Denizens of the Labyrinth

He walked straight, following the north point as he had no other idea of where to go. He pushed forward, the sand was endless and at this point. He just counted his steps, not wanting to be childish and lose focus of what he was trying to do. He continued to count and walked in a straight line all the way until he hit four hundred and thirty-six steps exactly.

That was when the system chimed and drew him out of his monotone lull and alerted him to being near the oasis. He looked around him, shielding his eyes from the blaring sun above and using his divine eyes, sought for Mana, and found it.

Just over the next hillock was the oasis and he focused his gaze to see if there were anything else around. He didn’t see anything, nobody but himself was near and he took the time to count the extra fifty steps it took him to reach the oasis.

He dropped to a knee and listened to see if anyone was around and he was all alone, he dipped a hand into the oasis and wet his lips, then cupped his hands, splashed his face, and wet his neck and collar, the heat was blistering, and he was feeling it gradually growing.

He wet his face again and drank some more water, he waited for things to change but nothing happened to him.

DING

YOU HAVE FOUND THE OASIS

DING

YOU HAVE DRUNK FROM THE OASIS

DING

DIVE AND ADVANCE

He skimmed the system screen twice and then looking into the oasis, he didn’t think too much about it and took the moment to actually jump into the oasis. It wasn’t too deep, but he had passed through gates of even more obscure creations.

Jazmel passed through the oasis in seconds, he didn’t even have to hold his breath. One minute he was in the heat of a desert sun, and the next minute he was in a cool room. A large room, much bigger than a hall and the faction chamber, it was an expanse.

As he took in the expanse, he realised he was not alone. He wasn’t even the first person, a few yards from him stood a girl, who was crouched on one knee and cleaning her sword. It was Myn, the party member who knew Tera Nema.

He made his way over to her and she looked up, her glare was serious but when she recognised him; it softened. He was about to speak to her but then another body appeared and then lots of them started appearing, like dandelion seeds, a light touched the ground and then in a breath, a seeker appeared.

The expanse filled quickly and aside from Myn, Jazmel knew nobody else and that surprised him. The idea that so many strangers existed inside the labyrinth at one time astounded him. He wondered how many seeker trials had happened at the same time he had begun his.

The expanse filled and then stopped as quickly as it begun.

DING!

A THOUSAND OF YOU SEEKERS HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THREE SEPARATE TRIALS TO GET HERE!

THE PYRAMID BECKONS YOU ALL

THE PYRAMID OF ARGILLES BOASTS UNTOLD TREASURES

…

MAKE IT TO THE PEAK OF THE PYRAMID AND THE LABYRINTH WILL BLESS YOU!

As that final word was echoed, the seekers all around began to disappear again and Jazmel realised they were being transported to inside the pyramid. He turned to Myn and said;

“If I don’t see you again, look after yourself and do not trust anyone!” she was about to respond but she too disappeared. He followed after momentarily.