The next morning arrived too quickly. Sunlight stabbed through the Serpent's Coil windows like golden knives, cutting across the tangled sheets and the three sweat-dried bodies still sprawled in the massive bed. Alex woke to the low rumble of Kaelith's contented growl against his chest, her thick tail draped over his hip, one clawed hand resting possessively on his abdomen. Mara was curled against Kaelith's back, face buried between the beastkin's shoulder blades, one freckled arm wrapped tight around her waist like she never wanted to let go.
Alex shifted, muscles pleasantly sore from yesterday's kills and last night's celebration, and both women stirred instantly.
Kaelith's amber eyes snapped open first. She lifted her head, black-tipped ears flicking, nostrils flaring as she scented him. A slow, sharp-toothed grin spread across her face.
"Morning, master," she rasped, voice still rough from howling. "You smell like victory… and me."
Mara's green eyes fluttered open next. That manic smile bloomed immediately, wide, delirious, shining. She pressed a soft kiss to Kaelith's shoulder, then crawled over her to nuzzle Alex's neck.
"Hero," she breathed. "We're going deeper today, aren't we? I can feel it. Bigger monsters. Bigger loot. Bigger… everything."
Alex chuckled low, fingers threading through Kaelith's short fur along her arm. "Today we will reach the Tenth floor. Fifth was just a taste. Tenth should be something nasty. And something worth a lot."
Kaelith cracked her knuckles, claws clicking. "Good. I want to rip something big apart. Taste real blood."
They rose, washed quickly in the copper tub, water turning pink from lingering blood, then geared up. Kaelith's new leather armor fit like a glove: dark brown, studded steel plates over shoulders and chest, leaving arms and midriff bare for mobility. The blood-iron short sword hung at her hip; steel bracers gleamed on her forearms. Alex wore his matching set, reinforced leather, rune-etched bracers, the orc short sword now upgraded with a fresh edge from the dwarf smith. Mara carried only her small satchel of healing herbs and the mana potion, her role was support, not frontline.
Breakfast was fast: bread, cheese, smoked meat, strong tea gulped standing. They ate in silence, anticipation thick in the air.
By mid-morning they were back at the labyrinth gates. The guards waved them through with respectful nods, word of yesterday's haul had already spread among the regulars.
They descended fast. First floor goblins barely slowed them. Third floor orc remnants were already picked clean by other parties. They pushed through fourth and fifth without stopping, dispatching scattered skeletons and a lone dire rat pack in quick, brutal work. Kaelith's claws dripped fresh red twice, nothing worth looting. By the time they reached the stairwell leading deeper, the air had grown noticeably colder, heavier, the glowing fungi dimming to faint violet.
The stairwell to the tenth was longer, narrower, steps worn smooth by centuries of boots. Echoes sharpened: distant roars, the scrape of metal on stone, the low thud of something massive moving far below.
They emerged onto the tenth floor.
The chamber was vast, vaulted ceiling lost in shadow, walls carved with ancient, weathered runes that pulsed sickly green. A wide stone bridge spanned a chasm; below, darkness swallowed torchlight. On the far side stood the boss gate: massive black iron doors etched with jagged runes, flanked by braziers burning with unnatural blue flame.
This was no ordinary floor. This was the boss room.
And guarding the doors stood a colossus.
A minotaur, easily nine feet tall, black fur matted with old blood, curved horns gleaming like obsidian. One eye was milky-white and scarred; the other burned red. It wore crude armor: iron plates strapped over massive shoulders and chest, spiked gauntlets on fists the size of hams. In one hand it gripped a double-headed greataxe; in the other, a heavy iron shield cracked from countless blows.
The beast snorted, steam curling from flared nostrils, and lowered its horns.
Kaelith's tail lashed once, hard. "Finally," she growled. "Something worth killing."
Alex drew his sword. "Flank it. Kaelith, draw aggro. Mara, heal when we need it. Don't get cornered."
The minotaur roared, sound shaking dust from the ceiling, and charged.
Kaelith met it head-on.
She leaped, tail whipping for balance, dodged the first axe swing by inches, claws raking across its thigh in four deep furrows. Hot blood sprayed; the beast bellowed and swung again. Kaelith rolled under the strike, came up behind it, and drove claws into the back of its knee, tearing through tendon and muscle. The minotaur staggered, leg buckling, but spun faster than anything that size should, shield slamming into her side like a battering ram.
Kaelith flew, crashing against the stone bridge railing with bone-jarring force. She hit hard, breath knocked out, ribs screaming, but rolled to her feet snarling, blood trickling from her lip, tail lashing furiously.
Alex was already moving.
He darted in, sword flashing, slashing at the minotaur's exposed flank. The blade bit deep, carving through iron plate and flesh, blood welling in a thick line. The beast barely flinched. It swung the axe downward; Alex dove aside, rolling across stone, coming up and thrusting into its thigh, the same leg Kaelith had torn. Steel grated against bone; the minotaur roared louder, staggered.
Mara's hands flared green, soft light washing over Kaelith, knitting the fresh bruises blooming along her ribs and side. "Keep it off-balance!" she shouted.
Kaelith charged again, leaping onto the minotaur's back. She sank claws into its shoulders, using them as handholds, climbed higher, and drove her fangs into the thick muscle at the base of its neck. The beast bellowed, reaching back, trying to grab her. Kaelith held on, teeth tearing, blood pouring down its chest in hot rivulets.
Alex used the opening, darted under the swinging shield, slashed across the minotaur's hamstring. The leg buckled completely; the beast dropped to one knee with a thunderous crash that shook the bridge.
Kaelith rode it down, claws raking across its face, gouging the good eye in a spray of viscous fluid. The minotaur screamed, blind now, flailing wildly. Alex stepped in, sword raised high, and drove it upward through the bottom of its jaw, through the roof of its mouth, into the brain.
The minotaur convulsed once, then collapsed, dead weight slamming into stone with a final, bone-shaking thud.
Silence fell, broken only by dripping blood and heavy breathing.
Kaelith slid off the corpse, chest heaving, muzzle and claws-soaked red. She licked blood from her lips, slow, deliberate, amber eyes glowing with feral satisfaction.
Alex wiped his blade on the minotaur's fur. "Good kill, my rutting slave."
Kaelith's tail lashed once, pleased. "Your slave did well, master."
Mara rushed forward, hands glowing, checking them both for wounds. A shallow cut on Kaelith's ribs, a bruise on Alex's shoulder, nothing serious. Green light flared; pain eased.
The iron doors groaned open, runes flaring bright, then fading.
Inside: a small chamber lit by floating blue orbs. A single stone pedestal held an open chest.
They approached.
Inside was a major loot.
A longsword of blackened steel, blade etched with crimson runes that pulsed like heartbeats. The grip was wrapped in dark leather; the pommel shaped like a snarling wolf head set with two small red gems. A faint heat radiated from it, enchanted, fire-aspected.
Beside it: a heavy leather belt studded with iron plates and three small pouches, two already filled with silver coins (fifty total), one empty.
Underneath: a vial of shimmering golden liquid, labeled in faded script as Elixir of Greater Vitality (healing and stamina boost).
And at the bottom, a small iron key etched with labyrinth runes. Purpose unknown.
Kaelith lifted the longsword, tested its weight, swung once. Air hissed; the runes flared brighter.
"Mine," she growled, pleased.
Alex took the belt, strapped it on. The coins clinked satisfyingly. He pocketed the elixir and key.
"Two hundred silver total from today," he said. "Plus this sword, the elixir, and whatever the key opens. We're rich enough to upgrade everything tomorrow."
Mara clapped, manic delight shining. "And then we celebrate again. Harder."
Kaelith's tail lashed, grin widening. "I want to fuck on this blood money, master."
Alex sheathed his old sword, now secondary, and led them back toward the exit stairs.
"First, we sell what we can. Then we buy. Then we fuck until the sun comes up."
They ascended, bloodied, richer, stronger, leaving the tenth floor's corpse behind.
The labyrinth had given them its first real gift.
And they were only getting started.
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