The corridor narrowed and the air grew heavier.
I walked ahead, Elissa keeping close. The silence between us wasn't tense—it was just... dense. As if the very walls were holding their breath.
Then, we entered it.
The chamber was massive. Dome-shaped, stone walls etched with swirling symbols that pulsed faintly, like veins beneath skin. It felt sacred—like a place no one should've ever found.
And in the center stood seven towering statues, each carved from a different material—gold, black obsidian, marble, bone, twisted steel, cracked glass, and scorched ash.
They stood in a semicircle. Immense. Ancient. Watching.
And off to the side—a small, cracked statue, only half their height. Alone.
Not part of the ring.
Forgotten.
I stepped closer. Above each of the large statues hovered a single glowing title, written in our language, though it was clear these were never meant for human eyes.
WRATH – The Executioner
SLOTH – The One With No Time
ENVY – The Jealous Prince
GREED – The Blinded Goldstealer
PRIDE – The King Chained By His Thoughts
LUST – The Weaver of Dreams
GLUTTONY – (Role Unrevealed)
The smaller statue's label simply read:
The Burning Outcast
Nothing else.
No role. No explanation. Just the name—hovering above the cracked figure, cloaked in fire-damaged stone.
I looked down at my own chest. Still green. Favorable Mission: ENVY. But my role? I already knew it.
The Burning Outcast.
I wasn't part of the circle.
I wasn't meant to be.
Elissa stepped beside me. "These statues… they feel like they're watching us."
"They probably are," I muttered.
She frowned. "Which one are you?"
I didn't answer.
I didn't want to.
I just stared at the outcast statue, that tiny forgotten shadow, and saw… myself. Small. Scorched. Unwanted. Not chosen—but cursed.
Then the room grew cold.
A low hum began to vibrate through the floor, like metal grinding under pressure.
We both turned—just as a second door on the other side slid open.
And through it walked a figure.
Rex.
But not the same Rex we had seen during the group vote.
This Rex's face was blank, hollow. His hair was soaked in sweat, eyes bloodshot. In his right hand, he carried a glowing crimson sword that pulsed like it had a heartbeat of its own.
And his hands were bleeding. Both of them. Crimson rivers flowing down his arms, staining his already ruined suit.
Above his head floated the title: Favorable Mission: WRATH
He walked forward slowly, and each step echoed like a drumbeat in a funeral march.
I stepped in front of Elissa.
Rex stopped at the edge of the circle of statues and raised the sword—pointing it at me.
He came closer, but I moved back and said, "So what do you want?"
Rex blinked, slightly surprised, then smiled faintly. "Oh, right. I guess I'm just… too happy seeing you."
He continued, "I know I kicked you and her out, but please… trust me. I apologize for all of it."
I sighed, still scared. "Why are your hands bleeding?"
Rex threw the crimson sword to the floor. It landed just at my feet.
"When I was assigned my role as the Executioner, I had two choices of sword—'The Mighty Sword of Emptiness' or 'The Demon Sword of Justice.' I chose the second. This is that sword. If you want to kill me, to take revenge, you can do it with this very blade."
I looked down.
It was a double-edged crimson sword. But the handle... it had thorns all over it.
"So that's how your hands got 'dirty,'" I remarked.
"Didn't you read the description? Or even look at them?"
"I had," Rex said. "The first sword was tempting. It didn't cause pain. But—"
He paused. Then added, "The one who gives punishment must know the pain of it."
"What a believable answer," I said, dripping sarcasm.
"Okay, you may join me," I added. "But take your sword. I can't handle it anyway."
"But why are you doing this?" I asked.
Rex nodded solemnly. "I abandoned you back then—not because I wanted to, but because I had no power. Now that I do, I want to protect as many as I can. As for the reason behind it… I could tell you, but you might get bored."
"Not at all," I said. "No story in this universe is boring."
"I'll tell it once we get out of this mess."
Rex gave an assuring smile and picked up his sword.
He joked, "What if I kill you right now as I lift it?"
"I have a plan for that," I replied confidently.
Truthfully?
I had no plan.
If it came to it, I could sacrifice Elissa and try pulling some trick. I might run, but he'd kill me anyway. If he wanted me dead, he could've done it already. Resisting would be… futile.
Elissa suddenly asked, "Who is this guy?"
Rex lowered his head, ashamed. "I know what I've done. I apologize to you as well. You don't have to act like that."
"She just has…" I twirled a finger near my temple. "…a bit of memory loss. Or lost her mind. Not sure yet."
"Oh," Rex said. "But how?"
"I don't know. She was like that when I found her."
"You're basically carrying a burden, even in a life or death situation. That's… incredible, honestly."
I chuckled in desperation, not knowing what to say.
Me? Incredible?
I see myself as unfit to live. The worst scum imaginable.
Yet this human here refers to me as noble?
Why?
Is it because society—humans—are an even worse scum?
If so… then why am I enduring all this pain to protect such a society?
Wouldn't it be better if… both me and this broken world just… vanished?
Then, smack!
Elissa slapped me on the back of the head.
"You think I'm a burden to you? I may not remember everyone, but I'm better than you. At least I'm mentally stable and don't shout into the air like a lunatic."
"Yes, yes… you're right. I'm the worst here. Thanks for reminding me," I muttered.
She chuckled with pride.
I leaned toward Rex and whispered, "Don't blurt out anything important too loud. Not with Elissa here."
Rex nodded in agreement.
We roamed the dome, searching for anything useful.
Nothing. Just a few fractites—but Rex handled them easily.
When he slashed them down, there was no fatigue on his face like there was on mine.
"I guess it's the sword," I muttered.
Elissa gasped, "Wow, you're so strong, Mister!"
"It's Rex," he replied.
"Sure, Mister Rex," she said.
I noticed how cheerful Elissa seemed—like how she probably was before her marriage. Unlike the cold, shattered person I had seen before the vote.
Though I hadn't accessed her full memories yet… parts of her past still wandered inside my head.
I realized—humans are born happy.
It's the world that breaks them.
"What should we do now?" Rex asked.
"Move forward," I replied. "What else can we do?"
"I guess you're right," Rex said.
We moved on. Though I couldn't help but wonder… what happened to the group after we entered this dungeon?
But I didn't ask. It might stir something in him.
His group had likely broken apart or been separated.
And I…
I shouldn't make others like me.
People who fear the future because of the past.
Then I felt it.
"Someone's close," I said.
Rex readied his sword. Elissa ducked behind me.
Figures began to emerge from the shadows.