Chapter 36: Thirty Minutes

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Thirty Minutes

The dungeon shook.

BOOM!

Arin looked at the corridor ahead. Dust poured from the ceiling. His breathing was still labored from the battle with the Minotaur Chimera, his ribs screaming in protest with every other breath, but he forced himself to move. He couldn’t stop. Not now.

"Mira..."

A blue projection materialized before him.

Zarl.

The masked man regarded him calmly from within the projection. Arin’s expression darkened. "You." Zarl’s lips curled into a smile. "Hello, Dungeon Master." "What did you do to Mira?" Zarl tilted his head. "I suppose there is no point in continuing this charade." Arin’s grip tightened around his weapon. Zarl chuckled. "I have injected Mira with Chimera blood." Arin’s eyes widened in horror. "What?" "The transformation has already begun." Arin’s heart skipped a beat.

"You said I had three hours."

"I did," Zarl chuckled, "but that was before I changed the conditions." Arin’s expression twisted in anger. "You lied to me." Zarl smiled broadly. "Correct." Arin clenched his teeth and took a step forward. "How much time do I have?" Zarl was silent for a long moment. "I give it to you in thirty minutes, she’ll become a Chimera. Will you kill her or let her kill you." Arin’s face paled. Thirty...minutes..." "That’s right," Zarl sounded almost amused. "Thirty minutes before the transformation becomes permanent."

Arin’s hand tightened around his weapon.

"You bastard..." "Run," said Zarl’s projection.

"You’ve wasted enough time as it is." The projection vanished. Arin stood motionless for a long moment. Then, a blue window opened before him.

[Urgent Warning.]

Arin’s eyes widened as he stared at the text.

[Target: Mira.]

[Chimera Blood Detected...]

[Previous Time Estimate: 03:00:00.]

[Current Time Estimate: 00:30:00.]

Arin’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

The System continued.

[Warning: Chimera transformation has already begun...]

[Estimated remaining time before irreversible transformation: 30 minutes...]

Arin’s breathing hitched in his throat. "So it is true..." He turned to the corridor leading in the opposite direction. Thirty minutes. That was all he had. He turned and ran.

"Mira!"

Elsewhere in the dungeon, Ayan and Saira ran down a corridor. They had already smashed through several walls. It hardly mattered. They had to find Arin. They had to find Mira.

"Hello," said a voice.

Both stopped. Zarl’s projection stood ahead of them. Saira raised a hand immediately.

"Where is Arin?" Zarl smiled. "He is still alive, unfortunately..." Ayan’s eyes narrowed. "What did you do to Mira?" Zarl’s expression remained the same. "I already answered that question." Saira’s aura flared to life. "Answer it again." Zarl chuckled. "Very well." He turned to face them directly.

"I have injected her with Chimera blood."

Ayan’s expression darkened. Saira stopped dead in her tracks. "How long?" asked Ayan. "Thirty minutes." Saira’s eyes widened in horror. "Thirty minutes until what?" Zarl’s smile widened. "Until she begins to lose herself." Saira’s eyes blazed furiously. "You bastard." She took a step forward, but Zarl’s projection vanished. "Your Master is already running," said Zarl’s voice. "Then we are going as well," said Ayan. He turned on the spot, and Saira followed him. The projection was already gone.

Neither of them said anything as they ran.

Arin ran through the dungeon at full speed. His feet pounded against the floor. He didn’t know where Mira was. He didn’t know where Zarl was. He didn’t know where anything was, really, save the ever-receding corridor ahead. The Dungeon Master’s Mark glowed faintly on his palm. It did nothing. It gave him no guidance. It gave him nothing at all. Arin gritted his teeth. "Come on..." He turned another corner. A horde of monsters charged at him. Arin didn’t slow down.

SLASH!

He knocked one monster aside with his blade. He ducked under the next swipes. He shoved through the pack and kept running. He had no time to spare. Ayan and Saira arrived at a junction. They stared at the three paths leading off it. Ayan narrowed his eyes. "Left." Saira gave him a strange look. "How do you know?" "I don’t," he admitted, "but we can’t stand around debating it." Saira nodded. They turned left and ran. Minutes passed. Arin’s breathing became more labored. His wounds throbbed.

His legs began to feel numb. But he kept running. Then, he heard a voice. "Arin!" Arin stopped dead. "Mira?" There was no one there. Arin turned and kept running. The voice spoke again. This time, it was closer. "Arin!" He ran toward it. A large door stood at the end of the corridor. Arin skidded to a halt before it. He pushed it open. The door groaned in protest as it swung open slowly.

Beyond it, a large chamber opened up. And there, standing in the center of it, was Mira.

Her wrists were no longer bound, and she stood not on the floor, but rather on her feet. Arin’s heart stopped. "Mira..." She slowly raised her head to look at him. For a moment, she looked just like herself. Then, Arin realized something was wrong. Her breathing was shallow. Her hands twitched.

She looked down at them. "I..." Her voice shook. "Something feels...wrong, Arin." Arin took a step forward. "Mira!" She took a step toward him, then stopped. A strange look crossed her face.

Arin stopped as well, confusion washing over him. Then, his stomach twisted with unease. His eyes were drawn back to Mira.

Ayan and Saira arrived just in time to see her turn to face them. Saira’s eyes widened in horror. "Mira..." Ayan stared silently at the scene before him. Arin turned back to Mira.

"She’s changing," He said quietly. Mira lowered her head. Her breathing was getting heavier. She looked up at Arin again.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Arin..." Her voice was trembling. Arin took another step forward. "I’m here." Mira shook her head. "No." Her voice was shaking. "You shouldn’t have come." Arin’s eyes widened.

"Don’t say that." "I’m sorry," Mira whispered. "Mira..." Arin’s expression softened. She looked up at him. Her eyes were frightened. "I’m so sorry, Arin."