"Are you trying to spook us or something?"

"No! It's really a domain here! I didn't see it for myself, but from what I've heard--it's the hardest challenge within this quadrant. Apparently--it holds two keys."

​​

Attempting to prove to Ren he wasn't messing around, Macheo held up two fingers close to the snow-haired man's face, repeating "Two!" multiple times.

"So what's this place? Doesn't sound...welcoming."

Iris asked quietly, adjusting her skirt as the material she sat on wasn't exactly welcoming to her rear either. Letting out a puff of air through his lips as he fiddled with his wooden arm, the golden-haired Lucrauvian looked between the group before answering.

"I've really only heard it from other passing challengers who got their asses kicked this way and that by the place. Though...it's a bit disingenuous to put it that way."

"How so?"

Aiko asked, trying her best to seem indifferent to this information, but the constant twiddling of her thumbs made all of that stoicness flush down the drain.

"They all looked like they went through hell--real hell. Shaking, looking at me with eyes that saw into some great distance, they could hardly speak without breaking down like babies. All I know is that apparently, the domain is built out of flesh of discarded creatures of Purgatory...and humans."

That last tidbit of information clearly took the other three by surprise as Macheo looked up with his crimson eyes as if expecting someone to speak their doubts, but nobody did.

If there's one thing I've learned from this messed-up place, it's that Macheo is, unfortunately, telling the truth. A dungeon of flesh?...It really doesn't even surprise me at this point, Ren thought.

"It sounds dangerous…"

"I'm just saying it's an option. If it makes you feel any better, none of the guys I saw who ventured into that place looked like much, really."

Trying to assure Aiko in his own way, Macheo's words were laced with some level of smugness, which somehow worked as the beige-haired girl nodded her head with a slight, but existent smile.

"If I'm being honest, this is probably our best shot. Obviously...we all agree that fighting other challengers for their keys isn't really our style."

Keeping his arms folded across his chest, Ren looked over at Macheo as he spoke before correcting himself.

"Well, most of us, anyway."

"What do you mean by that, you white-haired bastard?!"

"Oh, nothing."

Holding a cheeky smile at Macheo's easy-to-dismantle anger, Ren fiddled with a long strand of his hair that hanged between his eyes.

"I agree...I don't want to fight anyone if I can help it."

Iris placed her position as she kept her hands resting atop her lap, looking up at the young man who sat next to her with her glistening sapphires.

Sure didn't have a problem kicking my ass, did you? Macheo thought.

"...It sounds like my vote doesn't really matter at this point, does it?"

"So you're against this?"

Hearing Aiko's unexpected words shrouded in her meekness, Ren pressed her for her answer as the girl seemed blatantly conflicted by the way she bit down on her lip, looking down for a moment before returning her amethyst gaze to the group.

"I didn't say that. I'm in!...This sounds like our fastest way of getting out of this wretched place…"

"Alright, alright...Then that's our place. You know where it is, right, Macheo?"

"Of course I do!..."

"Then lead the way, Navigator!"

Iris caught herself fixated on Ren as he spoke with his cheerful tone, only pulling her gaze away when she noticed Aiko completely catching her in the act--holding a smirk of her own as if saying, "I know."

He's just...Amazing. In such a short time in this world, he's improved himself in every facet. I can still see it--the carefree, goofiness that makes him "Ren", but the confidence and strength that makes him an Outlander. You've already left me behind, Ren, Iris thought.

It was impossible to tell night from day if such a thing even existed within the bowels of Purgatory. Rest came only when they decided it was time to regain their energy.

Most of the creatures lurking within the depths of the deadly cavern witnessed their fangs fall short of reaching any within this group. Though teamwork was limited by inexperience with one another; the sheer effectiveness of four, powerful warriors was enough to stave off these beasts.

It didn't mean the journey towards the Butcher's Locker was one that came easy--the rate of monster attacks seemed to grow more and more frequent the deeper into the cavern they traveled.

"We've been walking...For like, a week now...All I see is rock, more rock, and the abyss waiting beyond the cliffs. Are you sure you're going the right way?"

The complaint from Ren didn't stem from his legs unable to handle the day-to-day hiking, but the exhaustion coming over his mental state from the repetitive, somber scenery that surrounded them all.

"Of course! We're not even that far now...Probably, a day or two…"

"See! If you really knew, you'd give me a straight time!"

Bickering amongst each other for the thousandth time since departing from the village, Aiko looked as if she was about to blow steam through her ears as her pale complexion shifted to a tomato-red, raising her hands as she halted the two boys.

"Stop it already, you two!"

Hearing the usually laconic, quiet girl raise her voice to an almost glass-shattering high-pitch, Ren and Macheo both stopped as their eardrums were harassed.

"Phew...That felt good."

"Good job."

Iris praised the girl for speaking her mind, who held a calm, reserved smile despite her yell just a moment ago. Witnessing the odd phenomena before them, the pair of males decided to just continue down their path.

After crossing a bridge formed of a solidified, slippery substance made of a cobalt rock, the group found themselves on a patch of green resting atop the next surface of the stone.

"Should we call it a day? I think we can all use a bit of rest at this point."

Iris put the question on the table, stopping in place as the others halted as well, scanning the area as it seemed relatively monster-free.

"This is as good a place as any, I guess. I'll stand guard first."

Rolling his shoulders and stretching his legs side to side, Ren took up the offer and stood at the edge of the cliff, looking over the abyss and at the distance array of mountains needed to be crossed.

I guess I should be thankful it's been somewhat...boring, so far. From what I've heard from Macheo, it's because we're in the "safe zones"--the difficulty comes from challenging these "key dungeons" or whatever. Still, it's been nice...Human interaction and all of that, Ren thought, seating himself down on the precipice of the tower of stone that overlooked the abyssal depths.