Chapter 389 - Maze Canyons

'The mazes were nothing close to what I had imagined.... If only I tried to not believe in Tu's words. If only I did my own research on what to expect... If only I opened my eyes to the truth of everything then maybe things would have turned out differently...' Rahul said pitifully before he continued his story while Ariana bitterly and silently laid against his body. 

....

The walls were made of white marble that were cool to the touch, over their heads were bright lights that resembled tiny suns while the floor was made of steel. "What is this?" Jiro whispered beside Tu. "I am not sure..." Tu whispered back as she took a few steps forward, her eyes sparkled as she looked at her surroundings. Jiro was also mesmerized by the area and took his eyes of Tu for a moment. It was only when he heard clicking sounds that his gaze was torn from the maze.

"Tu!" He shouted as he turnd his gaze to her. "Jiro!" She shouted back as the marble walls shifted positions and suddendly a wall was in place where Tu was. "TU!" Jiro shouted again but his shouts were drowned out by his mens shouts. Jiro tuned around and his army of men were split up. New walls were around them and the entrance of the maze had disapeared. 

"What the hell is going on?!" Jiro shouted as the remaining men with him turned pale. "Jiro! Jiro!" He heard from behind the wall. Jiro rushed up to the wall and placed his hands on it. "Tu?" He called back. "Yes Jiro, it's me. Please listen! I dont know how much time I have. It looks like the maze is alive and could move again at any given time." Tu shouted in a panic.

"Tu please calm yourself. I swear I will find you." Jiro said firmly. "Jiro! That doesn't matter right now! Please listen! You must find the center of the maze. In the center lays the opal. When you find it you must place both your hands on it and call out your name. Do not fail, no matter what you must pass the trials of the mazes or else we will all die!" Tu shouted.

"I swear I will do everything I can to make it to the center!" Jiro shouted as he pounded a fist against the wall. "You must! The ones fallen to the maze's traps will be revived! Do not worry about any of us you must -?! AHHHHHH!" Tu screamed. "TU?! TU!" Jiro shouted but he was only answered with silence. "Commander?" Some of Jiro's men called out. "Stay close. We must find the opal no matter what." Jiro growled as he stepped back from the wall.

A new fire blazed in his eyes and determination fuled his belly. "No matter what we will complete our mission."

Jiro pushed forward as the screams of his men echoed along the white marbe walls. With every twist and turn the men met with different fates. They ran into man eating spiders with deformed human faces. Jiro lost four men to the beasts but he pressed on. They also met with flesh melting slime creatures that seeped in between their armor. Jiro lost two men to the slime but he pressed on.

They then met a thick back fog. One soldier volunteered to go first and screamed a blood curdling cry the moment he inhaled the thick, black fog. Bloody tears ran down his face as his jaw dislocated causing his lower face to hang. Jiro decided to keep his men at bay until the walls shifted. They had no idea how long they camped at the border before the walls shifted but seeing his fallen comrade's twisted body on the ground next to them was mentally draining.

The next shift revealed a water room with dim lights. Jiro refused to let another soldier volunteer so he moved forward first. The further he moved into the water the deep it got until he reached the center. Once he passed it the water started to become more shallow until he reached the other side.  

"It's safe." He called out after he inspected his body thoroughly. His men all let out a sigh of relief and moved forward in a single line. Unfortuately it was another grave mistake. The waters started to ripple causing whatever was sleeping within the deepths to awake. Soon barracudas jumped out of the waters and closed their jaw on the throats of three men. With the momentum of the barracudas body the men were dragged down and sank into the waters. 

Jiro's face paled and he urged his men to move faster. By the time the group made it to the other side Jiro lost six men in total. The last one to leave the waters grasped Jiro's hand with dear life and was hualled out before anything could happen to him. Jiro looked back at his men and grieved the loss. "Four.... there are only four left." He mumbled. 

His remaining men looked exhausted and wanted to give up but they knew if they stopped it would also mean death. "W-we must be near the opal?" A soldier said as his knees shaked. "Y-yes we must be!" Another said enthusiastically while the other two nodded their heads vigorously. Jiro collected himself and stood tall. "We will find the opal and revive them." He said as he walked forwad and past his men.

The men cheered but the cheer lacked their usual motivation. Jiro felt it too. Dread and doubt started to crawl into his heart. They were tired, they were cold and they were hungry. As they moved for what felt like hours they finally entered an area that seemed unnatural. The area was grassy and serene. It was something completely unexpected. It seemed like they had left the maze canyons and entered a heavenly realm. 

Bountiful trees swayed in a gentle breeze. Small animals scurried and chased each other. Wild flowers scented the air while a small lake with an even smaller waterfall ran crystal clear waters. "Carefully walk forward. If you can, step where I step. I will protect you the best I can." Jiro whispered. The men nodded there heads and they entered with extreme caution.