[99] The Swarm’s Collapse and the Crystals’ Whisper

The third floor of the Teleport Labyrinth, with its rough stone walls and dim light from embedded mana crystals, brought new challenges for Billy and Levi. After hours of relentless battles against wave after wave of giant ants, exhaustion began to take its toll on their bodies.

In the silence of a narrow corridor, the two paused to catch their breath, leaning against the cold, uneven walls. Their labored breathing echoed faintly, broken only by the distant sound of countless skittering legs.

"This is… insane," Billy panted, pulling a small bottle of water from his sub-space ring. He took a long swig before continuing. "These ants are endless. Even my boundless enthusiasm is starting to run dry."

Levi stood upright, gripping Leviathana tightly, his expression as stoic as ever. "We can't keep this up. Fighting them head-on will only drain us further."

Billy offered a small, tired grin despite his weariness. "I hate to admit it, but you're right. We need a strategy. Something clever, something that uses the terrain and our gear."

Levi nodded. "And we need to act fast. If we stay stuck here much longer, our chances of survival will drop significantly."

Billy adjusted his hat, deep in thought. "Alright, let's see what we've got. I've got some tools in the sub-space ring: magic grenades, mechanical traps, and maybe some materials I can MacGyver into something bigger. What about you?"

Levi raised his sword slightly, the glow of the mana crystals reflecting off its blade. "Just this sword and my skills. But I can lure them if you have a plan."

Billy pulled out a small grenade, spinning it in his hand as he examined the corridor ahead. "Alright, here's the deal. Those ants move in tight groups. We'll lure them into a narrow passage, and I'll use this mechanical trap to take out as many as we can in one go. After that, we head for the next teleportation circle."

Levi's eyes narrowed as he assessed the plan. "And if your trap fails?"

Billy's grin widened. "That's why you're here, Levi. If something goes wrong, I know you can handle the cleanup."

Levi sighed, though the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Fine. Let's try it."

Levi moved forward, stepping cautiously into a wider section of the labyrinth. Dragging the tip of his sword against the floor, he produced a sharp, grating sound that echoed through the corridors—enough to draw the attention of any nearby creatures.

"Hey, all of you!" Levi shouted, his voice ringing out. "Come and get me!"

From the shadows, dozens of glowing eyes appeared, followed by the chittering of mandibles. The giant ants surged toward him, their sharp jaws snapping as they advanced.

At the same time, Billy worked quickly, setting up a mechanical trap at the entrance to a narrow corridor. "Hurry up, Levi! They're coming!"

Levi backed away slowly, keeping his distance from the swarm. When he reached the designated spot, he leapt backward over the trap, landing gracefully beside Billy.

"All set?" Levi asked, gripping his sword tightly.

Billy nodded, holding a small detonator. "Set. Say goodbye, little ants!"

As the swarm poured into the narrow passage, Billy pressed the button. A massive explosion rocked the labyrinth, the sound of shattering stone and screeching ants filling the air. Smoke and debris clouded the corridor, and when it finally settled, only rubble and mangled ant carcasses remained.

Billy leaned against the wall, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Well, that was satisfying. No need for one-at-a-time slicing anymore."

Levi surveyed the destruction with his usual calm demeanor. "Efficient. But we still have many floors to get through."

Billy let out a small laugh. "You know, Levi, you need to learn to enjoy the little victories. Otherwise, you'll end up old before your time."

Levi shook his head but allowed a faint smile. "I'll celebrate when we make it out of here alive."

Billy clapped Levi on the shoulder. "That's why we make a great team. You're the realist; I'm the optimist. Now, let's find the next teleportation circle before more ants show up."

Reinvigorated by their successful strategy, Billy and Levi continued through the dark, twisting corridors. With their teamwork proving effective, they pressed on with confidence that they could handle whatever awaited them.

On the sixth floor of the Teleport Labyrinth, the atmosphere grew heavier. The concentration of mana in the air was so thick it felt like a warm pressure against their skin. The massive chamber they now stood in was surrounded by softly glowing mana crystals, casting an ethereal light that created a deceptive sense of tranquility.

But the silence carried something else—something darker, waiting to strike.

Billy sat on the cold stone floor, inspecting a handful of mana crystals he had collected and stored in his sub-space ring. His breaths were heavy, but a small, satisfied smile played on his lips. "Phew. That was a rough journey. Three days, Levi. Three full days of monsters and traps. Aren't you even a little proud of us?"

Levi leaned against a wall, Leviathana resting at his side. His expression remained unreadable. "I'm more proud that we're still alive. We're not out of this yet, so I won't celebrate anything prematurely."

Billy chuckled, pulling a water bottle from his sub-space ring and handing it to Levi. "You really know how to kill the mood, Levi. But you're right, as usual. There's still that teleportation circle, and who knows if it'll take us out or drop us into another death trap."

Levi accepted the bottle, taking a small sip before speaking. "Magic circles in labyrinths like this are almost always traps. We need more information before moving forward."

Billy stretched out his legs, groaning slightly. "Agreed. But for now, let me savor this moment. This is the first time I've seen a place with so many mana crystals. The mana concentration here is insane."

Levi scanned the chamber, his sharp eyes narrowing. "That's what makes this place strange. The environment doesn't match the types of monsters we've faced. Too many ants for a chamber like this—it's as if something's controlling the ecosystem."

Billy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe that's a clue about what's deeper down here."

Before he could say more, Billy suddenly tensed, his eyes darting upward. He raised a hand to signal Levi to be silent.

Levi raised an eyebrow but followed Billy's lead without question. "What do you hear?" he asked in a hushed voice.

Billy didn't answer, closing his eyes to focus. Moments later, his eyes snapped open, and without hesitation, he pulled Pollux from its holster. A crackling blast of magical energy erupted from the pistol, striking the stone floor in the center of the chamber.

As the dust cleared, a hidden mechanism began to move, revealing a trapdoor beneath the stone. Something within stirred—a deep, resonating growl that sent a shiver down their spines.

Billy holstered his pistol, his grin returning. "Looks like we just found our next challenge."

Levi unsheathed Leviathana, his gaze fixed on the ominous opening. "Stay sharp, Billy. Whatever's down there isn't going to be friendly."

"Friendly's overrated," Billy quipped, his pistols at the ready. "Let's see what this labyrinth is hiding."

Together, they stepped forward, ready to face the unknown depths of the labyrinth's sixth floor.

BOOM!

A small explosion shook the chamber, and a large crack spread across the floor where Billy had fired his shot. Dust filled the air, and as it settled, a gaping hole was revealed. From it, a winding stone staircase descended into darkness.

Levi approached cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the stairs. "A hidden passage?" he muttered.

Billy grinned, holstering his pistol. "Bingo. I knew I heard the sound of wind coming from below. This has to lead to something big."

The two stood at the edge of the opening, exchanging a glance.

"So, we agree the magic circle in this room is a trap?" Levi asked, his sharp gaze fixed on Billy.

Billy nodded firmly. "That's the most logical assumption. A labyrinth like this wouldn't just hand over an exit without a catch. If I were the designer, I'd make sure the circle sends people somewhere worse, not out."

Levi turned his attention to the staircase leading down. "And this room… If it's a hidden area, it could be where the labyrinth's boss resides. We'll need to tread carefully."

Billy adjusted his cowboy jacket, pulling a magic grenade from his sub-space ring and slipping it into a pouch on his belt. "Agreed. We're not rushing in blindly. But we can't pass this up. If there's a boss, it might hold the key to escaping this place."

Levi unsheathed his sword, inspecting the blade briefly before sliding it back into its scabbard. "Fine. We go in slowly, gather as much intel as we can before acting."

Billy flashed a grin, raising his pistols. "That's a solid plan. I like how you think, Levi."

Levi sighed, his tone dry. "Let's hope it's solid enough to keep us alive."

The spiraling stone staircase led them into a cavernous chamber, far darker than anything they'd encountered so far in the labyrinth. The oppressive air felt heavier, thick with an almost suffocating presence of mana.