Chapter 4: Chapter 4: A Dangerous Encounter
Kade pressed himself deeper into the alcove, his breath shallow as the Griever's mechanical whirring echoed through the Maze. The creature moved quickly, its grotesque limbs skittering across the stone floor with a chilling sound. It hadn't spotted him yet. "Yet" was the key word.
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**[System notification: User's stealth skill has improved. Stealth Level 1 achieved.]**
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The notification blinked in his vision, but Kade didn't dare react. He had no idea how much that skill would help him right now, but he needed every advantage. His heart hammered against his chest, threatening to give him away. He could hear the Griever moving closer, its low growls vibrating through the stone walls of the Maze.
The alcove wasn't much of a hiding spot. Kade's body was partially exposed, and if the Griever got any closer, it would definitely notice him. His mind raced as he debated his next move. He couldn't outrun the creature—not in the dark, not when the walls of the Maze shifted unpredictably. But if he stayed still, he'd eventually be found.
The system had helped him so far. Maybe it could help again.
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**[System: New action available. Activate Silent Step. Cost: 10 system points.]**
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Kade blinked. Silent Step? He quickly checked the system's explanation for the ability.
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**[Silent Step: Muffles all sound made by the user's footsteps for a limited time. Duration: 30 seconds.]**
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Thirty seconds. It wasn't much, but it could be enough to give him a head start. He quickly activated the skill, feeling a strange sensation wash over his legs. As soon as it did, the noises of his movements faded to almost nothing.
Slowly, carefully, Kade slipped out of the alcove and began moving down the corridor, keeping his back pressed against the stone wall. He glanced behind him once, catching sight of the Griever's grotesque body as it searched for its prey. Its bulbous eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and its sharp appendages scraped across the walls, sending shivers down his spine.
He forced himself to stay calm, to keep moving at a steady pace. Thirty seconds wasn't much, but it would be enough if he stayed focused.
Twenty seconds.
He rounded a corner, glancing over his shoulder again. The Griever was still there, but it hadn't seen him yet. He could feel his adrenaline spiking, his muscles tensing as he quickened his pace.
Ten seconds.
Kade's breath came in ragged gasps. He was close to the Maze's outer wall now, but the shifting stone made it difficult to know where he was. The walls groaned as they shifted again, the sound echoing through the narrow passageways.
Five seconds.
He ducked into another small crevice, praying the Griever wouldn't follow. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as the seconds ticked by. The skill deactivated, and the normal sounds of his breathing and movements returned. He stood perfectly still, listening for any sign of the Griever.
It was close. Too close.
Kade pressed his back against the cold stone, biting back the panic that surged in his chest. He could hear the Griever approaching, its whirring mechanical sounds growing louder. He held his breath, clenching his fists to stop his hands from shaking.
The Griever's shadow passed by, just inches from his hiding place. Kade squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the worst. The creature paused for a moment, its long, insect-like limbs clicking against the stone floor as it scanned the area. Kade's muscles tensed, ready to bolt if necessary, but the creature didn't move toward him.
Instead, after what felt like an eternity, the Griever continued down the corridor, its movements slow and deliberate. Kade remained frozen, hardly daring to breathe until the sound of the creature faded into the distance.
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**[System notice: Survival bonus. 10 points earned for evading detection.]**
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Kade let out a shaky breath, the tension leaving his body all at once. His legs wobbled, and he had to lean against the wall to keep himself from collapsing. His entire body ached from the stress of staying so still for so long, but he had made it. He'd survived.
For now.
He stayed in the small alcove for a few more minutes, gathering his thoughts and trying to calm his racing heart. His mind kept replaying the encounter, reminding him just how close he had come to death. If the Griever had turned just a little further, if he hadn't activated Silent Step at the right moment... he didn't want to think about it.
But he couldn't stay here forever. He still needed to get out of the Maze. The system had rewarded him for exploring, but he wasn't going to push his luck. Not with the Grievers prowling the corridors.
Slowly, Kade moved back into the open passageway, careful to stay low and quiet. He glanced around, trying to get his bearings. The Maze was a labyrinth of dead ends and shifting walls, and without the Runners' maps, it was impossible to know which way led back to the Glade.
Kade cursed under his breath. He should have thought this through more carefully. Now he was stuck, and he couldn't afford to get lost. The Grievers weren't the only danger in the Maze—if the walls shifted while he was still inside, he could be trapped for good.
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**[System notification: New task detected. Task: Escape the Maze. Time limit: 15 minutes. Reward: 30 system points.]**
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His stomach dropped as the new notification appeared. Fifteen minutes? That wasn't much time. The system was clearly trying to push him, to see how far he could go. But if he failed...
No. He couldn't fail. Not here. Not like this.
Kade gritted his teeth, forcing himself to move faster. His body was still sore from the long day of work, and his legs ached with every step, but he pushed through the pain. The system had to know he could escape. It wouldn't give him a task that was impossible... would it?
The thought made him uneasy, but there was no time to dwell on it. He needed to find a way back to the Glade—and fast.
He sprinted down the corridor, taking turns at random, hoping his instincts would guide him in the right direction. The Maze was eerily silent now, the sounds of the Griever distant and fading. He prayed it had moved far enough away that he wouldn't run into it again.
The walls groaned, and Kade skidded to a stop, his eyes wide. The sound of the Maze shifting sent a jolt of panic through him. He had to move quickly.
As he rounded another corner, Kade's heart leaped. Up ahead, he spotted a faint sliver of moonlight—an opening in the Maze. It had to be the entrance to the Glade. He was close. So close.
But as he approached, the walls began to shift again, the passageway narrowing as the stone blocks moved into place. Kade's eyes widened in horror. If the walls closed before he reached the opening, he'd be trapped.
"No, no, no!" he muttered under his breath, his legs pumping as fast as they could go.
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**[System alert: User's endurance has dropped below 30%. Stamina low.]**
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His body screamed in protest, but he couldn't stop. The opening was closing fast, the walls grinding together with an ominous sound. He was almost there—just a few more steps.
With a final burst of energy, Kade dove toward the narrowing gap, his body sliding through the small opening just as the walls slammed shut behind him. He hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop just inside the Glade.
For a moment, Kade lay there, panting and staring up at the sky, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had made it. He was safe.
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**[Task complete. 30 system points earned.]**
**[New skill unlocked: Stamina Boost Lv. 1.]**
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Kade blinked at the notification, his mind struggling to process everything that had just happened. The system had given him a new skill, but all he could think about was how close he had come to dying in that Maze.
The door to the Maze loomed behind him, the stone walls towering above, indifferent to the danger he had just faced. Kade slowly got to his feet, brushing the dirt off his clothes and wincing at the soreness in his muscles.
As he turned back toward the Glade, Kade spotted a figure standing near the Homestead, watching him. It was Newt. His face was a mix of confusion and suspicion, his arms crossed over his chest as he approached.
"Greenie," Newt called out, his voice low but firm. "What in bloody hell are you doing?"
Kade's heart sank. He had hoped to slip back unnoticed, but it seemed Newt had been watching.
"I—uh..." Kade stammered, searching for an explanation. His mind was still foggy from the adrenaline, and the words wouldn't come.
Newt's eyes narrowed. "You went into the Maze, didn't you?"
Kade swallowed hard. There was no point in lying. Newt had probably seen him come out. "Yeah," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I went in."
Newt's face darkened, and for a moment
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone