bangs that waved around in the air. 

"Let me introduce you to my party." Nadia said as she shouted "Everyone! Come on!" 

As soon as she said that, 3 people came into my view. Two women and one… Elf?

The first one to come up was a redhead. 

She stood before me, a striking figure with an aura of confidence and strength. Her vibrant red hair framed her face in a short, stylish bob in some instances, while in others, it was pulled back into a high ponytail, with loose strands adding a touch of wildness. Her large, expressive eyes held a determined gaze, and her youthful face was marked by delicate features—a small nose and full lips that seemed perpetually set in a serious expression.

Her physique was athletic and slender, her body toned and curvaceous. The outfit she wore accentuated her form, a black, strappy bikini-style top with intricate cutouts exposing her midriff. Matching black bikini bottoms with strategic straps and cutouts hugged her hips. Occasionally, she was seen with a long, black coat with a red inner lining, draped casually over her shoulders, adding a dramatic flair to her appearance.

My little man did get a bit stiff as she came in front of me in all her glory. Her legs, thighs and ass were all in full view— barely being covered by her skimpy bikini-armor. 

"This is our Dagger Expert, Karlina. Say hello!"

"Heya! The name is Karlina. Glad to see you're finally awake!" The redhead with the skimpy clothes said as she bowed down a bit to shake my hands, enough for me to get a nice view of her assets. 

Oh yeah, it got even harder. Good thing I had a blanket covering my lower body. 

"My pleasure." I replied with a small smile. "Thank you for saving my dumbass from such a mess."

"Oh, it's fine! It IS our duty as Prætors to defend the lives of the common-folk— which leads me to say, how the hell did you even end up here!?" The redhead— Karlina asked me. 

'Shit, what do I say? I can't just simply say that I'm from a different world. They'll think of me as a madman!' I thought, bit worried. 

«You from being another isn't really something too strange. There exists a group of people known as Otherworlders. These are people who have been summoned or reincarnated from different worlds. This action is usually done by countries who need help in some way or another in either military strength or something related to the economic state of the country as Otherworlders have unique and powerful than average Talents that might help out the country in said aspects. The idea of summoning people from different worlds to aid them has been quite normalized. Though, the question of the ethics of this practice is still in debate by some people»

'Oh, so I can just tell them the fact that I'm from another world. That's… convenient.' I thought with a chuckle. 

Even though this thing was normalized, I decided to do some acting to appear 'clueless.'

"I, myself, don't even know that. One moment, I was comfortably sitting in my home enjoying some delicious food, and then I'm in this… cave? And I had to fight that damn stone guy!" I exclaimed, half lying. 

"Wait.. you're an Otherworlder!" The second woman exclaimed, this time a raven haired giant! Like, damn! She was at least 7 feet!. "Oh, you poor thing! Nobles these days are despicable! The fact that even the Church enforces such despicable acts!" She exclaimed, once again, as she took me in a bear hug, suffocating me in her HUGE BREASTS. 

"MMMPH!" I muffled as I was suffocating. I tried to break her off, but she had this ungodly strength! How the fuc—

"Break it off, Elaria!" Nadia shouted. "You're suffocating him with your cow teats!"

"Oh, my bad!" She said as she let go of me as I started to take in deep breaths. 

"No… worries.." I said as I tried to breathe as much as I could. 

"I apologize for my actions. I just get irritated every time I get reminded of the corrupt ways the Church operates. Anyway, my name's Elaria. I'm the main muscle and vanguard of this group." The raven haired woman— Elaria said as she bowed a bit. 

She was huge. Standing at a whopping 7'1", her body was chiseled like how the ancient Greeks and Romans sculpted their important figures. Every single muscle seemed to be trained to the point of perfection. Even though she was wearing a bit of armour, her muscles were still quite visible. 

Though, compared to the rest of her body, her breasts were a bit on the smaller side. No way were they small. It was probably around D-Cup. It's just compared to the rest of her proportions, it seemed smaller. It was probably due to all the chest exercises she did. There was literally zero fat. 

It showed the fact she worked out a LOT. I mean, look at her glutes. They're so HUGE. 

She had on greaves, steel plated arm guards and a short skirt that gave a nice view of her thighs. She had on a breastplate that emphasized her chests with no protection to her abdomen, showcasing her rock hard, chiseled abs. 

She had a giant greatsword on her back. 

"Anyway, moving on… Last, but definitely not least, our archery expert, Marksi." Nadia said, pointing towards the Elf. 

Said Elf moved forward, his keen, hunter green eyes shimmering with caution, but at the same time friendliness. His shoulder length silver hair was tied in twin braids. He had on a set of light silver plate armor with an intricate longbow on his back. 

"A pleasure to meet you." The Elf said, moving his hand forward. 

"The pleasures all mine," I said as I moved my hand forward for a handshake. "You're an Elf, I presume?"

Surprised, he replied "Yes. A Wood-Elf. If you don't mind me asking, but how does an otherworlder know about Elves? Does my kind also exist in your world?" He asked, a bit puzzled. 

"You could say that," I replied cautiously, trying to gauge their reaction. "In my world, elves are known through stories and legends. They're often depicted as skilled archers and magic users, in tune with nature."

Marksi nodded thoughtfully. "Stories and legends... fascinating. It seems our worlds share some similarities despite being different."

Nadia interjected with a warm smile, breaking the tension. "Well, regardless of where you're from, we're glad we found you in time. You were in pretty bad shape when we brought you in."

"Thank you for saving me," I said sincerely, feeling a mix of gratitude and curiosity. "But I still don't understand why you risked yourselves for a stranger."

Elaria, who had been silently observing, spoke up with a serious tone. "It's what we do as Prætors. We protect the innocent, fight monsters, and uphold justice. It's our duty to help those in need, no matter the circumstances."

"And we sensed there was something unique about you," Reiner added, his voice calm and reassuring. "Your recovery was astonishing. Not many people could heal from such injuries as quickly as you did."

I nodded, absorbing their words. "I wish I could explain it. Everything that's happened... it feels unreal, like a nightmare I can't wake up from."

"It's not uncommon for Otherworlders to feel that way," Nadia said softly. "Adjusting to a new world can be overwhelming. But you're not alone. We'll help you as much as we can."

As I sat there, surrounded by this diverse group of adventurers, a sense of belonging started to creep in. Despite the chaos and uncertainty, there was something comforting about being with people who understood duty, courage, and compassion.

"Thank you," I said again, this time with more conviction. "I may not know what's next, but I'm grateful to have met all of you." I replied with a sincere nature. 

Nadia nodded understandingly, her expression thoughtful. "I understand, Darian. For now, our priority is helping you recover and finding a way out of this labyrinth."

Reiner adjusted his glasses, his gaze turning practical. "Speaking of which, we should discuss our strategy. The labyrinth is dangerous, and we've encountered formidable creatures deeper inside."

Elaria crossed her arms, her voice firm. "We need a plan to navigate through safely and find the exit without attracting unnecessary attention."

Marksi, ever observant, scanned the surroundings. "Agreed. The labyrinth's layout seems intricate, but there might be clues or signs we've missed."

Karlina leaned forward, her eyes bright with determination. "Let's not waste any time. The sooner we find a way out, the sooner we can part ways amicably."

Nadia glanced at me, her expression reassuring. "Darian, you're still recovering, so I suggest you stay close to us. We'll protect you and navigate through this together."

I nodded, grateful for their support. "Thank you. I'll do my best to help."

With a shared nod, the group began discussing their next moves, strategizing how to progress deeper into the labyrinth while avoiding further confrontations. The atmosphere was tense yet focused, each member bringing their unique skills and perspectives to the planning.

"I suggest you get ready, Darian." Nadia said as she started to pack her things in the camp. "Shit's about to hit the fan."

I nodded as I got up from the bed, only to realize I didn't have my clothes. I was wearing someone else's trousers. 

"Umm, where are my clothes?" I asked, a bit embarrassed. 

"Oh, your clothes were in no wearable condition after we had found you. So I changed you into my trousers. Though Karlina insisted that she should change your clothes." Reiner said as he shot a look towards Karlina. 

The redhead's face became the same shade as her hair and she dashed away with an 'eep!'

I smirked as I watched her escaping figure. 

'Don't worry, I like you too.' 

"Hey, so what do I do about my shirt? You don't supposedly have a spare set of armour, do you?" 

"Actually, I do!" Nadia said as she reached for something in her bag. 

- - -

"Okay, this fits, I guess." I said as I adjusted my robes.

The robes were slightly oversized but comfortable, crafted from a tough, dark material that seemed both durable and practical. They were adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered subtly in the light, depicting what looked like protective runes or sigils.

"You look good," Nadia said with a smile. "The enchantments on those robes should offer you some protection, too."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling more at ease now that I was properly dressed. "So, what's the plan?"

Nadia gathered everyone around, spreading out a rough map of the labyrinth. "We're here," she said, pointing to a marked spot. "Our best bet is to head towards the central chamber. From what we've gathered, there's an exit there, but it's heavily guarded."

Elaria nodded, her expression serious. "We'll need to be careful. The creatures we've encountered so far are just the beginning. We'll likely face stronger foes as we get closer to the center."

Reiner adjusted his glasses, his eyes scanning the map. "I've prepared healing spells and potions, but we need to avoid unnecessary fights. Conservation of resources is key."

Marksi, the Elf, spoke up, his voice calm and steady. "I'll take point. My senses can detect any traps or ambushes before we stumble into them."

Karlina, still slightly red-faced from earlier, added with a determined look, "I'll cover the rear and ensure nothing sneaks up on us."

Nadia turned to me, her eyes filled with resolve. "Darian, you stay close to the middle. You're still recovering, and we can't afford to lose you."

"Understood," I replied, feeling a mix of determination and gratitude. "I'll do my best to support you all."

With the plan in place, we packed up our camp and began our journey deeper into the labyrinth. The corridors were dimly lit by torches mounted on the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced with our every step. The air grew colder as we advanced, and an unsettling silence filled the space, broken only by the distant echoes of our movements.

As we walked, Nadia kept us focused, her leadership evident in her calm and decisive demeanor. Elaria's presence was reassuring, her towering figure a reminder of our collective strength. Reiner's quiet confidence and Marksi's keen senses added to our sense of security. Karlina, despite her earlier embarrassment, moved with a grace and precision that spoke of her skill.

We continued our journey through the labyrinth, encountering various monsters and challenges along the way. With each battle, I observed and learned, replicating the skills of my comrades and the monsters we faced. My progress was steady, and I felt myself growing stronger and more capable with each step.

On my way, I had been able to replicate some of the skills the Black Fang members performed. They were:

[Titanic Strength] Lvl 1, which I copied from Elaria allowed me to boost my physical stats by 10 fold for around 7 or so minutes. Though, I could definitely level up this skill to make the effect last longer. 

[Archery] Lvl 1, which I had gained from Marksi allowed me to have an instinctive understanding of the way of the bow. I observed Marksi very carefully to achieve this. 

I had also discovered another thing about the system. Well, two things: Techniques and the fact that I gained 5 SP (Stat Points) every time I leveled up. The fact that I had jumped to such a High Level when I fought Gelvan, I had accumulated a total of 145 SPs, as I had used none since my coming to this world. So, I equally distributed the points to my stats:

Strength: ( 37 + 24 = 61 )

Vitality: ( 42 + 24 = 66 )

Agility: ( 37 + 24 = 61 )

Intelligence: ( 45 + 24 = 69 )

Charisma: ( 52 + 24 = 76 )

Magic: ( 32 + 25 = 57 )

Techniques were essentially abilities that you learned by watching someone do it or having someone teach it to you or have a certain Talent called [Omni-Sense] and just replicate them by just watching. Hehe…

The main difference between Techniques and Skills were that with skills, you had an intrinsic knowledge on how to perform them. But with Techniques, you needed to properly learn the tricks and everything about the Technique to replicate them properly. Thankfully my replication capabilities with the use of [Omni-Sense] was so advanced, I was easily able to replicate Techniques with ease. 

I was able to pick up:

[Sword of the Eclipse] Nadia channels her energy into her sword, unleashing a powerful horizontal slash that emits crescent-shaped shockwaves, cutting through multiple enemies in its path.

[Blade of Serenity] Nadia enters a meditative state, focusing her inner calm into her sword. When she strikes, her blade moves with unmatched speed and precision, delivering a flurry of slashes that overwhelm opponents with ease.

[Celestial Dance] Nadia spins gracefully, her sword creating a barrier of swirling energy around her. As she moves, the barrier expands and contracts, deflecting incoming attacks while she maneuvers to strike vulnerable spots.

[Shadowstep Blade] Karlina melds with the shadows, teleporting behind her target in an instant. Before the enemy can react, she delivers a lightning-fast series of slashes with her daggers, leaving behind afterimages of her strikes.

[Venomous Veil] Karlina coats her blades with a potent poison and performs a spinning attack. As her daggers slice through the air, they release toxic mist that envelops nearby enemies, causing them to weaken and suffer from debilitating effects.

[Phantom Mirage] Karlina creates illusions of herself, each wielding a shimmering dagger. The illusions mimic her movements perfectly, confusing enemies and making it difficult for them to discern her true position until she strikes with deadly accuracy.

[Earthbreaker Strike] Elaria channels her strength into her greatsword, smashing it into the ground. The impact sends shockwaves through the earth, creating fissures and launching nearby enemies into the air while leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.

[Aegis Wall] Elaria plants her greatsword into the ground, generating a protective barrier of energy that blocks incoming attacks from all directions. The barrier absorbs damage and reflects some of it back at attackers, providing a brief respite for her allies.

[Tempest Cleaver] Elaria performs a spinning attack with her greatsword, creating a whirlwind of force around her. The whirlwind grows in intensity, pulling enemies closer and disrupting their formations before she delivers a devastating final blow. 

- - -

After several hours of battling low level monsters, we came across a giant room with five doors, each ornately decorated and exuding a sense of foreboding. I was the first to step inside, my curiosity piqued by the mysterious doors. 

As soon as my foot hit the ground, a subtle *click* echoed through the chamber. Before I could react, heavy stone doors slammed shut behind me, separating me from the rest of the Black Fang.

"Darian!" Nadia shouted, her voice muffled by the thick door. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" I called back, my heart racing. "But I'm stuck in here! The door closed on its own!"

Marksi's calm voice came through next. "There must be a way to open it from your side. Stay calm and look around."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Panic threatened to overtake me, but I forced myself to focus. Mimir's voice echoed in my mind, providing a much-needed anchor.

«Darian, the best course of action is to proceed through the labyrinth and clear it. It will likely lead to a way to reunite with your comrades.»

Swallowing hard, I nodded to myself. "Alright. I'll find a way through and meet you on the other side."

"Be careful," Nadia's voice was filled with concern. "We'll try to find another way to reach you. Don't take unnecessary risks."

«Each door leads to a different challenge. Be prepared for near-death experiences, Darian. The beings in these chambers are far more powerful than you can imagine. I recommend you proceed with caution.»

I nodded, acknowledging Mimir's advice. "Alright, Mimir. I'll be careful and proceed with caution."

Taking a deep breath, I approached the first door, which was adorned with intricate carvings of flames. The air around it was warm, almost scorching. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Chamber of Flames

The room was vast, with walls of blazing fire and a ceiling that seemed to stretch infinitely upward. The heat was intense, almost unbearable. In the center of the room, hovering above a pool of molten lava, was a small, ethereal figure with clear, fly-like wings.

Her petite body glowed with a fiery aura, and her beautiful face was framed by a cascade of red hair. She looked delicate, almost innocent, but the power radiating from her was undeniable.

"Finally, someone comes," she said, her voice carrying a mixture of relief and irritation. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting here?"

Mimir's voice trembled in my mind. «That's Ameri, a Fairy proficient in Flame Magic. Be extremely cautious, Darian. Her power is leagues above yours.»

"I'm sorry you've been alone for so long," I said, trying to stay calm. "But I need to get through this labyrinth, and that means facing you."

Ameri sighed, her wings fluttering. "You're so weak. This is almost disappointing." She flicked her hand, and a wave of fire surged towards me.

-The End-