Chapter 1 : Pawn

One hundred years ago mankind was surprised by a strange phenomenon that cannot be explained. Growing from the ground hundreds of tall towers that soared to touch the sky. Filled with many mysteries and abundant natural resources, these towers are waiting to be explored.

Labyrinth tower. the name that humanity gave to the mysterious building. Called the labyrinth because it is suspected that anyone who tries to enter, can no longer return. However, this actually encourages every country to participate in exploring the maze tower. Competing for natural resources that cannot be found anywhere in the world, everyone feels called to explore.

In this new era was born a job that supports everyone to participate in the exploration team. Explorer, a type of work that puts your life on the line, just for the sake of a thirst for adventure. Wealth, Power, Fame, everyone who enters the maze tower is looking for that.

In 2022, the executive chairman of the labyrinth tower in Indonesia held a general meeting attended by every captain of the executive team. Each team is sorted from the weakest, namely the Pawn team, Rock team, Horse team, Bishop team, Queen team and King team.

They discuss about a problem that is happening in the tower. Anders Marnek, son of a State official, six months ago led an exploration team called the Red Cube, exploring the 1st floor Tower. But so far none of them have managed to get out.

'As we know, nature moves differently inside the tower. If you enter from the first floor, the only way out is from the 2nd floor. That's because the more we go up, the more we can't go down. The pressure of being submerged in an ocean will shatter your vein if we try to get back the way we came in.' said the chief executive.

'that means if six months have passed, they are now trapped. So what's the reward for this rescue mission?' said the captain of the Queen team.

'hahaha you always catch on fast, Rivel. Of course the reward is quite large, because Anders Marnek is the son of a high-ranking official in this country. He's also a member of the Echo Pyramid, one of the great Guilds of the five top Guilds in the Country.' said the chief executive in response to the Queen's team captain's question.

'Then I TAKE THIS MISSION!'

'NO, LEAVE IT TO ME!'

'MY TEAM IS BETTER FOR A RESCUE MISSION!'

'LET ME DO IT!'

Shout one to another. Instantly the meeting room became noisy because each team captain wanted to take on this mission.

In the midst of the chaos the chief executive calmed them down. 'Do not rush. I haven't even told you which Tower that Anders went to explore.'

Everyone in the room fell silent and only paid attention to their leader's next words.

'The Wrath-type tower where Anders Marnek and his exploration squad are trapped.'

Those who initially fought each other to take this mission are now silent as if their mouths have become stiff. Things got so quiet. Only the sound of the second hand ticking on the wall clock remained. Sweat dripped from the temples of the eyes, but no one moved to take a handkerchief. Because it was a situation that every one of them could not expect.

'I'll do it.'

Every eye turned to the direction where the voice came from. Armed with a handful of questions, who is the squad captain who was so stupid as to take on this mission?

Nora Evelyn is the person. The captain of the Pawn team.

Steve, the captain of the Rock squad, immediately scolded Evelyn. 'are you too stupid to not be able to judge observantly? You are the weakest among us. What can you do in front of a Wrath-type Tower? Which even in the entire earth, the 1st floor of this type of tower alone has not been conquered.'

Evan, the captain of the King's team, also rebuked Evelyn. 'Steve's right. We already consider you as the youngest sister in this organization. We don't want to lose you.'

Annoyed by what Steve and Evan had said, Evelyn replied: 'I'm still an A-level Explorer though. And this way I can be one step ahead of you guys in inheriting the position of executive chairman. I know that I am the weakest, so only this way can I prove that I can compete with you guys too.'

'hahahaha' the chief executive laughed at the behavior of Evelyn, the captain of the weakest team.

'Okay! I'm too old now. It is time for someone to take this position. I'll give this chair to you Evelyn, that's if you can return safely. Ha ha ha.'

The chief executive said that because he underestimated Evelyn.

After the meeting, Evelyn immediately rushed to gather all the members of the Pawn team. They discussed the mission Evelyn had taken. Each of them knew that this was a suicide mission. The members of the Pawn team consisted of only eight A-level explorers. They needed one S-level explorer to fulfill the requirements for forming an exploration team.

A crazy idea flashed in Evelyn's head for a moment. 'I will recruit an inmate to participate in this rescue mission. You could say his abilities are on par with an S-level explorer. With my position as one of the captains of the labyrinth tower executive team, I would get special treatment if I submitted the appropriate documents to the prison. Do any of you have any objections?'

'That's a crazy idea, but I support your decision'

'we believe in your leadership'

"If you walk into the valley of death, I'll follow right behind you"

All members of the Pawn squad support their captain's decision. 'Even though she's the weakest, she's still our Captain.'

One week was spent by the Pawn team to prepare and take care of the files that would be brought to recruit a prisoner who would later become a member of the exploration team. Evelyn and a member of the team finally enter a building filled with criminals.

Down the long hallway leading to the warden's office, Evelyn's mind was filled with anxiety about the dangers she would face. The tower they are going to explore is a Wrath type tower. And even worse, among them will join an inmate with a large-scale murder case. A psychopath awaiting the death penalty.

'Captain, perhaps we should reconsider this decision. Asking for help from a criminal seems like a rash act,' said the team's crew.

'There is no other choice. The Pawn team is known as the weakest executive team. After all, no one would want to join if they knew we were aiming for a Wrath-type tower." Evelyn replied with a frown.

Evelyn continued to ask: 'Do you know the ideal requirements for forming an exploration team'

'at universities teach it as basic knowledge. To get permission to explore the tower, explorers must form a team consisting of: Two Tanker-type explorers in charge of resisting attacks, three Fighter-type explorers in charge of attacking. two Mage-type explorers to weaken the enemy, one each for assassin-type explorers and marksman-types in charge of sneak attacks and ranged attacks. And lastly and most importantly, there are one or two healer-type explorers who act as doctors.' replied the crew members.

Evelyn then looked her subordinates in the eyes and said: 'The formation of this team aims to ensure the safety of explorers while exploring the maze tower. The squad formation standard you said only applies to towers on the first to second floors. To explore the third floor tower and above requires more than that.'

'So what's the point of you telling me that?' asked the crew.

Evelyn took a deep breath and said: 'This person we're about to meet has successfully conquered the 4th floor Tower..'

'..alone.'

"Elisa Mammon, an inmate with a premeditated murder case against twenty-four members of the executive team, 15 years ago." Said the warden who suddenly joined in their conversation.