BXBX NOVEL Chapter 213: Two Paths to Choose
After a brief moment of contemplation, Todd slipped the staff into his holdings, his mind still processing the recent developments. This new discovery about his abilities and weapon added another layer of mystery and potential to their journey. It was as if the staff itself was responding to the challenges of the labyrinth, evolving to meet the demands of their quest.
Todd, taking charge of the situation, spoke up again. "Well, let's go ahead and check these eight pathways and see what we get back. That was like what, 25 seconds roughly?" His voice was tinged with a mix of determination and curiosity.
Pegasus nodded in agreement, then added, "Yes, which likely means that it's the same dead end as before. But once we test this out on the rest, we might find some good conclusions to work off of." His analytical approach provided a structured method to their exploration.
Nana watched on, her eyes following Todd as he nodded in acknowledgment of Pegasus' plan. He pulled out his staff again, this time in its smaller form, and muttered to himself, "Let's try not to impale the roof again." The hint of a smile played on his lips, acknowledging the earlier mishap.
Bracing himself, Todd then fully strained his arms, channeling his energy into the action. With a focused intensity, he brought his hands together in a monstrous clap, directing the shockwave down the seventh hallway. The sound reverberated through the labyrinth's corridors, and they waited in anticipation for any signs of the shockwave's return.
Just as before, when Todd unleashed the shockwave, the ground beneath them trembled slightly. His staff responded instinctively, extending back to its full form. They waited, and approximately 25 seconds later, a familiar rushing sound came echoing back, indicating the end of the pathway was roughly the same distance as before.
However, this time the sound was followed by an unexpected and startling development – a compounding explosion that sent a cloud of soot and fire roaring past the entry. Orange flames engulfed the entire pathway, creating a fiery spectacle.
Nana, her eyes wide with confusion and surprise, watched the flames consuming the corridor. "Uh, did that pathway just explode?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern.
The unexpected explosion added a new layer of danger and uncertainty to their exploration. It was unclear whether the explosion was a result of Todd's shockwave interacting with something in the corridor or if it was a pre-existing trap within the labyrinth.
Todd looked equally surprised, his gaze fixed on the smoldering remnants of the pathway. The incident made them realize that the labyrinth was not just a maze of corridors and puzzles but potentially filled with dangerous traps and unexpected hazards.
Pegasus, after a brief examination of the scorched entrance, shared his thoughts. "Looks like it," he said, referring to Nana's earlier question about the explosion. "I suppose it makes sense some pathways would be trapped. I guess we can count ourselves lucky we just had the dead end path instead of going down that way," he mused, recognizing the potential danger they had narrowly avoided.
Before the group could reflect further on their good fortune, Todd chimed in confidently. "Well, even if that was the case, I think I could have outrun that fire. I've dealt with worse," he boasted, placing his hands on his sides in a show of bravado, trying to look impressive.
Nana, however, was quick to bring the focus back to their mission. "Yeah, yeah, stop showing off and keep clapping," she retorted, her tone a mix of impatience and urgency. "Remember, we're on a time crunch here. We'll waste our time if we just keep chatting." Her words were a reminder of the pressing nature of their quest and the need to maintain momentum.
Todd, taking Nana's cue, refocused on their task. He prepared to test the remaining pathways with his shockwave ability, aware that each clap brought them closer to uncovering the labyrinth's secrets and potentially to their ultimate goal.
Todd, rubbing the top of his head, agreed with Nana's sentiment. "Though it is pretty cool that my weapon is turning my normal attack blue for some reason," he mused, a hint of intrigue in his voice.
"Seems this planet has a general obsession with blue." He prepared for the next test, but this time, instead of retracting his staff, he used a piece of cloth from his bag – a bag he had acquired before jumping off the train. Skillfully, he fashioned a makeshift harness for the staff and slung it over his back.
Ready to continue, Todd performed the same shockwave move down the sixth corridor. The group waited in anticipation, and this time, the familiar sound returned without any accompanying explosions. However, something unusual followed. A strange green mist began to seep along the floor, creeping ominously until it stopped at the entrance of the corridor.
The sight of the green mist added a new element of mystery to the labyrinth. It was unclear whether the mist was a result of Todd's shockwave or another trap within the labyrinth. Nana and Pegasus exchanged wary glances, aware that this new development could signify an unseen danger or a clue to the nature of the labyrinth.
Cautiously, Pegasus stepped closer to the edge of the mist, observing its behavior and appearance. "What do you make of this?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.
Nana, equally intrigued and cautious, suggested, "Maybe we should avoid going down there until we know more about what this mist is."
"Yeah, it is likely some type of poison gas," Todd remarked, eyeing the green mist with a mixture of suspicion and caution.
His comment elicited a slight worried look from both Nana and Pegasus. Despite the concern, Todd proceeded to perform the same shockwave action on the fifth corridor. They waited, but this time, there was no response, even after five minutes had passed. Todd, feeling the strain of his efforts, wiped a bit of sweat off his forehead.
"This is more draining than I was expecting, to be honest," he confessed, his voice betraying a hint of fatigue. "I think it might be the staff and my ability being weaker than normal draining me."
Nana, hearing the exhaustion in Todd's voice, spoke up with a note of concern. "Well, if you don't think you can push yourself anymore, you can take a small break," she suggested. "Or we could just head down the fifth corridor and see what's going on down that path." Her suggestion was practical, offering Todd a respite while still maintaining their momentum in exploring the labyrinth.
The group paused, weighing Nana's suggestion and considering their options. Todd's abilities had indeed been invaluable in assessing the corridors, yet his fatigue was becoming apparent. Venturing into the fifth corridor without the aid of his shockwave posed a new set of challenges, but it seemed a necessary risk under the circumstances.
Pegasus, peering down the silent, unresponsive fifth corridor, seemed to weigh his thoughts carefully. "It might be our best bet," he finally concurred, his tone reflecting a cautious resolve. "But we should definitely proceed with caution. We have no idea what awaits us there, especially since we didn't get any response."
Todd, however, shook his head, indicating his reluctance to leave any path unchecked. "No, let's just ensure these other pathways don't have any other issues going on with them," he insisted. Despite his evident exhaustion, he was determined to continue their methodical approach.
Bracing himself, Todd summoned his strength, his arms visibly straining as he prepared for another series of shockwaves. With a concerted effort, he sent a powerful clap down the fourth, third, and second corridors consecutively. Each corridor echoed back the sound after approximately 25 seconds, accompanied by a cacophony of explosions and other loud, indistinct noises from within.
The group exchanged wary glances with each thunderous return of sound, their anxiety mounting with each new demonstration of the labyrinth's hidden dangers. Todd's face, now glistening with sweat, showed the toll this effort was taking on him, yet his determination did not waver.
"Well, guess it's safe to say those pathways are bad as well," Todd remarked, summing up their observations of the other corridors, each fraught with its own dangers. With a final, determined effort, he prepared to test the first corridor. He clapped one last time, directing the shockwave down its length.
The group waited, but this time, nothing came back – no echo, no sound, no indication of what lay ahead.
Todd, now visibly fatigued and slightly out of breath from his efforts, voiced his confusion. "So, what does it mean if two pathways don't return any noise?" he asked, looking between Nana and Pegasus for any theories they might have. His question hung in the air, reflecting the uncertainty of their situation.
Pegasus, pondering the question, replied thoughtfully, "It could mean a couple of things. Either those corridors are too long, and the shockwave dissipates before it can return, or they lead to open spaces where the sound doesn't bounce back the same way."