Renji felt something soft and warm surrounding him.
It wasn't the cold, rocky floor of the labyrinth. No blood-slicked walls or broken rubble beneath his back. Just something comforting… familiar. A mattress?
His mind, still fogged by exhaustion, swam through half-formed memories of battle—lightning, bullets, fangs, poison—and then a sharp pang in his muscles reminded him just how much he'd pushed himself.
Wait… the Hydra…
His body was slow to respond, but his right arm in particular refused to budge. It was being held by something—something warm, smooth, and decidedly soft.
What the hell…?
He experimentally gave his hand a light squeeze. Whatever it was molded to his touch, the soft give of flesh between his fingers oddly relaxing.
Then, just as he gave it another squeeze—
"...Nnh… Renji…"
His eyes shot open. That voice. That tone.
Panic surged through him, and he quickly sat up. The crisp sheets slid off his bare chest, and he blinked as sunlight poured through thin white curtains all around. The bed was absurdly luxurious—raised stone platform, white sheets, open to the breeze and framed by elegant columns. Like something out of a dream.
Or maybe… a trap? A really weird trap?
But then a soft movement to his side drew his gaze down.
Wrapped around his arm, eyes gently closed and breath calm, was Yue. Her golden hair spilled across the pillow, and the sheets had slipped precariously low over her delicate shoulders. Her pale skin shimmered faintly in the light.
Renji looked down.
He was also shirtless. Possibly more than shirtless.
"Oh. Hell. Nah"
He stared at the scene, mind blank.
"Where... the hell am I?"
Then he looked to his side.
There lay Yue, sound asleep, wrapped snugly around his arm. Her breathing was peaceful, her pale skin glowing in the soft sunlight. The sheet barely covered her shoulders, and Renji realized—Oh great. She's not wearing much. Or... anything.
A deep, primal part of his brain screamed danger, not from an enemy, but from the sheer awkwardness of the situation.
He looked down at himself.
Shirtless. Possibly more.
"...Okay. This is not what I expected after slaying a dungeon boss."
He tried to tug his arm free.
"Mmm..." Yue shifted and clung tighter.
His hand unintentionally brushed against the side of her chest.
"...Nnh... Renji..."
A vein popped on his forehead. "I swear this isn't my fault…"
Then a low whistle cut through the quiet.
Renji froze. He knew that voice.
"Wow. And here I thought I was the one with the intense dungeon stories."
Standing just outside the curtain, Hajime leaned lazily against one of the stone columns, arms crossed, grinning like the smug bastard he was.
"Looks like someone leveled up their relationship status while I wasn't looking."
Renji scowled. "We didn't do anything. I passed out. She climbed in. I was unconscious. You know—dying?"
Hajime shrugged. "Hey, I'm not judging. It's kind of adorable, really. Yue wouldn't leave your side. Threatened to incinerate me when I tried to carry her to her own bed."
"I didn't ask for any of this," Renji muttered as he tried—and failed—to pull his arm free without causing another compromising moan.
"Relax. No one's accusing you. Just... taking mental pictures," Hajime teased, tapping his temple.
Yue stirred at last. Her crimson eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she simply stared at Renji.
Then her eyes widened. "Renji…!"
She threw herself into his chest, arms tightening around him with a tremble. He caught her instinctively, wincing a bit as sore muscles complained.
"I thought you wouldn't wake up… I stayed with you the whole time…"
"I know," Renji murmured, gently patting her head. "Sorry for worrying you."
Behind them, Hajime pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "Man, this is the kind of stuff that makes me wish I had popcorn."
Renji tossed a pillow at him—again, without looking.
"Out."
Hajime laughed, dodging the flying cushion with ease. "Alright, alright, I'll leave you two lovebirds to your post-battle bonding moment."
As he disappeared behind the curtain, Yue snuggled deeper into Renji's chest.
He sighed and leaned back slightly, resting his head against the pillows.
"Next time I pass out from saving someone, I better wake up in full armor."
Yue murmured sleepily, "...I'd still climb in."
He groaned softly. "Yeah. I figured."
Renji leaned back, still trying to wrap his head around everything. The bed was soft. Yue was warm. Hajime had finally left—probably to go polish his railgun or make smug faces at a wall.
His mind, now clear of pain and panic, tried to sort through the aftermath.
"So… what happened after we beat that thing? Where are we?"
Yue, still curled lightly against him, shifted to meet his gaze.
"After you collapsed..."
Her voice was soft, as always, but there was a heaviness to it. Like even she wasn't sure how they made it through.
According to Yue, she had crawled—half-dead and completely drained—from where she'd fallen. Mana gone. Blood dried. Clothes tattered. She'd reached Hajime, who had still been conscious back then, barely, and clung to him. That's when the dungeon's sealed door opened on its own.
Expecting an ambush, Yue had braced herself for one last fight.
But nothing came.
No monsters. No traps. Just stillness.
Eventually, after gathering enough mana to stand, she stepped through the opening, heart pounding with every step.
And what she found on the other side wasn't death. It was comfort.
A lair.
A luxurious, expansive chamber—clearly where the Maverick who created this hellhole had once lived. No enemies. Just peace. Real beds. Furniture. Hot water. And silence.
She returned, barely standing, and carried Renji's unconscious body through the threshold.
Even with Ambrosia seeping into his veins, he was hanging by a thread—his half-monster body barely hanging on. The poison had been brutal. The Ambrosia was burning itself out trying to keep him alive. Had there been any resistance in the lair, they both would've died.
Once inside, Yue gave him every last drop of Ambrosia, draining what was left from the cracked Divinity Stone. She stayed at his side through it all, watching until his breathing evened out. Only then did she allow herself to collapse beside him.
"...I see. So you saved me back there, Yue? Thank you."
"Mhm."
Her eyes sparkled, almost embarrassingly so. A rare joy flickered there—like his simple words had been more precious than any treasure.
He smiled softly, but then paused.
Something was bothering him.
"...By the way..." Renji looked down at himself.
"...Why am I naked?"
Yue blinked, as if it was the most mundane question in the world.
"You were dirty... so I cleaned you up."
Renji's brow twitched. "...Uh-huh. Cleaned. Sure. But did you have to undress me?"
Yue tilted her head ever so slightly.
"I had to make sure you weren't hiding more poison under your clothes."
His face contorted. "That's not how—! Wait. Why are you licking your lips like that?"
That sultry, cat-like smile of hers made his skin crawl in the most confusing way.
It was the same expression she wore after feeding on blood.
"Yue…"
She said nothing. Just gazed at him with that hypnotic stare.
"Okay, but—then why'd you sleep next to me? And why were you naked?"
"Fufu..."
"Oh no. What's with that laugh? What'd you do?! Quit licking your lips like that already!"
Her grin widened. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this.
Renji groaned, pulling the blanket tighter around his waist as he sat up.
"Fine. Whatever. You win. I'm done asking."
Yue leaned closer, her tone innocent. "But you're awake now. Want me to explain in more... detail?"
He nearly fell off the bed. "NOPE. I'm good."
Still smiling, Yue watched him stumble to his feet and mutter something about checking out the lair.
She waved lazily as he fled the room in a flustered mess.
The trio stood in silent awe.
Before them stretched a chamber unlike anything they'd expected from a deadly labyrinth. A cozy-looking barn sat quietly in one corner, nestled beneath a thick canopy of artificial trees that rustled in the soft, unnatural breeze circulating through the cavern. Lush greenery blanketed the stone floor, as though nature itself had been carefully transplanted into this man-made Eden.
Pools of clean water shimmered in the dim light, and nearby bins and crates overflowed with fresh vegetables, dried meat, and live fish swimming lazily in clear troughs.
It was... paradise.
A disturbing contrast to the hell they'd just survived.
"This place feels too peaceful," Renji muttered, eyes narrowed.
"That's what bothers me," Hajime replied, already scanning the area for traps. "A dungeon designed to kill shouldn't have a luxury suite at the end."
Yue walked a few paces ahead, her golden eyes reflecting the greenery around them like twin mirrors.
"There's food, water, shelter..." she said softly. "It's like... someone lived here."
Hajime nodded and pointed toward a stone structure adjacent to the bedroom they had woken up in—more like a chamber carved into the rock than a traditional building.
"I checked that part earlier. Most of the doors were locked."
"We'll try again. There might be a key or a trigger somewhere," Renji said, already moving forward.
Yue stayed close, eyes flicking from shadow to shadow, her guard still up.
"...Don't let your guard down, Yue," Renji said quietly.
She glanced at him and gave a small nod. "Okay..."
The air was thick with tension as they approached the carved structure. Hajime took point, while Renji stayed a step behind, hand on the hilt of his sword. Yue lingered in the middle, scanning the surroundings with practiced calm.
The first door they reached was still sealed. Hajime gave it a nudge.
No movement. Still locked.
"Same as before," he muttered. "Magically sealed. Might need a password or an artifact to open."
They moved deeper into the structure, the stone hallway branching into side paths, some ending abruptly in blank walls, others leading to rooms filled with dust-covered relics and strange magical inscriptions. Some looked like labs. One looked like a library, though most of the books had crumbled into decay.
"This place really was the Maverick's home," Renji murmured. "This isn't just a dungeon. It's... a legacy."
Yue's fingers traced one of the ancient runes on the wall.
"Someone lived here for a long time. Maybe centuries."
Hajime, kneeling near what looked like a melted-down workbench, found something buried under a pile of cracked stone. A small gear-shaped pendant, etched with more runes.
"Looks like something he wore. Maybe a key?"
"Let's try it," Renji said, taking the pendant and moving back to the first sealed door. Yue stayed close, her presence quiet but comforting.
With a click and a pulse of light, the door creaked open.
Inside was darkness. And the unknown.
Renji exhaled slowly.
"Let's see what secrets this lunatic left behind."
And the three stepped inside, together.
They decided to start by exploring the first floor of the Maverick's lair.
What they found was something closer to a luxurious home than a dungeon—a thick rug laid out in front of a fireplace, a cozy living room with plush sofas, a well-stocked kitchen, and even a bathroom. The place appeared brand new despite the faint traces of dust. Though there was no sign of life, it was obvious someone had maintained this space with care. It didn't feel abandoned... just unused.
"This feels... too normal," Renji muttered, stepping into the living room and brushing a finger along the polished wood. "We almost died down there, and now we're walking into a noble's vacation house."
"It does feel like someone managed it rather than lived in it," Hajime noted, eyeing the spotless kitchen counters. "Still no signs of traps or magical surveillance either."
Yue moved silently between them, her eyes studying the design of the furnishings more than the dust. After a bit more searching, they came across an oval-shaped door at the far end of the house. Beyond it was a backyard area—though calling it that felt like an understatement.
A massive lion statue stood at the center of the stone courtyard, its maw frozen mid-roar. Beside it glowed a faded magic circle etched into the floor. Hajime gave it a curious glance, then experimentally channeled mana into it.
With a rumble, hot water blasted out of the lion's mouth in a steaming arc.
"A lion fountain... really?" Renji blinked. "Is this a bath?"
"Looks like it," Hajime said with a grin. "Classy touch, not gonna lie. Been months since I had a proper one."
Renji scratched his head, staring at the fountain with longing. He hadn't thought about hygiene since they'd been tossed into the labyrinth—but now, the grime on his skin suddenly felt unbearable.
He bent down and splashed some of the hot water onto his face and arms, sighing.
Yue watched him with a slight tilt of her head, a familiar playful glint dancing in her golden eyes.
"...Renji," she said softly, "do you want to go in together?"
Renji froze mid-splash, droplets clinging to his face. "W-What?"
She took a step forward, idly kicking at the water. "The bath. Together."
"Uhh—I think I'll pass," Renji said, voice an octave higher than normal. He looked away, ears slightly red. "I kinda just want to... soak alone. You know. Chill."
Yue pouted slightly, but the curve of her lips betrayed her amusement.
"Muu... are you scared I'll peek?"
"I—what!? No!" Renji stepped back instinctively. "I mean—yes—no! Just—please don't look at me like that!"
Hajime, who had been leaning on a pillar watching the exchange, snorted. "You're on your own, man."
Renji glared at him. "You're not helping!"
Yue giggled—a rare sound that made the quiet courtyard feel warmer. She returned to idly swishing water with her feet, thoroughly enjoying Renji's flustered state.
Once the awkward moment passed, the trio continued their exploration and headed to the second floor.
There, they discovered what looked like a library and a workshop. However, most of the shelves and the heavy iron door inside the workshop were sealed shut. No matter what method they tried—force, mana, even some of Hajime's tools—nothing worked.
"Definitely locked down tight," Renji muttered, more than happy to shift focus from baths to puzzles. "Whatever's in here... someone didn't want it being found easily."
Their examination of the lion statue complete, the trio made their way up to the second floor. There they discovered a spacious library and a dimly lit workshop. However, most of the bookshelves were sealed behind enchanted glass, and the door leading deeper into the workshop was locked tight.
Renji tried brute force first—naturally—and even attempted to channel mana through the frame, but nothing worked. Hajime gave it a shot with his transmutation too, but whatever magic protected the room wasn't budging.
"Ugh. Fine. Guess someone really didn't want us reading ahead," Renji grumbled, tossing aside a failed unlocking crystal.
They eventually gave up and climbed the stairs to the third floor.
Only a single room lay at the end of the narrow corridor. There was nothing else—just one door, tall and foreboding, as if it were guarding something ancient. Hajime stepped forward and slowly pushed it open.
What met them inside was unlike anything else in the lair.
An enormous magic circle, roughly eight meters wide, was embedded into the floor. Its intricate, overlapping layers of symbols and markings shimmered faintly even in the still air. Hajime's eyes narrowed in quiet awe.
"These inscriptions... this isn't just complex—it's a masterpiece."
Renji let out a low whistle, visibly impressed. Even Yue paused for a moment, eyes flickering across the glowing glyphs.
But none of that compared to the eerie centerpiece of the room.
Sitting in a high-backed, gilded chair beside the magic circle was a corpse.
Or rather, what remained of one—a skeleton dressed in black and gold robes so pristine they looked freshly laundered. There wasn't even a speck of dust on the fabric, which only made the whole scene feel more unsettling. It looked like the remains had been deliberately preserved—almost displayed.
The skull was tilted downward, as if the person it once belonged to had sat there waiting for something—or someone—and died peacefully in the process.
"Creepy," Renji muttered. "Why'd he die up here instead of somewhere normal, like his bed or sofa?"
"...Maybe he wanted to be dramatic." Yue replied, her voice soft but tinged with mischief. Then, without warning, she leaned close to Renji's ear and whispered, "If you died, would you pick somewhere cozy? Or... somewhere where I could find you?"
Renji nearly jumped out of his skin. "C-Could you not say that right next to a corpse?" he sputtered, backing away slightly from both Yue and the skeleton. "You're way too comfortable with this!"
Yue tilted her head innocently. "Mmm... you're too easy to tease."
Hajime chuckled from the other side of the room. "Focus. That circle might be our ticket out. Everything else we've found so far was sealed tighter than Fort Knox."
"Right, right..." Renji muttered, still a little pink in the face as he turned his attention to the glowing inscriptions.
Hajime stepped forward, kneeling beside the magic circle. He ran his hand just above its surface, feeling the subtle warmth of the mana still pulsing through it.
"Whatever this is... it's active. Yue, be ready for anything. If this thing triggers some kind of defense mechanism—"
"I'll protect Renji," Yue said calmly.
"I didn't ask for a bodyguard!" Renji snapped, flustered.
"Too bad. You're mine."
Renji let out a long groan. "This place is giving me chills and you're over here flirting next to a skeleton..."
Yue only smiled, and Hajime shook his head with a grin.
The mood aside, all of them were now keenly aware—they were standing at the threshold of something big. Whatever lay ahead, it started with this circle.
Renji took a tentative step forward.
Nothing happened.
He kept going, cautious but resolute. When he reached the center of the magic circle, the entire chamber erupted in brilliant yellow light.
He immediately shut his eyes, overwhelmed by the intensity. A moment later, something seemed to pierce into his mind—like a foreign presence rifling through his memories. Images flooded in: his descent into the abyss, the battles he had fought, the pain, the rage, the struggle—every moment leading up to the Hydra's fall.
Then the light began to fade.
Renji opened his eyes, breath caught in his throat.
Standing before him was a young man draped in black robes. He hadn't made a sound. Hadn't disturbed the air. He was just there—suddenly and impossibly.
The magic circle continued to glow faintly beneath their feet, casting the room in an otherworldly hue. Renji immediately dropped into a battle stance, eyes locked on the figure.
But after a few tense seconds, he eased his stance.
There was no hostility.
No bloodlust.
In fact, the man didn't seem entirely real. His outline shimmered faintly, like a projection or a lingering spirit. Then Renji noticed the robe—it was identical to the one worn by the skeletal corpse that had been seated earlier.
That was enough to confirm his suspicion.
This wasn't some intruder. This was a remnant.
A ghost.
Renji didn't speak. He simply watched, waiting.
At last, the figure moved. His mouth opened, and his voice echoed softly through the chamber.
"I commend you for overcoming my trial. My name is Oscar Orcus. I am the one who created this labyrinth. Perhaps the world knows me by another name... a maverick."
Renji's eyes narrowed slightly. So it really was him—the man behind this hellish place. The architect of the Great Orcus Labyrinth.
Oscar continued, his tone detached, but sincere.
"I ask that you forgive the lack of interaction. This is only a recording, a lingering echo of who I once was. I cannot answer your questions, nor respond to your thoughts. All I can do is share the truth—why we chose to defy the gods... and why we were branded traitors."
What followed changed everything Renji thought he understood.
Oscar spoke of a world ruled by mad gods. Of a history soaked in blood and lies. Long after the Age of the Gods had ended, the mortal races fell into constant war—humans, demons, beastmen. They fought for land, for pride, for power... but most of all, for faith.
Each race worshipped their own deity.
And those gods, in turn, urged them to wage war on all others.
It wasn't divine will.
It was a cruel game.
The gods treated the world like a board—and mortals like pieces.
In time, a group rose up to resist. They called themselves the Liberators—each one a direct descendant of the divine. Their leader had uncovered the truth behind the gods' manipulations, and he couldn't bear the injustice. He searched for others who felt the same, and slowly, their numbers grew.
They discovered Asgard, the domain of the gods, and formed a plan to confront them.
But the gods acted first.
They twisted the story.
They turned the world against them.
The Liberators were branded as monsters—enemies of peace. Every race united in hunting them down.
Renji felt his hands clench unconsciously.
Oscar's voice remained calm, but there was weight behind every word.
The Liberators fled. They couldn't fight back—not against those they loved, those they'd sworn to protect. The world called them heretics. Their true name was lost.
Only mavericks remained.
Eventually, only seven survived. With nowhere left to run, they each went into hiding. They carved labyrinths deep into the earth, created trials only the strong could overcome, and left behind fragments of their power.
They entrusted their will to the future.
To those like Renji.
As the story ended, Oscar looked at him.
He smiled—not with sadness, but with hope.
After he finished his long speech, Oscar smiled peacefully.
"I have no idea who you are, or why you chose to fight your way down here. Nor do I have any intention of forcing my own dreams of the gods' demise onto you. I simply wanted you to know what it was we fought, and died, for... As a reward for hearing me out, I shall grant you my strength. How you use it is entirely up to you. I can only pray you won't use it for evil. That's all I have to say. Thank you for listening to the end. May the 'blessings' of the gods never reach you."
Oscar's apparition vanished once he finished talking.
At the same time, Renji stiffened. A torrent of knowledge and raw power slammed into his mind like a hammer. He staggered a step back, his jaw clenched as flashes of ancient memories and pain not his own flooded in. Yue and Hajime both turned to him in alarm.
"Renji?" Yue said softly, stepping closer.
He didn't answer immediately. His hands were trembling—not from fear, but rage. His breathing turned shallow, his voice barely above a whisper at first.
"This… this is why we were summoned here."
Yue blinked. "What do you mean?"
Renji's head snapped up, eyes blazing with fury.
"This war… this broken world. We weren't summoned here to save it—we were brought here to be used. To fight their battles. To die for their amusement. Everything—our lives, our choices—it was all decided before we even got here!"
He turned, pacing for a moment before punching the wall hard enough to draw blood.
"They dressed it up like a 'hero's call.' Like we had a choice. But all they wanted were more pawns to throw at their enemies."
Hajime narrowed his eyes, arms folded. "So what, you're saying this was the real reason behind the summoning?"
Renji nodded, his voice raw. "Yeah. We were brought here for this. To clean up the mess the gods made. Not as heroes. As tools. They knew we'd have power—knew we'd survive. And now we know why."
Hajime let out a long sigh. "What a story…"
"You okay?" Yue asked, glancing between the two boys.
"I'm fine," Hajime replied. "It's a tragic tale, but it doesn't change what I'm here for."
Yue turned to Renji. "What about you?"
Silence.
Then Renji slowly lifted his head, his eyes cold—flat and unwavering like a blade just drawn.
"This doesn't change anything for me," he said lowly. "I don't give a damn about this world's problems. I never did."
Yue's brow furrowed. "Then... what are you going to do?"
Renji stared ahead, gaze hard. "Same thing I've always planned. Get back to Japan. That's it."
Hajime raised an eyebrow. "That simple, huh?"
Renji's voice dropped even lower, sharp and deadly.
"Anyone who gets in the way of that... I don't care if it's a king or a the God's themselves —they die regardless. I'm done playing nice."
Yue blinked, surprised at the sheer coldness in his tone. "Renji..."
"They dragged us here without asking," he continued. "Told us to fight a war we never agreed to. I don't owe anyone here a damn thing."
He looked at her directly now.
"I'm going home. No matter what. And if this world wants to stop me—" He let out a quiet laugh, devoid of humor. "Then I'll cut it down."
The silence that followed was thick, heavy.
Yue stepped closer, watching him carefully.
"You're serious."
"Dead serious."
"Umm, also… I think I just learned a new spell," Renji said, glancing down at his hand. "Some kind of magic from the Age of the Gods."
"...Really?" Yue said, visibly taken aback.
Her reaction was justified. Magic from the Age of the Gods wasn't just rare—it was legendary. The gods had long since vanished, and so had their spells. Most believed such magic had died with them.
"This magic circle did something to my head. Like it rewired me. Now I just... get it. I understand how it works. It's not just knowledge—it feels like instinct."
Yue looked concerned. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Better than ever," Renji said. His expression hardened. "Actually, this spell's damn near perfect for Hajime."
That caught both Yue and Hajime off guard.
"What kind of magic is it?" Hajime asked warily.
"Creation Magic," Renji replied, eyes gleaming with intensity. "It lets you add magical properties to minerals—forge your own ores, refine metal beyond anything possible today. You can create artifacts, weapons, gear, whatever you can imagine. It's what Synergists from the Age of the Gods used."
Yue's eyes widened. "You can make... artifacts?"
Renji nodded. "Yeah. And Hajime, you're a Synergist. This magic? It's built for someone like you. With your creativity, you'd go from an alchemist to a goddamn war machine."
Hajime crossed his arms. "That so?"
"I'm serious. This isn't just power—it's freedom. The more you make, the more options you have. You want to get out of this world? You'll need every edge you can get. This magic gives you that edge."
He turned to Yue next, voice more deliberate.
"You should learn it too."
Yue blinked. "...I can't use transmutation."
"Doesn't matter. This magic doesn't care about affinities. It's a legacy. You fought through the trial same as we did. Oscar's words made that clear. If nothing else, this knowledge could help protect Hajime and me. That's enough reason, isn't it?"
Yue hesitated. She looked to Hajime, who gave her a small nod. Then back to Renji.
"If you think I should, Renji... then I will."
Renji stepped aside and motioned toward the circle. "Go on. It'll read your memories. If Oscar thinks you're worthy, you'll get the same power."
Yue stepped into the magic circle. It began to glow, softly pulsing with light as Oscar's apparition reappeared.
"I congratulate you on overcoming my trial. My name is Oscar..."
Oscar repeated the same words he had before, but Renji, Hajime, and Yue had heard them once already and simply let the message play out as background noise.
Once it faded, Yue stepped out of the circle, her face thoughtful.
"How'd it go?" Renji asked.
"I learned it... but artifacts still feel distant to me."
"Doesn't matter," Renji said. "You've got it now. That's enough. In this world, knowledge is power. Even if you don't use it, someone who tries to take it from you will regret it."
Hajime chuckled dryly. "You really don't hold back, huh?"
Renji smirked. "Not anymore. We didn't ask to be dragged here, but I'll be damned if I walk out of this place empty-handed. We're going back to Japan—and anyone or anything that tries to stop us is getting buried."
Hajime glanced back toward Oscar's skeleton and shrugged.
"Well, this is our place now. Might as well clean up the remains."
"Yeah," Renji added. "He'd make good fertilizer."
"Poor guy," Yue murmured. "At least he passed on his power."
Oscar's skull slipped forward in the silence, as if bowing one last time.
They laid Oscar to rest near the edge of the field, under the pale light of the artificial sun. A modest gravestone marked the spot—nothing grand, but enough to show that even in death, he mattered. Renji stood silently for a long while, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
He'd joked earlier about turning the guy into fertilizer, but when it came down to it, he couldn't bring himself to disrespect someone who'd clearly fought to the bitter end. He was the last trace of a man who'd once been like them—desperate, determined, and trapped.
The silence was heavier than grief. It was respect.
Renji lingered a little longer after the others had turned back, hands in his coat pockets, head slightly bowed. Then he followed, his gaze distant but thoughtful.
The ring they'd taken from Oscar—a simple band with an intricate cross-in-circle engraving—turned out to be the key. Using it, they unlocked the sealed rooms within the mansion.
The first was the library.
Dust floated lazily in the air, untouched for what must've been decades. The smell of old parchment and ink hit them as they stepped inside. Hajime and Yue began rifling through shelves. Renji walked the aisles in silence, brushing his fingers along book spines, looking for anything—maps, journals, symbols he might recognize. His movements were deliberate, focused, but his mind ran with a quiet undercurrent of hope.
Then Hajime's voice broke the stillness.
"Renji! Yue! Come look at this!"
Renji was by his side in seconds. Hajime had laid out what appeared to be blueprints—rough, hand-sketched, and annotated in messy notes.
"This here," Hajime said, pointing, "on the third floor. It's a teleportation array. It links straight to the surface."
Renji stared at the markings. "And the ring?" he asked quietly.
"Required to activate it. We've got it."
For a long heartbeat, Renji didn't say anything. His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath—slow, controlled. Then, almost like a whisper escaping him, he said:
"…We can go home."
Yue looked over at him. Her eyes, always calm, shimmered faintly with something softer. Renji's mouth opened, then closed, the weight of the moment catching in his throat.
He gave a quiet laugh—not loud, not sharp, just a small, disbelieving breath that sounded like something inside him was finally loosening.
"I wasn't sure I'd hear those words again," he said. Then, with a rare break in composure, he stepped forward and pulled Yue into a quick but firm hug. It caught her off guard, but she didn't resist. She leaned into it quietly.
"We're getting out of this hell," he murmured.
Yue didn't say anything, just rested her hand on his back. Hajime looked at them and smiled faintly.
After a few seconds, Renji pulled back and gave her a half-apologetic smile. "Sorry. Just… needed that."
Yue nodded. "I understand."
They continued searching, and not long after, Yue found an old leather-bound book—Oscar's diary. Its pages painted pictures of a long-lost world, of Oscar's comrades, and the labyrinths they'd left behind.
"Each one holds ancient magic," Yue said, showing him the passage.
Renji read over her shoulder, his eyes scanning the faded ink. "So if we clear the rest..."
"We might find the magic that can take you home," she finished for him.
He looked down at her, then at Hajime, and let out another quiet breath.
"I thought we were stuck… thought I'd be wandering this world forever."
Hajime folded his arms. "Now we've got a direction."
Renji nodded. His hand unconsciously tightened around the ring in his pocket.
"Let's make it out. All the way. Together."
There was no dramatic music, no bright light shining down—but something in the air had changed. For the first time in a long while, it felt like they had a real shot. Like hope wasn't just a dangerous dream anymore.
They were going home.
And this time, the path forward was clear.
Once they finished rummaging through the library, the trio headed over to the workshop. It was filled with all kinds of locked doors, each waiting to be opened with Orcus' ring. The workshop was crammed with rare ores, strange tools, and work manuals—clearly a Synergist's dream come true.
Renji was already feeling the weight of the discovery, his eyes scanning the room in awe. But Hajime, his usual level-headed self, folded his arms and stared at the treasures surrounding them, deep in thought. After a moment, his gaze shifted from the tools to Renji.
"Renji," Hajime began, his voice serious, "what do you think about staying here for a while?"
Renji turned to face him, surprised. "Stay here?" His brow furrowed. "I thought we were planning to head straight back to the surface."
"I know, I know. But think about it. There's so much here, and we could use the time to prepare properly, especially if we're heading to the other labyrinths. If we're going to make it out of this place, we need to be at our best, right?" Hajime said, his tone thoughtful. He was doing his best to be considerate of Renji, understanding the desperation to leave, but also recognizing the value in taking the time to train and grow stronger.
Renji hesitated, the idea of staying in this place weighing on him. "But... I don't know. The longer we stay, the more it feels like we're stuck here."
Hajime nodded, stepping closer. "I get that. But we aren't stuck. We have a real chance now, a path to the surface and beyond. But if we rush and aren't prepared... We won't stand a chance. Think of this as an opportunity. We've come this far, haven't we?"
Renji stood silent for a moment, his eyes wandering across the room, then back at Hajime. His fists clenched slightly. "I get it... But what if staying here just keeps us from moving forward?"
"I get that fear too," Hajime said, his voice softening. "But staying here doesn't mean we're giving up on going back. It just means we're taking a moment to ensure that when we do leave, we're ready for whatever comes next."
Renji's expression shifted, the tension easing slightly. He exhaled slowly, the weight of the decision pressing down on him, but he couldn't deny the truth in Hajime's words. "Alright, I'll stay... but only if we make sure we're not wasting any more time."
Hajime grinned, relieved. "Deal."
Yue, who had been quietly watching the exchange, stepped forward. Her voice was soft but clear as she spoke to Renji. "Renji," she began, "as long as I'm with you, anywhere is fine."
Renji turned to her, surprised by her calm and sincere words. She met his gaze with an unshakable resolve, her hand resting lightly on his arm. It was simple, but the warmth in her eyes was undeniable.
Renji's heart softened at her words. "You mean that, huh?"
Yue smiled faintly. "Of course. We're in this together."
For a moment, Renji just stared at her, feeling a strange sense of peace settling over him. No matter where they were, as long as they were together, it didn't matter. He looked back at Hajime, who gave him an understanding nod, and then back to Yue, his own smile small but genuine.
"Alright. Let's take this time to prepare. We'll get out of here—stronger than before."
With that settled, the three of them began to explore the workshop, gathering what they needed and preparing for whatever came next. Though the future was uncertain, they knew one thing for sure—they weren't facing it alone.