Maggie Phire led Vincent and nineteen other Origin Warriors along a winding, uneven trail. Their pace was steady, but the worry etched on her face, coupled with her frequent glances over her shoulder, betrayed her growing anxiety. Ahead lay their destination, the Tier 2 Labyrinth: Howling Spires, still a considerable distance away. At this rate, their progress was far from ideal.
Vincent surmised her concern lay with her people. Outside the labyrinth, they were holding back the Primals, risking their lives to prevent a breakout. The weight of responsibility visibly bore down on her.
Suddenly, Maggie came to a halt, turning sharply toward the group. Her eyes burned with resolve, her voice cutting through the quiet with commanding authority.
"Halt!"
"What's wrong, Vice Leader Maggie?" one of the warriors asked, curiosity cutting through the group's urgency.
Her expression was resolute. "I apologize, but moving at this pace, we'll be too late. My people are holding the line with their lives, and I can't allow them to fight alone any longer. I'll go ahead to clear a path. Follow quickly; I'll ensure you encounter no Primals on the way."
Before anyone could argue, a Lizardman stepped forward, thumping his scaled chest with confidence. "Vice Leader, you don't need to worry about us! I, Lizno, will lead the team to the destination."
Maggie nodded, wasting no time. "Good. I'm entrusting them to you, Lizno. Catch up as fast as you can."
"Understood."
With that, Maggie turned, fiery energy erupting behind her as it transformed into wings of flame. In a single powerful leap, she disappeared into the sky.
One of the warriors let out an envious murmur. "When will I get a flying skill like that?"
Another scoffed. "Focus on ascending to Tier 2 first before dreaming about fancy skills."
"Hmph, at least I have goals," the first one shot back. "Unlike some people here who bring pets along as if this is a field trip."
The group's attention shifted to Vincent and the small, fluffy creature perched on his shoulder—Mochi. Quiet mutters rippled through their ranks.
"What's he thinking, bringing a pet?"
"Maybe he's here to die…"
"No one dies in the Origin World, idiot. If he wants to off himself, he can do it back on his planet."
"Quiet. He's probably just a clueless newbie chasing rewards."
Lizno's sharp gaze landed briefly on Vincent before he barked a command. "Enough! This isn't a casual mission. We're here to reinforce the Vice Leader. Move out!"
The grumbling died down, though one warrior continued glaring at Vincent. Mochi, unfazed, tilted her head and spoke through their mental link.
"Do you know that guy?"
Vincent's lips curled into a smirk as he glanced at the cloaked figure. Their eyes met briefly.
"No," he replied inwardly, his voice calm. "But it seems he knows me."
Scanning the group discreetly with Heaven Eyes, Vincent's smirk deepened.
"Hehe," he chuckled to himself.
Mochi tilted her head further. "What's so funny? Did my question break your brain?"
Vincent chuckled softly, letting the moment pass.
The group reached a fork in the road. Two trails snaked upward, each disappearing into the rocky hills ahead.
"Which way, Acting Leader?" someone asked Lizno, who scrutinized the paths carefully.
After a long pause, Lizno pointed confidently to the left. "This way!"
But the hooded warrior glaring at Vincent stepped forward, his voice laced with skepticism. "Are you sure that's the correct path? If we take the wrong one, we'll be too late to assist the Vice Leader."
Lizno bristled. "Are you questioning me?"
The cloaked figure raised his hands, his tone calm yet pointed. "Not at all. I'm simply asking if you're confident. If you're wrong, will you take responsibility for the delay?"
Lizno hesitated, his uncertainty evident. The murmurs began again.
"Does he even know the way?"
"He looks unsure."
Lizno's frustration flared. "If anyone knows better, step forward. Otherwise, follow my lead!"
The hooded warrior broke the tense silence. "I know the way."
All eyes turned to him.
Lizno sneered, crossing his arms. "Prove it. If you're wrong, we stick to my decision."
With a dramatic flourish, the warrior produced a scroll from his cloak. He unrolled it, revealing a detailed map.
"This," he said, pointing to a red mark on the parchment, "is a map to the Howling Spires."
Suspicion lingered in Lizno's voice. "And how do we know it's real?" Enjoy more content from empire
The cloaked figure pointed to a red stamp in the corner.
"It bears the mark of the Novice Center Association," someone muttered after comparing it to their identification token.
Murmurs of approval spread through the group. Lizno reluctantly stepped back. "If you had a map, you should've said so earlier," he muttered, retreating to the rear.
The cloaked warrior smirked, stepping forward with an exaggerated bow. "Since our Acting Leader seems… uncertain, I, Gartin, will lead us. Follow me!"
Reluctantly, the group resumed their march under Gartin's guidance.
As they moved, the bushes ahead rustled ominously.
"Halt!" Gartin commanded.
Seven figures emerged from the shadows, towering over the group at nearly seven feet tall. Their muscular frames and concealed faces exuded menace.
"These are Tier 2 warriors," someone whispered, dread creeping into their voice.
The leader of the mysterious figures stepped forward. "If you value your lives, hand over everything you have."
One defiant warrior retorted, "Who do you think you are?"
Before anyone could intervene, a shadow flashed, and the defiant warrior crumpled to the ground, headless.
The group froze in horror.
"They killed him!"
"These are bandits!"
Panic surged through the ranks. Gartin raised his voice, attempting to restore order. "Calm down! Let me negotiate!"
He turned to the bandits. "Is there any way we can resolve this without surrendering our belongings?"
The bandit leader's gaze scanned the group, stopping on Vincent. "You want to live? Hand over that guy."
Gartin didn't hesitate. "Take him. If it means our safety, he's all yours."
Vincent chuckled darkly, drawing startled glances.
"Haha. You guys are such bad actors…"