04 Corpses Everywhere
Joaquim's smile widened as he saw the reward given by the system. Since the day he awakened as a zero-star hunter, he had used an artificial method to rise to one star; however, his true power remained at one star.
It was a unique event, and if he failed, there would be no other opportunity.
Alex was aware of the opportunity in front of him. As an awakened with no stars, there was practically no difference between him and a normal person. If he could obtain the two stars, he would have the power not only to escape prison but also to try to discover something about parallel realities.
The other prisoners were also secretly drooling over the rewardstheir chances of escaping their fate were right before their eyes. They just had to enter the place, and when they came out, their freedom would be guaranteed.
Blinded by greed, none of the nine present considered the risks and difficulties involved. At Joaquim's command, everyone clicked "yes." With a creak, the door opened, and the moment everyone entered apprehensively, the large door closed behind them with a dull thud.
The majestic temple before them was illuminated with several torches embedded in the walls. In the center stood a giant stone altar. On the other side of the altar was a stone minotaur holding two slabs of rock with strange manuscripts.
Around the majestic temple were several bluish stone statues of various minotaur warriors wearing heavy armor and wielding large axes.
Lines were drawn on the floor in different colors throughout the temple. The smallest statue in the place was about 2.5 meters tall. All exuded overwhelming auras as if they were alive.
Suddenly, the eyes of the minotaur priest on the altar glowed with a crimson light, sending shivers through the nine hunters in the area. Alex swallowed hard.
The stone slab in the minotaur priest's right hand began a countdown, while the glow in his eyes intensified. With a mechanical creaking sound, one of the statues came to life and started moving toward the hunters.
"Prepare yourselves."
At Joaquim's warning, everyone except Alex, who could not, held their weapons, preparing for battle.
At Joaquim's command, Cardoso fired several arrows in succession at the minotaur. However, nothing happened; the arrows had no effect. The speed only increased. In just one second, the minotaur struck.
Augusto was thrown far away when he stepped forward to tank the blow. In the next moment, Joaquim advanced and used his wind authority to deliver a strike. To his surprise, his sword was blocked, inflicting no damage on the monster.
As the minotaur prepared to deliver a violent blow to the hunters, the countdown on the stone slab reached zero, and the once-living minotaur returned to its original position, appearing where it had emerged and turning back into a stone statue.
Before everyone could sigh, the slab in the right hand began a new countdown.
"What are we going to do?"
Ivana asked the agent, who was looking around for some clue. Everyone was frightened, and Joaquim was no different; the aura exuded by the statues was extremely intimidating.
"Can anyone here read that?"
Trying to maintain composure, Joaquim looked at everyone for an answer. To his disappointment, no one had any idea what was written in the temple. The language was unknown, and now, where would they get the clues from?
" What if we destroy the statues since they are immobile?"
Alex suggested in a questioning tone. Everyone exchanged glances, not finding the idea bad.
"Augusto, use your axe to try to destroy the stone statue."
Joaquim ordered in a commanding tone. He was apprehensive and did not want to take risks, but the idea still seemed feasible. Thus, it was preferable for someone else to take the risky position.
Seeing the agent's sword pointed in his direction, Augusto swallowed hard and decided to obey reluctantly. As he left the orange area and entered the red area near the minotaur statue, something sinister happened.
The minotaur priest formed a sinister and malevolent smile. His crimson eyes fired a beam of lightning that instantly struck the hunter's head, exploding it, spreading his brain matter everywhere and staining the floor red, while the smell of burnt flesh filled the temple.
Everyone was terrified by the bloody and brutal death of their fellow hunter. In particular, his brother fell into despair. Alex vomited on the spot.
"Brother, no!" he screamed, tears streaming, washing the blood from his cheeks. Cardoso let out a scream of despair upon seeing his brother killed.
Before they could properly process the situation, the countdown on the right slab reached zero, starting the countdown on the left slab. Once again, the minotaur warrior statue came to life, running frenetically toward the hunters. Everyone raised their weapons again.
Cardoso fired several arrows emitting a yellow glow. The minotaur simply swung its axe to deflect the attacks while preparing a counterattack.
With a dull thud, the minotaur's axe struck the ground, creating a crater in the temple. As a consequence, everyone was knocked down, except Joaquim, who dodged in time.
Seeing the minotaur charging toward her, Ivana raised her staff and tried to cast some magic to defend herself while running in another direction. With just a swing of the minotaur's axe, everyone saw the beautiful girl's head being separated from her body.
The girl's innocent eyes were still open as her head rolled on the ground, blinking twice without realizing she was dead.
Not content with just one death, the minotaur attacked again. This time his target was Alex. The axe descended like a hot knife through butter, at the same moment the countdown on the left slab reached zero. Fortunately for the minotaur, he struck a final blow before disappearing.
Alex let out a scream of anguish when he saw his left arm fall to the ground. He covered the wound as tears and snot mixed with the dust left by the previous blow.
" I'm too young to die."
Trembling visibly while urine soaked his pants, Alfredo abandoned his weapon and ran toward the door leading to the exit.
" Let me out, I'm too young to die, I'd rather go back to jail."
With desperation in his eyes, Alfredo slammed his fist against the temple door, which showed no sign of opening.
The minotaur priest's smile widened. The crimson lightning beam fired, and seeing death arrive before eyes that reflected his own demise, Alfredo's body was split into two bloody pieces, his internal organs scattering across the door.
Everyone was in panic; three of them had been killed in a terribly unpleasant way, right before their eyes.
The survivors looked at Joaquim in search of some possible solution; after all, he was the authority on site, also the strongest person. By this point, despite the fear clouding their discernment, everyone could already distinguish a pattern.
" When the countdown on the right slab begins, the minotaur warriors come to life and attack anyone in their field of vision, and when the left slab begins its countdown, the minotaur priest kills anyone outside the orange area."
Mimi shared her observation, though she was the one who said it, the others had already reached the same conclusion.
" What should we do? Time is about to run out and the warrior attacks again."
Mónica held her sword firmly as her authority over focus covered her blade.
" You there; your name is Pedro, isn't it?"
Joaquim asked with a macabre smile.
" Yes, that's me?" Pedro replied with a trembling voice.
" Go to the gray zone." Joaquim's sword hovered over Paulo's neck. If the latter disobeyed, the agent would have no scruples in cutting his legs and throwing him into the designated area.
None of the other prisoners showed any sympathy or tried to help; everyone was relieved it wasn't them instead. Tying part of his orange uniform where his arm used to be, Alex looked at the prisoner with pity, but deep down he also wanted to know the outcome.
As he moved with trembling legs, the countdown reached zero, and a new countdown began, bringing the stone minotaur warrior to life again. He raised his axe and started his charge.
" Prepare for battle, move faster."
Joaquim warned the others while growling at Paulo for compliance.
Alex didn't know what to do now; without an arm, his death was getting closer, and he was certain he would die right there.
Mónica and Joaquim combined their forces while Mimi provided support with her light magic. Even combining their forces, the two were being pushed back; it seemed the minotaur was becoming increasingly fierce.