Chapter 67

There were two hours remaining now as the yarn brought us to the chamber of the tyrant. The monster at the heart of the labyrinth. As I’d expected there was a little chamber before the main one, where a fountain was running. I placed my hands within, drinking. It instantly brought my health to full and removed the beginning of the tired debuff.

I knew that if I’d had any abilities that needed it, the fountain would have also acted as a long rest. I equipped my bow. If there was one enemy, I was going to let Kassandra take it on. I would attack from a distance. I told her of my plan, and she listened. Or pretended to. I had the distinct feeling she would just do whatever the fuck she wanted whilst I was in there and probably forget I was even here.

My heart ached for Miggy. Even Larry on a good day, as we entered.

It wasn’t really what I was expecting for a boss encounter at the heart of the labyrinth. It was small, and slightly cramped for what it was supposed to be. There was a makeshift sleeping area in one corner, a large table and chair, and in one corner amphoras of what I guessed was water and several sacks of fruit, cheese and bread.

‘You’ve come, heroes,’ said a rumbling voice. ‘To test yourself against the tyrant of the labyrinth.’

Kassandra banged her spear hard on the floor. ‘We’ve come for your head, monster! You will no longer terrorise the island of Minos! In the name of the king!’

‘So be it,’ said that rumbling voice. ‘Let battle be joined.’ It appeared then from the shadows. Standing some eight feet tall, the monster had the head of a bull, brown fur, with enormous horns on its head. Its eyes were black and pupil-less, dressed in a simple white tunic.

But in its hands was the largest axe I’d ever seen. It looked like it weighed two hundred pounds, the axe itself shimmering like obsidian.

Kassandra wasted no time, as I examined it.

[Tyrant of the Labyrinth – Bronze four – The monster at the heart of Crete. A powerful warrior, unrelenting. He will not yield without a fight.]

Kassandra incanted, a shimmering blue outline appearing around her. Some kind of shield, I thought, as I fired a copper arrow. The first struck the tyrant, but it was surprisingly nimble for such a large beast, and was able to dodge the next two arrows. Kassandra fought it spear against axe. The spear was faster, but the axe could’ve destroyed the mrgin’s copper gate in a single swipe by the looks of it.

The tyrant struck her, but not with the blade but the flat of the axe. This was powerful enough to knock her back, though the shimmering blue seemed to absorb some of the blow. I fired more arrows, but the tyrant was closing the gap. Archer’s instinct activated then, firing automatically, and clearly catching the tyrant off-guard, as the arrows launched, hitting him in his chest and right arm.

I thought the tyrant might roar then, or give some kind of hideous scream at having been wounded as he was. Instead the beast simply fell back, using his axe like a shield as he ripped the arrows from himself.

Something flickered in my mind. Strange, I thought, but Kassandra was clearly untethered by such thoughts, wasting no time in closing the gap once more, driving her copper spear at the beast. The tyrant’s axe as shield held true though and he was able to deflect more than a few of the blows. That thing was big, and although my copper arrows were chipping away, it was putting too much aggro on Kassandra. I needed to engage it in close quarters. Luckily, a hunter I was not.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Time to see what a charioteer was made of.

I unsheathed my copper sword, and held my shield before me. There was light from a porthole above, and I caught it, reflecting it in the tyrant’s eyes. Who said I needed daze strike to daze? The beast stumbled back and I moved forwards, thrusting my sword into its shoulder. I felt its whole body shake, but still not a word, not a single roar against us. Instead its black, pupil-less eyes met mine and it snorted.

My eyes widened. I’d made a mistake. Wild offence, zero defence as my sword remained lodged in him. I tried to pull it back, but the tyrant grabbed my wrist and head butted me. Headbutted by an eight-foot bull man. Now I was dazed. I waited for the axe to slice me in half, but he just threw me back with that bullish might of his.

There again. Something was wrong. I looked around the chamber once more, frowning. Bed. Food. Where was the ring of fire encroaching? The allied mobs? I had been in enough boss fights to know their design. Even my duels against Ironclad had been atop the summit. Hell, when I next fought him it would probably be some kind of epic duel in the rain and sea.

This? I felt something in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t a boss fight at all.

It was a home invasion.

Shit.