The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 110: Ch : The Trials of Sacrifice- Part 1

The four of them stood before the entrance of the secret dungeon, its stone archway overgrown with twisted vines and framed by the gnarled roots of ancient trees.

The air was thick with moisture, and a faint mist curled around their ankles, adding an eerie touch to the dimly lit forest.

The entrance itself pulsed with a soft, amber glow, a sign that the dungeon was still active and unclaimed.

’This place seems a little too perfect. Being here gives me the chills.’

Selene adjusted the straps of her leather gloves, the silence stretching too long for her comfort.

She cast a sideways glance at Ethan, who was leaning casually against a moss-covered boulder, his expression as unbothered as ever.

Her curiosity itched at her, and she couldn’t hold it back anymore.

"So... how did you find this place, Ethan?"

Her voice was casual, but everyone caught the undercurrent of suspicion.

Ethan’s lips curled into a smirk.

"I told you. Family meeting. You’d be surprised at the kind of secrets that pop up when old folks start reminiscing."

Zara snorted, folding her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, sure. And I’m the queen of Rylos. You don’t have to tell us the truth, Ethan, but at least make your lies sound good."

Ethan chuckled, a warm, rolling sound that didn’t match the sharp look in his eyes.

His gaze landed on Selene, and she felt a twist in her gut. It was the same unnerving feeling she often gave others when she chose to keep secrets.

It was a humbling realization.

Before she could think of a response, the dungeon’s entrance shimmered, and an unseen force pulled them forward.

Selene stumbled, the world around her twisting into darkness.

When the light returned, she was alone.

The stone walls around her were damp, carved with strange runes that seemed to shift when she wasn’t looking.

The corridor stretched endlessly in both directions, with no sign of Zara, Orion, or Ethan.

A cold, metallic voice echoed in her mind.

[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT: WELCOME TO THE MAZE OF SEVERANCE. THIS IS A SOLO TRIAL. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST CLEAR THE MAZE INDIVIDUALLY TO PROCEED.]

Selene’s jaw clenched.

"Solo trial? How is this a ’party’ dungeon?"

She opened her inventory, attempting to contact the others through the communicator.

But the system’s interface refused to comply. No messages, no signals, nothing but the dim green of the labyrinth’s map.

"Great. Thanks a lot, Ethan."

She muttered.

The system continued, as if mocking her.

[EACH PARTICIPANT WILL RECEIVE ONE REWARD UPON COMPLETION. REWARDS ARE RANDOMIZED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS WILL NOT YIELD ADDITIONAL REWARDS.]

Selene’s hands balled into fists. She could almost picture Ethan’s sly grin as he led them here, conveniently leaving out the important details.

"That lying bastard."

With no other choice, she started walking.

Selene walked through the dungeon, her steps careful and slow.

The walls around her were dark and damp, and the air felt heavy. She reached an empty room—the first obstacle. free𝑤ebnovel.com

There was nothing in the space. No doors, no windows, nothing to guide her to the other side.

She frowned, wondering if there was a hidden mechanism or a puzzle to solve. She was about to use Insight when a shiver ran down her spine. Someone was approaching.

Selene tensed, her hand on her weapon. Her mind raced through possibilities, and she readied herself to attack. But when the figure stepped into the room, she froze.

Rose Grayson.

Selene’s body stiffened even more. She had not expected to see him here. His presence made her skin crawl.

Rose looked surprised as well. His lips curved into a smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

"What a pleasant surprise. To meet you here of all places. Perhaps this is destiny? Maybe we really are soulmates, after all."

He said, his voice smooth.

Selene’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re nothing but a stalker. How did you get here? And why are you here?"

Rose tilted his head, his expression soft yet unsettling.

"I’m only where destiny wants me to be. It seems fate led me to you once again."

Selene felt the urge to shudder but kept her composure. She knew better than to let him get to her. She decided to focus on the dungeon first.

Whatever game Rose was playing, she would not fall for it.

But Rose stood too close. His presence felt like a shadow, looming over her.

She could not think straight with him so near. Her mind became foggy, and her foot shifted back—a mistake.

A click echoed in the room.

A trap.

Selene’s body reacted before her mind caught up. She saw Rose’s hand reaching for her, his fingers stretching out as if to claim her.

Panic shot through her, and she jerked away. Her sudden movement triggered the trap fully.

The ground beneath her gave way.

She fell.

Air rushed past her, and her stomach lurched.

Rose’s hand reached out for her, but it passed through her just as he disappeared from in front of her eyes.

’Shit! It was a illusion’

She twisted, trying to grab onto something, anything—but there was nothing to hold. She hit the ground hard, a grunt escaping her lips as pain flared up her side.

Her head spun, but she forced herself to sit up. She looked around, and her mind raced to make sense of her new surroundings.

It was not the same room.

The empty room was gone. Instead, she was in a dimly lit corridor. Strange roots curled along the walls, and a low mist clung to the floor. The air was cold and wet.

Selene blinked, her mind still reeling. The fall felt too real, but the memory of Rose felt hazy.

An illusion.

Her hands clenched into fists. The Rose she had seen was not real. He was just a trick, a phantom meant to mess with her mind.

’Darn it! Even this dungeon knows how much that bastard is annoying me.’

She felt bitterness rise in her chest. It was a cheap trick, but it worked. She had fallen for it.

But she did not have time to dwell on her mistake. She needed to move. She stood, brushing the dirt from her clothes. Her body ached, but nothing felt broken. She was lucky.