Apocalypse Baby

Not everyone had it as easy as Alex.

For most players, the Deathmaze lived up to its name.

Monsters lurched from the shadows.

Traps sprang from the walls and floor.

And worst of all, the maze itself fought against them.

Many got turned around confused.

Many ran in circles.

And many found themselves hopelessly lost.

Among them were Ezekiel and Dorion.

The two had entered together as Ezekiel thought it'd be safer that way.

But he was wrong.

Ezekiel let out a long sigh, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the wall ahead of him.

There—etched into the stone—was a mark he had made an hour ago.

Dorion saw it too.

And his frustration boiled over.

"Goddammit… This is your fault."

He turned to Ezekiel, eyes burning with irritation.

"You told me to trust your navigation! Now look what happened!"

Ezekiel clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Well, I'm not the one who provoked the damn monsters, forcing us to run for our lives."

He shot Dorion a glare, his patience running thin.

This guy…

He was like a rabid dog, lunging at every monster they came across as if he was programmed to pick fights.

And because of that?

They had been chased, cornered, nearly killed—all because Dorion couldn't control himself.

How the hell was Ezekiel supposed to focus on finding a path when he had to deal with this reckless idiot?

Dorion's temper snapped.

"You know what? I've had enough of your nonsense."

His voice was sharp, filled with raw hostility.

He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous.

"You think you can read me like a book?"

Dorion cracked his knuckles, his aura flaring.

"Screw it. I might as well get rid of you now. You're useless to me anyway."@@novelbin@@

Ezekiel exhaled slowly.

Weary. Irritated and done with this shit.

With a single motion, he reached behind his back and drew his greatsword.

The heavy steel gleamed under the dim maze light.

His voice was calm, steady:

"Fine then. Bring it. I need all the Nightmare Points I can get… Might as well take yours."

He raised his blade, planting his feet in a solid stance.

Dorion's lips twisted into a wicked grin.

"Oh? You hypocrite… Finally revealing your true desires, huh?"

Ezekiel's grip on his sword tightened.

"I'm not a hypocrite."

"Your denial itself is hypocritical," Dorion responded.

Ezekiel groaned, gripping his greatsword tightly.

With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, swinging his blade in a sharp arc—but Dorion was fast.

He leaped backward, dodging just in time, his feet skidding against the stone floor.

Dorion smirked. "You scolded me for killing that girl to earn Nightmare Points…"

His voice was taunting, filled with mockery.

"Yet when I transferred some to you, you didn't decline them. You used them to move forward."

Ezekiel's jaw tightened.

"You call me out for doing the dirty work, but when I offer you the rewards of that dirty work—" Dorion's eyes gleamed with contempt. "You take it. And then you shame me afterward?"

He spat on the ground.

"You're a f*cking hypocrite, Ezekiel."

Ezekiel exhaled, keeping his emotions in check.

"I'm only doing what it takes to survive."

Dorion's smirk widened. "Then kill like I do."

Silence stretched between them.

Ezekiel sighed, turning away.

That single act—his lack of response—ignited Dorion's fury.

Dorion's expression darkened, his aura turning ice-cold.

"Like I said, I've had enough of your half-assed behavior." His grip tightened on his scythe. "This partnership ends with your death."

He surged forward, his weapon gleaming in the dim light.

But before his attack could land.

FWOOOSH!

A piercing gust sliced through the air.

Sharp icicles, shaped like deadly javelins, streaked past Ezekiel from behind—

Straight toward Dorion.

His eyes widened. Shit!

With a sharp spin, he swung his scythe.

CLANG!

The force of his counter sent shards of ice scattering.

Ezekiel instantly sensed someone behind him.

His instincts screamed danger.

Without hesitation, he abandoned his attack, pushing off the ground and landing beside Dorion.

Just moments ago, they were ready to kill each other.

But now?

A new foe had entered the scene.

Both their gazes snapped toward the approaching figure.

An old man.

He wore the tattered robes of a ronin, his posture relaxed yet commanding. In his hand, a blade pulsed with energy—a bluish glow, flowing like liquid metal, shifting like a living current.

The temperature seemed to drop as he stepped forward, the pressure around them growing unbearable.

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Dorion clenched his jaw. Who the hell is this?

The old man stopped a few feet away. His piercing gaze locked onto Dorion.

His voice was deep, unwavering. "Kid with the scythe? Are you Dorion?"

Dorion's eyes narrowed.

His mind raced—he didn't recognize this man.

Not his face. Not his voice.

But that aura.

It was monstrous.

And that attire…

It felt familiar. Like something he had seen before, but couldn't quite place.

The old man's gaze sharpened. "Answer me! Are you Dorion?"

Onigi spoke calmly, but his aura was anything but.

It raged around him like a boiling inferno, heavy and suffocating.

Ezekiel swallowed hard. His instincts screamed at him—this was no ordinary foe.

Something about the man's familiar clothing set off alarm bells in his head. A realization dawned, one he didn't like.

He gritted his teeth.

Traveling with Dorion had been a mistake.

A big mistake.

Dorion, unfazed, folded his arms. His voice was casual, almost bored.

"Yeah, I'm Dorion. Who's asking?"

The old man's grip on his sword tightened. His next words carried the weight of pure vengeance.

"Kiri... You killed my daughter, Kiri, just to gain enough Nightmare Points to be here."

Dorion's eyes narrowed.

For a second, he seemed confused.

Then, it clicked.

Oh.

So that's what this was about.

A slow grin spread across his face, his features twisting with amusement.

He chuckled, tilting his head.

His words dripping with mockery.

"Kiri…? Who the hell is that?"

Ezekiel's jaw dropped.

He had no doubts now.

The kid standing beside him wasn't just reckless—he was a maniac.

A walking disaster who would most certainly get him killed.

Onigi said nothing.

His face was calm, his expression unreadable.

But the silence was worse than any outburst.

Then in a terrifying blur of motion, he moved.

FWOOSH!

He shot toward Dorion like a missile, his blade glowing with lethal intent.

Dorion reacted instantly, spinning his scythe into position, ready to clash.

But then...

BOOM!

The entire wall beside them exploded.

A shockwave of rock and dust blasted outward, cutting the fight short.

Onigi flipped backward, dodging the debris with inhuman reflexes.

Dorion caught off guard, barely managed to shield himself from the flying rubble.

Ezekiel wasn't so lucky.

He staggered, coughing violently as thick smoke curled around them.

"What the hell...cough, cough...was that?!" he wheezed, trying to see through the haze.

Then footsteps.

Slow. Casual.

A shadow emerged through the dust, stepping right into the tense standoff.

His hands stuffed into his pockets.

Flip-flops.

Beach shirt.

Walking in like he just got back from vacation.

The dust settled, and his face came into view.

Alex.

He glanced around, recognizing familiar faces.

Then, with a lazy grin, he muttered:

"Oh…"

His gaze flicked between the three players.

Then he smirked.

"What the hell is going on here?"