Let's rewind the clock a weeks later in the bottom of the abyss
The sound of dripping water echoed in the dark.
Hajime's groan was muffled by the stone beneath him, the cold still clawing at his bones as he blinked into the dim glow of green crystals scattered along the cave walls. His head throbbed, his body sore from the fall.
"You're up," came a voice—familiar, steady.
Renji Aikawa was crouched beside a small flame, his black hair clinging wet to his forehead. He didn't look relieved, but he didn't look panicked either. Just alert. Focused.
"I was starting to think you'd cracked your head too hard," Renji said, glancing over. His clothes were damp, but already laid out to dry near the fire.
Hajime sat up slowly, grimacing. "How long was I out?"
"Twenty minutes. Maybe thirty. You hit the water hard. I pulled you out before the current dragged you deeper in." Renji looked back toward the river, jaw clenched. "That tunnel we fell through... we're lucky it didn't break our necks."
Hajime shook his head. "The bridge. The betrayal. I remember."
Renji nodded once, his expression dark. "Yeah. We were set up."
Silence settled between them. The fire crackled softly. The weight of what happened pressed down hard—but neither of them voiced it. Not yet.
"We're deep," Renji finally said. "Too deep for a straight climb back. Judging by the rock structure and the mana density... we've fallen several levels into the labyrinth."
"How far down do you think?"
"Far enough that nobody's coming for us."
Renji's words weren't cruel. Just honest.
Hajime hugged his knees, staring into the fire. "So what now?"
Renji's answer came quick. "We survive. That's all there is to it."
He stood, a subtle tremble in his legs that he forced still. "We move carefully, we keep warm, we ration whatever we can scavenge, and we keep pushing forward until we find a way up. I don't care how deep we are, Hajime. There's always a path. There has to be."
Hajime looked up at him. "You being this calm unerve me a bit"
Renji gave a dry, bitter chuckle. "I'm scared out of my damn mind. But fear's not the enemy down here. Hesitation is."
There was strength in his voice, even if it cracked a little. The kind of strength that didn't come from power—but from refusing to give up.
He knelt and offered Hajime his hand. "We get through this together. No matter how dark it gets, we climb back up. For them. For us."
Hajime took it.
And in that moment, in the bowels of a labyrinth meant to kill them, the fire between them felt just a little warmer.
Deep within the Labyrinth
The corridor reeked of blood and something primal. Hajime crouched behind a jagged rock formation, breathing heavily. Beside him, Renji knelt low, one hand on the hilt of his sword, the other steadying Hajime's arm.
The scene in front of them was still sinking in.
One by one, the wolves had charged—and been annihilated.
Not by a warrior. Not by a spell.
By a rabbit.
No, not just any rabbit. This thing was unnaturally fast, brutally efficient. It moved like death wrapped in white fur and red eyes. What kind of sick joke was this dungeon playing?
"Did… did you see that?" Hajime whispered, voice trembling.
Renji didn't answer right away. He was still staring at the carnage.
"Yeah," he said finally, voice low, controlled. "I saw it."
The silence dragged a beat too long.
"...You're freaked out too, aren't you?" Hajime asked, not really needing an answer.
Renji exhaled slowly through his nose. "Of course I am. I'm just not letting it make decisions for me."
They both flinched as the rabbit twitched one ear, sniffing the air. Blood dripped from its claws. Then, without a sound, it vanished into the shadows deeper in the corridor.
Only when it was gone did Hajime let out the breath he'd been holding.
Renji sat back against the rock, eyes scanning the hallway. "Okay. Let's get something straight," he muttered. "That thing? That's not some random dungeon mob. That's a message."
"A message?"
Renji nodded grimly. "This place doesn't care what we thought we knew about monsters. It doesn't care that we were students five minutes ago. We're not players. We're prey."
Hajime swallowed hard. "You really know how to calm a guy down."
Renji smirked faintly. "I'm not here to calm you down. I'm here to keep us alive."
He stood, cautious but focused, and reached a hand down to help Hajime up. "We stick close. No hero crap. No splitting up. We watch each other's backs until we find a way out of this hellhole."
Hajime took his hand and pulled himself up. "Right… back to the surface. That's all that matters."
Renji nodded, hand tightening around his sword. "We survive. Together."
Hajime's breath caught in his throat, his pulse thudding so loudly he was sure the rabbit could hear it. Beside him, Renji froze as well, body tense, hand gripped tight on his blade, though he dared not unsheathe it—not yet.
A pebble rolled under Hajime's heel.
Clatter.
The sharp echo of stone bouncing against the cave wall rang like a gunshot. Every muscle in Hajime's body went rigid, his heart leaping into his throat. He barely dared to breathe, hoping against hope that the sound hadn't been heard, that the rabbit hadn't noticed. But in the silence that followed, it became clear that his hope was in vain.
Renji's eyes snapped toward Hajime, a look flashing between annoyance and concern—"You idiot"—but not with anger. With fear. Understanding.
The rabbit's glowing red eyes turned toward them, its neck twisting in a disturbingly unnatural way, scanning the area with a predator's gaze. The thing's deadly focus locked onto them.
Hajime's entire body went cold as he realized his mistake. He'd been seen.
And the rabbit was coming for them.
Renji exhaled slowly, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword, but he didn't draw it. Not yet. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to choke on. There was no escape. No way to outrun this thing. They would have to fight.
But how? The rabbit was terrifyingly fast, its kicks capable of pulverizing anything in its path. Renji knew this was no ordinary monster—they'd have to outsmart it if they stood a chance.
Hajime barely had time to react as the rabbit gathered its strength, its body coiling like a spring before it launched itself forward, the air itself warping around its incredible speed. It left afterimages in its wake, blindingly fast. Hajime's heart hammered in his chest as he instinctively dove to the side, barely avoiding the massive kick that obliterated the ground where he'd been standing just a moment before.
Boom!
The force of the impact shook the cavern, sending cracks racing through the stone. Hajime rolled to his feet, but before he could even register what was happening, the rabbit was already leaping toward him again.
Renji acted. In a single fluid motion, he unsheathed his blade, its steel gleaming with a deadly edge. His voice cut through the air.
"Move!"
Hajime scrambled back, his eyes wide with fear, his mind racing. But it was clear he was too slow. The rabbit was already upon him.
Renji lunged forward, his sword a blur as he met the rabbit's kick head-on. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the air, and Renji grunted as he was forced back several steps. His feet slid across the stone floor, but he held his ground, gritting his teeth as he barely deflected the attack.
The rabbit didn't relent. It immediately turned, gathering speed for another devastating leap. Renji's eyes narrowed as he prepared himself for the next attack, his sword raised and ready. The blade hummed in the air, its edge catching the faintest glint of light as he focused all his energy into each movement.
But then, just as the rabbit was about to launch itself once more, a low growl echoed from the cavern's shadows.
A new, far more terrifying presence emerged from the right-hand corridor.
The Claw Bear.
It was massive—over two meters tall—its white fur matted with dark red veins that pulsed with ominous energy. Its forearms were grotesquely long, ending in claws that could tear through steel. Its eyes, cold and predatory, locked onto the rabbit, and for a brief, fleeting moment, the Kickmaster Rabbit froze, its body going rigid with fear.
Renji didn't hesitate. He swung his sword in a wide arc, slashing through the air. His voice was low but fierce, a warning to Hajime.
"Get behind me!"
Hajime didn't need to be told twice. His body moved on instinct, scrambling out of the way as the rabbit, terrified beyond reason, turned and tried to escape. It darted away with its signature explosive leaps, but it was no match for the Claw Bear's speed.
The bear charged, its massive body rocketing forward with surprising speed. With a swipe of its colossal paw, it struck the rabbit midair. Hajime saw it happen in slow motion—watched as the rabbit's body was torn apart, blood spurting from the severed limbs, its form crumpling in a bloody heap.
Hajime stumbled backward in shock, his stomach twisting with horror. The rabbit, which had seemed invincible moments ago, had been reduced to nothing more than a gruesome mess in seconds. The Claw Bear slowly walked toward the remains, spearing a chunk of the rabbit's flesh on one of its claws and sinking its teeth into it, chewing with grotesque, sickening noises.
Renji's expression was grim, his sword still at the ready. He stood protectively between Hajime and the Claw Bear, the tension in the air thick with danger.
"Stay close," Renji muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving the bear. "This thing's not done yet."
Hajime barely had time to process what was happening. His mind raced with fear, his heart hammering in his chest as the Claw Bear turned its gaze toward them. It could have ended them both in an instant, but it seemed to be waiting, watching, as if savoring the moment before it decided what to do next.
But Hajime wasn't sure how much longer they could hold out. He had no idea what Renji was planning, but one thing was certain: they weren't out of danger yet.
The feeling of despair crept up once more. They were trapped. And whatever hope they'd had was rapidly slipping away.
The Claw Bear's ferocious growl filled the cavern as it finished tearing apart the rabbit's carcass. Blood and sinew were scattered across the stone floor, painting the air with a pungent, iron scent. Its gaze turned toward Renji and Hajime, its eyes filled with a sadistic malice. A chilling, guttural noise rumbled in its throat as it stepped forward, claws scraping against the ground.
Renji didn't move. He stood firm, sword at the ready, but the reality of their situation was clear. The beast before them was not a normal creature. Its sheer strength was overwhelming, and now, with the rabbit dead, it was solely focused on them.
The Claw Bear let out another growl, its massive paw swinging through the air with terrifying speed.
Renji reacted, his sword a blur as he tried to parry the strike. But the Claw Bear's strength was too much. With a sickening crunch, its claws dug into Renji's right arm, tearing through the flesh and muscle with ease. Renji screamed in pain, his blade slipping from his grip as his arm was torn asunder.
The beast didn't pause. It immediately swung its other claw, targeting Renji's left leg. Another sickening crack echoed through the cavern as the claws sank into Renji's calf, tearing through bone and flesh. Renji collapsed to the ground with a scream, his face contorted in agony.
Hajime's eyes widened in horror, but he didn't have time to react. Renji was about to be torn to shreds, and they both knew it. But Renji's eyes, wide with pain, also flickered with a flash of determination. He couldn't let this be the end.
A low, desperate growl escaped Renji's lips, his body trembling as he activated his ability.
"Rewind," he muttered, his breath ragged.
In an instant, Renji's body flickered as if time itself had momentarily rewound. His limbs jerked back to their prior state—a few seconds before the beast's claws had torn into him. The deep, searing pain in his arm and leg disappeared, leaving only a phantom ache. But it wasn't enough to fully heal him. His wounds were still there, though the bleeding had stopped for now. Renji staggered back, blood dripping from his arm and leg, his face pale with the effort.
"Damn it…" Renji hissed, his voice strained with effort. His body trembled, as if the sheer force of rewinding his injury had taken a toll on him.
But the bear wasn't finished.
With a speed that belied its massive form, it lunged forward again, aiming for Renji. Renji, still weak from the recoil of using his ability, barely managed to bring his sword up in time to parry the bear's incoming strike. But the impact was too much. Renji was sent flying back, crashing against the cavern wall. His sword slipped from his grip once more, and the world around him spun in agony.
Hajime watched in horror as the Claw Bear swiped at Renji again, this time landing a brutal blow to his side. The beast wasn't holding back anymore. The savage claws sank deep into Renji's torso, tearing through his remaining strength and leaving him gasping for air.
Renji screamed, his body crumpling as the claws raked across his chest. He tried to move, to fight back, but the weight of his injuries had finally caught up to him.
No…! Hajime's mind screamed. He couldn't let Renji die here—not like this. But he knew there was nothing he could do. Not with his own hands trembling in fear, not when they were both moments away from being torn apart.
But then… Rewind.
Renji's voice broke through the haze of pain, barely a whisper. He triggered his ability again, this time with no strength left in him. But the wound was too severe. His body flickered again—only to freeze, a moment of unbearable silence filling the air. Renji's eyes widened in shock as he realized the truth: his body couldn't fight the aftershock of such trauma. His ability couldn't handle this. It couldn't undo the full damage.
Hajime's heart thudded in his chest as he watched Renji—his mentor, his protector—lay there, bloodied and broken.
The Claw Bear's hulking form loomed above them, dripping with Renji's blood. Its eyes gleamed with insatiable hunger, now fixed on Hajime. With a vicious roar, it stepped forward, claws scraping against the stone floor, bloodlust evident in its every movement.
Hajime's heart raced. Renji's lifeless body—mutilated beyond recognition—was sprawled before him, but there was no time to mourn. He had no strength left to carry Renji or to escape. The bear was upon him. He was next.
With a roar that shattered the air, the Claw Bear lunged, its massive claws slashing through the air. Hajime barely had time to react. He instinctively raised his left arm in defense, trying to block the oncoming attack. The sheer force of the strike sent a wave of searing pain through his entire body as the claws sliced through his flesh with horrifying precision.
CRACK!
The bear's claws tore through his left arm like it was nothing, severing it at the elbow with a brutal efficiency that made Hajime's stomach churn. Blood sprayed everywhere, splattering across the cavern walls as the pain surged through his body in waves.
Hajime gasped, his breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. His body trembled, but he had no time to react. His left arm was gone, a stump now gushing blood where it once was.
The Claw Bear let out a low growl of satisfaction, its gaze fixed on the severed arm. Without hesitation, it brought the mutilated limb to its mouth, swallowing it whole. The sickening sound of teeth grinding through bone echoed in Hajime's ears as the beast devoured his arm with grotesque relish.
Hajime's mind went numb, his vision swimming as he tried to process what was happening. The loss of his arm was a brutal, unthinkable blow, but seeing the bear feast on it like it was nothing more than a morsel was what truly shattered him. His body screamed in agony, but the fear that surged through him was even worse. The creature was toying with him.
In a blind panic, Hajime stumbled back, clutching at the bloody stump of his arm. His breath quickened, and the overwhelming weight of helplessness threatened to crush him. His sword—his only defense—was nowhere to be found.
"Renji..." he gasped, his voice hoarse, searching for his ally.
To his surprise, Renji was still moving, despite the brutal damage. His right arm was mangled, his left leg barely functional, but his eyes burned with defiance. His grip on his blade was weak, but he refused to let it go. With incredible effort, Renji pushed himself to his feet, stumbling but still standing.
"Hajime... we're not done yet," Renji grunted, his voice raw, filled with agony, but with a trace of the same fierce determination that had kept him alive so far.
Renji's body was a wreck, battered and broken from the savage attacks of the Claw Bear. His right arm hung uselessly by his side, and his left leg barely held him up. Blood poured from the gashes and deep wounds, and every movement was a struggle. Despite the excruciating pain, Renji pushed forward, dragging himself inch by inch. His Temporal Sync ability barely kept him going—giving him an intuitive sense of the flow of time, allowing him to react at just the right moment. But it wasn't enough to save him.
His blood loss was severe, and he could already feel his strength slipping away. The bear's heavy footsteps echoed behind them, but Renji's focus was singular: get to safety, get Hajime out of there. He was already on the verge of losing consciousness, and his body screamed at him to stop, but he refused. He couldn't stop. Not yet.
"Hajime... move..." Renji rasped, his voice strained and weak.
Hajime's chanting reached his ears, but the stone wall remained unmoved. His friend's exhaustion was apparent—Hajime's mana was drained, and he wasn't able to transmute their way out of this.
In a desperate move, Renji's hand reached for his torn body. His fingertips brushed against his wounds, and with a deep breath, he focused his Chrono Weave ability. He didn't have much left—just enough to slow down the passage of time around his bleeding body.
Chrono Weave was never meant to heal. It was never designed for this. But Renji had no other option. He wove the flow of time around himself, subtly shifting it to slow the rate of bleeding from his wounds. Time seemed to stretch as he manipulated the moments around him, each breath of his body slowing, allowing the blood flow to decrease ever so slightly. His vision blurred, his body threatening to give in, but he held on.
It wasn't enough. His wounds were too severe, and his strength was rapidly fading. He had just moments before his body completely gave way.
The Claw Bear was getting closer, its growls deafening, and Renji knew they didn't have long. His movements became more sluggish, his body a weight of pain and exhaustion.
I can't stop now... Renji's mind screamed, even as his body continued to fail him. With his last reserves of energy, he reached out for Hajime, dragging him toward the tunnel they had managed to create.
The wall in front of them was too solid to move, but there was still some hope. Renji's vision swam as he crawled forward, feeling the weight of every moment. The Chrono Weave kept the bleeding in check, but it wasn't a permanent solution. Time, however much he tried to bend it, wasn't his ally. The tunnel was the only escape.
"Hajime... I—" Renji tried to speak, but his voice came out as a low, rasping whisper.
Through sheer force of will, he managed to keep going, pulling Hajime forward, inch by agonizing inch. His blood still pooled beneath him, and the pain was unbearable, but Renji couldn't stop. His focus was all that kept him moving. He reached out again to the stone wall, trying to manipulate it with his last reserves of strength.
"Transmute... Transmute..." Hajime's chant was weak, desperate, but it was enough to give Renji the final push he needed. Together, their abilities worked—Hajime's transmutation and Renji's manipulation of time, however fragile it was.
Renji crawled into the tunnel with Hajime, but the bear was still close behind, its monstrous growls shaking the ground beneath them. Renji felt his vision blackening at the edges, but he pushed forward, dragging his friend along.
Hajime was unconscious now, and Renji was running on fumes. His body couldn't handle much more. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep moving. But as long as there was breath left in his lungs, he would crawl.
With one final, desperate push, Renji formed the tunnel enough for both of them to fit. He collapsed at the entrance, barely holding himself up, but still, he continued his chant, his hand falling away from the stone wall.
The bear roared behind them, but the tunnel was just enough to give them a brief moment of respite.
Renji's mind blurred, and his body was on the edge of complete collapse. With the last of his energy, he pulled Hajime further into the tunnel, sealing it behind them as best as he could with his fading strength. The tunnel was tight, but it was their only hope.
As he collapsed to the ground beside Hajime, blood dripping from his wounds, Renji's hand fell weakly to the stone beneath him. The blood loss, the strain of using Chrono Weave at its limit, had taken its toll.
Renji tried to catch his breath, but his chest felt like it was caving in. His vision blurred, the world around him darkening, and just before he lost consciousness, he felt a cold drop of water on his cheek.
Is this... a dream...?
And then, everything went black.
But this was just the beginning.
As the darkness closed in, neither Renji nor Hajime could know that this moment of respite would be fleeting. The world they had been thrown into was crueler than they had imagined, and their suffering was far from over. They were now trapped in a war between survival and the relentless forces of fate, their bodies battered, and their minds pushed to the brink. Their escape was but a small moment of relief—one that wouldn't last long before the horrors of this world came crashing down on them again.