Shadow Run was a labyrinth in total darkness, filled with Apex-energy constructs in the form of shadow beasts. Participants had to navigate to the exit without being caught or incapacitated.
This was what Ryuk could remember from Sir Kieran’s description.
Now, there was nothing but the beast’s wide-open mouth and the dark door. At least Ryuk knew that behind it lay a labyrinth he must navigate.
[Host has 1 hour and 30 minutes left, or he will be sent back to the starting line and forced to start all over again.]
[Something I think would be impossible for Host due to the amount of injuries he has currently suffered!]
The system’s grave notification resounded, reminding Ryuk that he didn’t have much time.
He had spent three hours running, another climbing the mountain, and an hour and thirty minutes walking the infernal rope. Now, he had just 1 hour and 30 minutes left to cross this final test.
If he failed, he would be sent back to the beginning.
Ryuk had started the test just a few seconds ago with full energy. If he failed and was sent back, he would no doubt fail even worse this time due to his already weakened state. The cycle would simply continue, over and over.
Judging from how he had not entered Sir Kieran’s good graces due to his late arrival, Ryuk doubted the man would pity him at all. So, Ryuk immediately raced forward, entering the mouth of the beast statue and disappearing within.
When he entered, everything before Ryuk was pitch black. The only things he could see were the walls at his side, which somehow radiated a faint pink light from the embedded gems.
Moving to one of the walls, Ryuk placed a hand on its surface and began racing forward. He understood what a labyrinth was, but he had never been in one before. Still, placing his hand on the wall in the darkness gave him something tangible to hold on to mentally.
After running straight for ten minutes, Ryuk noticed the wall to his left curving into the distance, but he ignored it, keeping his hand on the straight wall and continuing forward.
For twenty minutes straight, he avoided taking any detours, before eventually arriving at a dead end as the wall he was touching curved to the side. Ryuk followed it but quickly noticed the wall curving away from the straight path again. Without hesitation, he removed his hand and placed it on the second wall, which he felt was curving forward once more. Quickly, Ryuk began following it, his hand firm on its surface.
However, he had not walked very far when he felt glowing eyes appear behind him. He instantly heard a sharp whistling sound and leapt away from where he stood.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP
The sound of something ripping through the air echoed, followed by blood splashing onto Ryuk’s face as he felt three lines running down his shoulder.
"Shadow Beast!"
Ryuk thought in his head with a serious expression. He remembered Sir Kieran’s warning about not being torn to pieces by the shadow beasts—constructs of the Shadow Run labyrinth—and had been expecting them to appear.
Yet, even though he had remained alert for their potential presence, he was still slashed.
Gritting his teeth against the pain assaulting him, Ryuk wobbled to his feet. His hands gripped the wall, and he immediately sprinted forward with all his speed.
For one, he had no idea how many shadow beasts were in the labyrinth. Second, he had no sense of time in this pitch-black darkness. Asking the system would only create unnecessary pressure.
For these reasons, he couldn’t run back or slow down to fight the shadow beasts. He had to keep moving.
Ryuk’s choice seemed smart, but not for long. He began to feel many gazes fixed on him, but he ignored them and moved faster.
The shadow beasts, seeing a target that wouldn’t dodge their claws, turned Ryuk into a slashing blur of blood as claw marks quickly appeared across his body.
The shadow beasts seemed to increase in number the further he ran. While their stinging claws hurt like hell, Ryuk knew he was heading down the correct path; otherwise, they wouldn’t attack so ferociously. This gave him some motivation to keep going.
As for the blood running down his body, Ryuk consoled himself that everything would heal once he cleared the test and exited outside.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP
A louder sound of something being ripped to shreds echoed. Ryuk’s face contorted in pain as he felt a claw ruthlessly tear into his hand that was touching the wall, causing him to lose his grasp. Another claw tore into the back of his knees, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Blood quickly pooled around him, but Ryuk gritted his teeth and began dragging himself forward on the hard ground with his remaining hand.
However, even that arm was soon diced up by the beasts, whose aim seemed to ensure he couldn’t move.
Both arms rendered useless and his eyes unable to see in the pitch darkness, Ryuk felt himself losing sight of everything as the exhaustion from earlier tests quickly caught up with him.
The exhaustion was so deep that Ryuk wanted nothing more than to lie down and rest. Just as he felt his consciousness slipping, the system’s words flashed like a beacon of light through the darkness.
[Host is just a meter away from the finish line!]
The system’s announcement reignited Ryuk’s determination. His eyes lit up, and he immediately rose. He could feel all the shadow beasts focus on him and instantly move to attack when a sadistic smile appeared on Ryuk’s face.
"Activate Snow Veil!"
Immediately, a white mist spread out from Ryuk. The beasts’ claws, which had been reaching for his back, slowed down drastically. Using a powerful kick to the head of one shadow beast, Ryuk felt his body get thrown three meters forward from where he was lying.
When he opened his eyes, he saw someone standing just before his head. Pitch-black eyes stared at him, their owner shaking his head.
Of course, it was none other than Sir Kieran.
"Finished exactly in 6 hours and 59 minutes on the dot! Tsk, tsk, you were just a minute away from repeating the entire test. Lucky you!"