Chapter 452 (Side Story): Time Attack (2)
The dark and damp labyrinth was lit only by the faint blue torches hanging along the walls. A strange sound echoed from somewhere down the corridor. It was the kind of sound one would hear if someone mercilessly scratched a chalkboard with their fingernails. It caused a wave of repulsion to surge throughout whoever heard it.
“N-Noona, this sound...”
“Shh!”
A woman hurriedly reached out and covered her younger brother’s mouth with both hands. At this moment, even the faintest breath felt louder than thunder.
Where did it all go wrong?
Her party normally roamed the fifth basement floor as if it were their own backyard. Was it a mistake to assume they could comfortably clear the fourth floor even while bringing her younger brother along? No, no matter how much she thought about it, that wasn’t exactly arrogance. In fact, her party truly had the capability to handle that level of difficulty.
Damn religion...
It was just bad luck. That was all. Today, the Betix order happened to be plotting something in this place. They had discovered that fact only after clashing with them dozens of times and killing just as many fanatics.
Why today of all days? Why, why today?
Never once in her life as an explorer had she experienced a good memory involving those religious fanatics. However, blaming the heavens wouldn’t bring back her fallen companions. More than anything, their greatest mistake had been drawing that thing’s attention while fighting the Betix followers.
The woman steadied her breathing and looked straight at her younger brother. “Denz, listen carefully. From here, you’re going to run straight down that passage. If you hit a dead end, hide until a staircase spawns. Got it?”
She handed him the backpack she was carrying.