Chapter 23: The Black Wooden Puppet (1)
In the endless darkness, faint footsteps echoed through the air, accompanied by hurried, shallow breaths that clashed with the still silence surrounding them.Clink, clink—Everywhere the footsteps went, the faint sound of metal striking stone followed close behind.
Yet, despite the strange noises, the figure moving through the shadows didn't slow down—he sped up."Damn it, faster, faster!" Jax cursed to himself as he darted past the many glowing eyes fixed on him.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. His breathing grew heavier, ragged."I should've never signed that damned contract."
Drip.A droplet of water fell from a stalactite, hitting the ground with a soft echo—like a warning.Moments later, dozens of glowing eyes turned toward the tunnel's mouth, where the faint shaft of light above seemed to quiver.
Jax didn't know what in the abyss was happening up there, but he knew one thing for sure—he wanted to kill someone.(Keep moving, Jax! Just keep moving!)
A foolish voice shouted into his ear, while another occasionally laughed and muttered nonsense.But there was no turning back. His destination was close—after days of effort, just a little more, and it would finally be within reach.
"Damn it!"
Jax slid down into a vast cavern, its floor crawling with centipedes. Most were small—easy to crush—but there were at least three thousand of them, swarming in every direction.This cave was meant to be a training ground where students could uncover hidden treasures.Yet it was abnormally difficult. The endless mass of centipedes made it nearly impossible for any second-year trio to complete the trial.
Unless… fighting wasn't necessary.Indeed, this practical exam was meant to test more than brute strength—it was a trial of intellect and control, a blend of theory and power.
Jax summoned an orb of ice in his right hand, setting it aside. He crushed several sticks of chalk into dust, mixed them with water from his pouch, and smeared the paste over the icy sphere.
Then, instead of drinking, he poured some of his liquor over it, transforming the orb into something strange and unstable.
Adjusting his stance to avoid scraping the cave wall, he hurled the orb toward the largest centipede. Even in total darkness, he didn't hesitate.
(Nice one!)Ron Irus's familiar voice rang in his ear. Somehow, that man could guide Jax's throw without even being there to see it.But Jax didn't question it. Everyone had their secrets. What mattered now was cooperation—and victory.
CRASH!The orb slammed into the massive centipede, shattering and coating it in a thin layer of frost.
The smaller ones went berserk, ramming into the frozen creature with mindless fury. Even the biggest among them struggled to move.
Jax ignored the chaos. He still had work to do—this wasn't the place to waste mana.
He grabbed a long sword he'd scavenged earlier and charged into the nest's rear tunnels. Any centipede that blocked his way was sliced apart in a single motion; the stronger, larger ones were guarding the upper passages anyway.
At the rear, Jax gathered a spark of mana on his thumb, forming a small flame. He shaped his fingers like a gun and flicked it forward.
The flame shot through the air, briefly illuminating the ground writhing with centipedes—and just before it faded, it revealed a stone pedestal holding something glowing faintly.On its surface, a single number was engraved: (06).
…
A flash of light, followed by a scream.A man with a sorrowful face swung a massive sword wildly as he advanced through the battlefield alone, hacking through crazed mountain apes.
Before he could go far, a familiar sound echoed in his mind:[YOU HAVE BEEN LOSS]
Only nine students remained, dancing in this bloody, feverish masquerade.
The roars of mountain apes, the wails of grief, rage, and hysterical laughter from the students, the clatter of rocks as centipedes scaled the walls—Together, they composed a symphony of chaos.A grand tragedy—if not for how unnervingly wrong it all felt.
No one noticed the pitch-black strings coiling around their limbs and torsos—binding not just them, but even the beasts.No one, except one girl.
Evelyn.From her perch above, she watched everything unfold, fear and contemplation etched across her face. She alone could see the black threads—or rather, she was the only one paying attention to them.
She wasn't the smartest, but she knew—something was deeply wrong, and this thing was the cause.She couldn't tell what it was doing exactly, only that it stirred emotions, clouded judgment, and drew out the rawest instincts in people.
She realized this by observing Julien, who had grown more deranged ever since he somehow became "King."
Speaking of that… why hasn't he considered letting Jax hand the treasure to someone else to reach Zone 9? Why isn't he questioning why these battles keep repeating?Maybe… those black threads can manipulate thought itself… Evelyn thought.
What she didn't know—was that deep within the gorge below, a single black finger was pointing straight at her.It looked like a piece of wood, painted pure black.
…
Fwoosh.A torch flared to life in Julien's hand. He stood at the pit's edge, leading a host of mountain apes ready to descend into the darkness.
Behind him was Evelyn, gripping a short dagger, while the apes lounged atop the corpses of centipedes—reveling in the ecstasy of slaughter.
One ape leapt into the pit first, scouting ahead for its king's safety.
Moments later, Julien raised his sword high and pointed it downward."ATTACK!!"
Hundreds of mountain apes poured into the abyss from every side—a terrifying yet mesmerizing sight.
No one noticed the black wooden puppet standing amid the blood and flesh, its carved thumb pointing toward the pit.And for the first time—the black puppet smiled.
…
"Do you think everything's going fine?"
A woman's voice broke the silence outside the cavern—it was Emma's, familiar to Ron.
"Still within expectations. Don't worry. Just wait," Ron Irus replied lazily, lying down as if asleep, though his mind was working tirelessly.
"Got any water?" Emma asked as she entered, looking for a place to sit but finding none—the cave was crammed with supplies.
In the end, she sat by the campfire, the flickering light painting her face in gold and shadow. Pulling out a small notebook, she began scribbling notes.
"There's nothing much here. If you want some chips, grab them from over there," Ron muttered, pointing vaguely without looking.
"…Why are you so concerned about that guy, Kale?" Emma asked, munching noisily on a handful of chips, as if she hadn't eaten in days.
"Everything's going as I planned. But if you went out there and saw that battle yourself… you'd understand just how wrong it all looks."
"…Uh-huh. Fine then. I'm not going anywhere near that mess. I've got enough on my plate following your plan already, boss."
"No one's forcing you…"
"If you say that, it means you've got another task lined up, huh?" Emma grumbled before taking another bite.
"Why don't you read this?" Ron tossed her a stack of papers without moving, his eyes half-open—sharp, predatory, like those of an eagle.
"Read it," he said. "Then you'll understand why I've gone this far."