Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

The Minotaur roared, its axe cleaving through the air, but Edric was already moving. His body twisted, muscles swelling—fur bristling one second, then shifting into the hulking, armored form of his torus state the next. He slammed into the beast, sending it crashing into the labyrinth's stone wall.

Before it could recover, he shifted again. Claws extended. Fangs bared. The Minotaur swung wildly, but Edric was faster. He tore into its side, ripping out the flesh with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed, coating the ground. The Minotaur howled in agony, staggering back, but Edric didn't stop.

With a snarl, he shifted mid-air, his torus form crushing the Minotaur's arm before shifting back to his wolf form, his jaws clamping down on its throat. The beast gurgled, its struggles weakening. Edric twisted. A snap. Silence.

The Minotaur's lifeless body collapsed, its blood pooling beneath it. Edric stepped back, panting, his eyes still burning with the thrill of the kill.

"Wow...that was brutal." Amanda praised as she stood at one corner of the boss's room.

This was the last floor of the labyrinth. And finally, their trip to the labyrinth came to an end after a whole week.

There were ten floors in the labyrinth, and most of the monsters were annihilated by Edric.

Amanda has seen the warrior progress before her eyes. His overflowing Soul Energy was almost terrifying as he stood there, over the Minotaur.

'Alex knows him more than me...' Amanda couldn't help but sigh. After all, it was Alex who recognized how much potential Edric had, yet he wasn't utilizing it.

And now, Amanda could tell, after watching Edric from close, that he indeed wasn't giving it his all, and was progressing very slowly while he was at the academy.

"Got any towel, Amy?" He asked as he stepped back from the monster.

Edric's face was dyed in the black shade of the monster's blood and his clothes were barely covering his body.

Some might find it disgusting, but those abs and wide shoulders made Amanda blush slightly, "N-No, I don't. We are out of ration and clothes." They didn't think they would stay here for this long. If not Amanda had been cautious and had listened to Edric, then they might have run out of supplies three days ago.

Edric ripped the remnant off his shirt before he began wiping his mouth.

Amanda averted her gaze as she fanned her hot face.

Edric noticed her unusual behavior before he looked down at himself.

...oh. He has to say that just a week was enough to buff him up.

He remembers Amanda once telling him that she likes a slightly bulked-up body rather than lean muscles.

With a faint smirk, he advanced toward Amanda before wrapping his arm around her well-shaped waist.

Pulling the girl closer, he said, "Finding it difficult to look at me?"

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Amand scoffed, "Don't get ahead of yourself. I feel nothing."

Well, when embarrassed even the honest ones start lying.

Edric really wanted to kiss his woman right away, but with this mouth, he would just end up making her vomit. So he chose to rather return to the surface first.

....

En route, the smell of rotting flesh and pools of blood greeted them.

Labyrinth is the home of monsters, like a nest.

Most of the registered ones are artificial labyrinths in which monsters are attracted using several means. However, the naturally formed one, like this one, is far more dangerous since, in this, the floors are not divided based on monster levels. Sometimes, one might find the boss on floor one.

That explains why Edric was able to defeat the Minotaur so easily, since on the fifth floor, he went against an Earth-dragon.

Amanda's nose has become resistant to bad odor. She doesn't even cover her nose anymore.

"But truly, Alex's advice helped me." Edric spoke as he helped Amanda to cross over a boulder, "If not for him giving me a wake-up call, I wouldn't have even considered diving in a labyrinth around this time."

Amanda hummed, "I agree. You barely went out to hunt these days, maybe because you started to rely on Alex more."

Edric chuckled, "You are right about that. Having a strong person around you makes you lax. But I cannot depend on him...not after what the Divine Beings relayed."

Amanda felt slightly troubled. Considering how quickly Edric was growing strong, there was no doubt that he would become a valid contender for participation.

However, "Are you really sure you want to go...Alex said it would be hell-level difficulty."

Alex was connected to a being who once was a member of the immortal plane. The Curse. And based on what the Curse said, the trials would not be like any danger they have faced until now. Something unprecedented and horrifying awaits.

Edric heaved a sigh as he squeezed her hand and told her, "It isn't just Alex who cares about the one he loves. I also have a reason to be present during the trials...because I want to protect the woman I love."

Amanda helplessly smiled upon hearing his words,

"Saying such sweet words… are you trying to make me fall for you all over again?"

Edric chuckled, as he continued to walk with Amanda's hand in his.

The couple continued to chat as they finally saw the exit of the labyrinth and sunlight after a whole week.

Amanda heaved a long sigh of relief as she bathed in the fresh sunlight.

Edric also felt refreshed breathing in fresh air rather than inhaling the toxicity.

"Should we head back to the town?" Edric asked. They have rested in a nearby town before diving into the labyrinth.

Amanda was about to nod when suddenly they heard a noise.

Edric was instantly alerted as he prepared to lunge at the person.

"Oh, I finally found you." However, Edric didn't need to attack the person since it was just a delivery guy.

"How did you find me?" Edric asked as he got the letter from the man.

"I followed your presence. It was around somewhere but I didn't think you would be in a dungeon."

Edric raised his brows, a delivery guy who can follow presence? Hmmm, that's new.

Regardless, Edric tore the envelope and read the content of the letter...only to find his eyes widening upon realizing who sent it and what the situation was at the cathedral.

Amanda's expression was the same as she slowly uttered, "Let's get our thing from the motel and leave at once."

Edric didn't say another word, and after switching to his wolf form, he carried Amanda and rushed towards the town.

°°°°°°°°

Alex was currently surrounded by people. Some are known, and some are not.

The people from the church were all surrounding Alex with a sense of relief in their eyes.

All the important guests who came to discuss the matter related to Celestial Decree returned once they heard that Alex was recovering. After all, they have their nations to control.

"It's a relief that you are doing well now, Savior Alex." The Pope spoke, his eyes slightly moist, "For all the pain and suffering you had to go through, I take full responsibility for it."

"Your Holiness?!" Alex was taken aback seeing such an elderly man lowering his head in front of him. And following that, every church member lowered their head to apologize to him.

Alex glanced at Sarah and found the girl having the expression that said, 'You handle this'.

With a sigh, he spoke, "I really don't blame you all for what happened. The ones who conspired against me have already received their punishment. So please raise your heads."

Hearing those words, the Pope slowly raised his head, and looked at Alex with a fond smile, "Sarah is like my daughter, and when she showed affection towards you, I was unsure of her decision. However, now I am sure that she chose the right person. You are both kind and brave, Alex."

Resting his hand on Alex's head, he added, "God bless you, my child."

Alex was rendered speechless hearing that. It was slightly surprising that despite having witnessed the Curse the Pope was showing such a kind side to him.

Not so long after they all left the room, leaving the four of them in the room.

Celestria helped him finish the soup as Alex rested on the chair.

"Have you heard anything from the Curse after waking up?" Sarah asked as she sat across from him.

Alex tiredly told her, "You know what my soul age is right now?"

The three ladies glanced at each other before Rebecca asked, "What?"

Alex lowered his head, "I have reached ninety-nine."

Their expression turned tensed upon hearing that. That is a very serious situation.

"N-Now what...?" Celestria asked.

Alex stretched his arms, as he said, "See this face as much as you want since I am so gonna get busy with my training for the following few months."

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.