Theo Corven
Deep within the underground labyrinth, a lone figure surged through the twisting corridors like a shadow slicing through the dark. His form blurred, his movements precise and unnatural. A heavy-duty black shield, reinforced and that has been used in countless battles, clung tightly to his left arm, humming with latent power.
Psionic energy rippled around him like heat distortion, dancing along the edges of his frame. As he dashed from corridor to corridor, light subtly bent at his presence—just enough to warp the eye. To Theo, it felt like nothing more than sprinting. But to anyone watching, he moved like a glitch in reality—skipping across space, his form trailing microsecond afterimages as though time itself struggled to keep up.
Refraction that was the name of his ability.
A unique psionic power that allowed Theo to bend the rules of reality. By manipulating vectors, altering momentum, and distorting perception, he could twist incoming forces around him. The energy he emitted wrapped him in an invisible layer of shifting space—an anchor point through which velocity and impact could be absorbed, redirected, and weaponized.
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In The Area 12
Far ahead, in the decaying sector labeled Area 12, three figures had been backed into a corner. The space was cramped, the walls damp and jagged with uncut stone. Pipes ran above them like skeletal ribs, dripping quietly into the stale air.
Swarming in the dim corridor were insectoid creatures—Lasants. Each one stood at roughly four feet tall, their black chitinous bodies reflecting faint red light. Their most striking feature was the singular gem embedded in the center of their heads. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat, casting flickers of colored light across the walls.
Kleo Ruby stood at the front—guarding her younger cousins with her little strength left.
Her body was covered in burns. Smoke rose from her skin where the Lasants' laser beams had scorched her. Her once-luminous fire wings fluttered weakly behind her, reduced to smoldering embers. Her hands, engulfed in flickering fire claws, trembled under the strain of exhaustion.
Behind her, Kiara crouched close to the wall, her expression twisted in fear and guilt.
"Big sis…" she whispered, her voice cracking. "I'm sorry. This is my fault…"
Kleo didn't turn.
Her voice was breathless, but steady.
"It's not your fault, K-Kiara…" She panted.
Her eyes flicked toward the third figure person, Kevin. He lay slumped against the stone, pale and semi-conscious. His breathing came in shallow rasps, and a crimson trail leaked from a deep wound on his left arm.
Kleo bit her lip.
Her grip tightened.
"Shit…"
A low hum cut through the moment—sharp, focused. The Lasants' gems began to glow again, brighter this time, in perfect sync. They were preparing a coordinated attack. Dozens of them, lining the narrow passageway, heads raised, ready to fire.
Kleo stepped forward.
Her flames weren't strong enough. Her defenses were nearly gone. Her legs were shaking.
And yet—there was no time to hesitate.
If she fell, at least Kiara and Kevin might have a few more seconds.
Just enough to survive.
The corridor filled with light.
She braced herself—
for her own end.
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As I dashed toward Area 12, the familiar curve of the corridor gave way to a wide, dim chamber. The entrance yawned open, and almost immediately, I saw them—dozens of monsters scattered across the space, their gem-like foreheads glowing like city lights at night. At the far-right corner, I spotted them Kleo and her family members.
Then it happened—dozens of concentrated lasers flared to life, all aimed in their direction.
"I can make it," I told myself, pushing harder.
I surged forward, my body cutting through the air like a bullet. The lasers raced alongside me, but I was faster. Just before the beams could reach them, I threw myself in front of Kleo, slamming my shield down between them and the incoming death.
Psionic energy surged through me, channeled into the shield. "Vector Anchor," I whispered.
The shield shimmered with Refraction—an invisible field surrounding it crackled to life. The moment the beams struck, they didn't explode or scatter—they bent. Absorbed. Then, with a resonant hum, they were deflected back, twice as fast, carving arcs of refracted light through the enemy ranks.
I glanced behind me. Kleo stared, frozen, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and relief.
"What… Theo?" she said, breathless and confused.
I didn't answer.
These things were Lasants—insect-type monsters adapted for underground labyrinth. They used their gem-like foreheads to fire lasers strong enough to melt reinforced iron. Digging, tunneling, swarming. No one knows where they came from, but they felt like nature's response to something deeper—like the earth itself was fighting back.
Several of them were already down, bodies slumped and smoking from their own redirected attacks.
"Stay behind me," I told them.
A quick glance behind revealed the worst: one of them—is the guy, I think—was barely conscious, bleeding heavily, his arm a mess. Kleo and her cousin nodded in sync.
"Carry him," I ordered. No hesitation—they moved instantly, lifting the guy between them.
I turned and started walking, shielding them with my back as we made our way toward the exit. They stayed close, protected by the invisible arc of my Refraction.
But then I heard it.
The sound of movement. Crawling—dozens of limbs against dirt and stone. Even after all the damage I'd done, more were coming. It felts like an unending swarm of Lasants.
Then—
Boom.
Boom.
The ground trembled beneath us.
"Big sis…" Her cousin whispered, panic seeping into her voice as she clung to Kleo.
"What's happening?" Kleo asked, fear heavy in her eyes.
"Just stay behind me. I'll protect all of you—no matter what," I said firmly.
She nodded, steadying her cousin. They adjusted Kevin's weight and followed my lead.
The explosions... they came from Area 13. That had to be Lady. If she was clearing the nest, it would explain why so many Lasants were retreating this way.
We finally reached the exit of Area 12. I motioned them to duck behind the thick, fractured wall. They slipped into cover, laying Kevin down gently.
I pressed the comms button on my shoulder. "Riku, I need assistance. I've got three civilians with me—one injured. Can you extract them so I can hold the Lasants off?"
"Understood. I'm on my way," Riku responded immediately.
I turned to Kleo, who suddenly threw her arms around me. "Thank you… I thought—" Her voice cracked, and tears started spilling down her face.
I gently pushed her back and looked her in the eyes.
"We'll talk later. One of my team's coming to heal you. Understand?"
She wiped her tears and nodded. "What about you?"
"Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself—and your family. Stay here."
She nodded again. I gave her a small smile, then turned back toward the chaos.
Area 12 waited—full of monsters.
I walked back into the chamber. I counted every single one of them.
Thirty-one Lasants, all eyes—no, all gems—on me. Their foreheads lit up again, a chorus of energy about to be unleashed.
"Refract."
I raised my shield.
Laser beams collided with it, bending around me, arcing back toward their senders. I walked forward slowly, methodically, as if the battle belonged to me alone.
When I got close enough, I dashed—one clean burst—and slammed my shield into the nearest Lasant. The impact caved in its skull. I kept moving, crashing through them, shield up, deflecting, dashing, smashing.
Every motion was a rhythm—absorb, redirect, destroy. Every movement, every burst of force—each time I dashed in to shatter the Lasants' gems and crush their bodies—it was exhilarating. At one point, I twisted midair, raised my shield to block an incoming laser, and redirected it cleanly back at them.
One was left. It charged a beam, aiming straight at me.
"Do it.''
I planted my feet and faced it head-on. The beam fired.
It struck my shield, and with a shriek of light, bent backwards—straight through the Lasant's own body.
It dropped, sizzling.
"That's the last," I murmured, scanning the carnage.
At last Silence. The corridor toward Area 13 was empty. Lady must've finished the job.
Suddenly, the radio buzzed.
"We found the artifact. It's in Area 14—guarded by Lasants," Lieutenant's voice crackled.
"Lady, what's your status?" he asked.
"Just finishing things," she replied.
That confirmed it. I let out a breath.
"I was hoping for more thank god it was less." I jokingly said to myself. I laugh, but it could be better.
When I returned to the Area 12 entrance, Kleo and the others were gone. Only a scrap of paper with a cross mark remained—pinned to the dirt wall.
A signal.
Lasants kept appearing in this area, more frequently than anywhere else. From Area 1 to 20, we had mapped stable routes. But beyond Area 20? The labyrinth shifted—paths moved, structures changed, monsters evolved.
That's why entry past the 20th zone was restricted. We cleared Areas 1 to 5 years ago—nothing ever respawned there. But Areas 6 to 10? They were infested with cave crickets. Harmless unless they were digested their blood is enough to kill a human. At least they don't bite.
Area 11 to 20 was a whole different threat. Massive nests, unpredictable spawns. The Lasants thrived here.
Each zone was at least one to two kilometers apart. We had our ways of moving around, but the higher-ups didn't invest much in practicality. All they cared about was the research.
I raised my shield again and prepared to move. The chamber gate at the end of the corridor opened as it registered my presence.
I jumped—landing cleanly past the 5-foot drop beyond the gate. This path was originally designed for flying rovers. But since I could dash fast enough, they let me use it.
So far, we'd found three confirmed routes out of the labyrinth. One leads to Area 1. Another goes straight to Area 15—where Lady and the Lieutenant went. The last one… it drops you into Area 19. It's scary to think that it drops you near to the actual entrance of the Labyrinth itself.
When I returned to the chamber, I saw Riku kneeling beside one of the beds. Her right hand glowed a soft green, the other shimmered blue. She was using her ability—Lepidoptera—to heal the unconscious Kleo. I could tell by the way Kleo's chest rose and fell steadily that she was just exhausted, but there were faint bruises on her arms that glowed under Riku's power. On the next bed over, her cousin was also being treated—the other girl, the younger one.
"I'm back," I said, setting my shield down with a metallic thud against the floor.
Riku glanced at me with a small smile. "You're the first," she said. "Kleo told me a little about you before she passed out from exhaustion."
I stepped closer, taking in the room. On the far side, the guy who had been badly injured earlier was laid out across another bed, motionless. Dozens of glowing butterflies hovered above him—some perched gently on his right hand, others fluttered in slow orbits around his chest.
That was Riku's ability in action. Lepidoptera—a conjuring technique that let her conjure butterflies or moths depending on the effect she wanted. It wasn't just for healing. Her butterflies could mend open wounds, restore stamina, and calm a person's nervous system. Support-type, sure—but in the right hands, devastatingly effective.
I nodded toward the others. "Yeah… Kleo's a friend."
Riku raised an eyebrow and smiled again. "Glad to hear you actually have a friend outside of the usual people you work with."
I looked away for moment out of shyness.
Do I really come off that cold? She sounded so genuine, it almost caught me off guard.
I just gave a faint smile in return and turned my attention to the girl sitting beside Kleo's bed. She was still awake, her expression tense and withdrawn.
"Did you interrogate them already?" I asked Riku, my eyes still on the red-haired girl.
"No need," she replied, brushing her fingers through the air. One of her butterflies drifted lazily toward the girl. "I let my butterfly peek into their memories."
The girl stiffened immediately. Her head dropped as if the weight of the situation had just fully landed on her shoulders.
"What's your name?" I asked her gently.
She flinched at first, then hesitated. Her voice was small. "K-Kiara."
She couldn't have been more than fifteen or sixteen. Same bright red hair as Kleo, same soft facial structure. Probably family. Her eyes were red-rimmed—not from crying, just from fatigue and fear. I reached over and gave her a quick, reassuring pat on the head.
"You're safe now," I told her. "You can relax."
She nodded, but lowered her head even further. Poor kid.
I heard Riku chuckle softly behind me.
I glanced over at her, confused, and dropped into the chair next to her. "Where are the other two?"
"They're on their way back. Should only take a few more minutes," Riku said as she adjusted the flow of energy in her hands.
I wanted to ask about those massive explosions we heard earlier—but I already had my suspicion. It had to be Lady. She was clearing out the nests in Areas 13 and 14, not far from where we were. If anyone could make the ground quake like that, it was her.
My eyes drifted to Kleo. She looked peaceful, but it still felt wrong to see her like that. Even though I didn't always listen to what she said, I considered her a friend. This whole situation—seeing her like this—it didn't feel like something she'd be part of. Not intentionally.
Same with the guy. He looked completely unprepared, like someone who had been dragged into this without knowing the full stakes.
But Kiara…
She reacted when I brought up interrogation. That subtle shift in her posture, the way her shoulders tightened. Riku probably already knows what really happened. She's just waiting—either for the right moment, or until the others return. Maybe both.
Whatever went down down there, it wasn't random. And it wasn't just bad luck.Someone knew what they were doing. And soon, we'd find out who.
The sound of the liquid metal chamber door opening echoed through the room. I turned toward it instinctively, expecting it to be the door leading to Area 15—but it wasn't. It was the main entrance.
Two men walked in, both appearing to be in their late 30s.
"…Kleo's dad…" I muttered under my breath.
One of them was instantly familiar. I had met him years ago—at Kleo's birthday party, in that big house of hers. I'd seen most of her family that day, including her father.
He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his physique clearly honed by years of strength and discipline. His dark red eyes were sharp and intimidating, and scars lined his forearms like war medals. He wore formal attire, but it was clear he'd rushed here—probably the moment he learned we'd retrieved his daughter.
The other man resembled him slightly, though not enough to be mistaken for a brother. He had jet-black hair, neatly combed, and wore glasses with a pristine business suit. He looked more reserved—worried, even—but his eyes were locked on Kiara.
That must be her father.
"Mr. Kale," Riku said, addressing Kleo's father by name.
Mr. Kale glanced briefly at me, recognition flashing in his eyes, but he immediately rushed past and dropped to his knees beside Kleo. He looked to Riku, his voice rising in panic.
"How is she?"
"What happened?"
"Is she badly hurt?"
"Why is she unconscious?"
I didn't blame him. Any father would be frantic in this situation. He cradled his daughter carefully, his questions tumbling over one another.
"PAPA!" Kiara suddenly cried out, running into the arms of the other man.
He caught her in a tight embrace. "W-Where is Kevin?" he asked anxiously.
Kiara pointed to the bed nearby. His face paled as he turned and saw his son unconscious, surrounded by Riku's butterfly constructs. Kevin's right arm was completely bandaged.
He ran to him. As he reached the bedside, the butterflies gently dissolved into light, giving space.
"Mr. Ram… please try not to disrupt my ability," Riku said calmly.
She hadn't yet answered Mr. Kale's flood of questions—too much was happening at once.
I sat off to the side, unsure what to do. This was the first time anyone besides our team had entered this chamber.
Riku caught my eye and smiled gently.
"Mr. Kale, Mr. Ram," she said, raising her voice just enough to break through the commotion.
Both men paused and looked at her.
"Kleo is fine," she reassured Mr. Kale. "She's just sleeping. I've treated her burns and wounds and restored her stamina so she could rest."
"Can I take her home to recover?" Mr. Kale asked immediately.
"Yes," Riku nodded. "You can take her now."
Then she turned to Mr. Ram, who was still holding Kevin close.
"Mr. Ram, your son is doing well. I was able to stabilize him and restore his stamina," she said gently. "But I can't make any promises about his right arm. I repaired the tissue and closed the wounds, but full healing will take time."
Mr. Ram let out a heavy sigh—the kind filled with both fear and overwhelming relief.
I noticed Mr. Kale glance at me again.
He remembers me… I looked away.
Both fathers carried their children with care. They thanked Riku—and then, unexpectedly, they looked at me and nodded their thanks as well.
"You should visit her," Mr. Kale said quietly as he turned away.
I gave a small nod in return.
Lastly, Kiara stepped forward.
"Th-thank you so much…" she said softly, eyes lowered. "D-don't worry. I'll keep this a secret… See you at the academy…"
With that, she ran after her father, and the group left the chamber.
"See you at the academy?!" I muttered, facepalming. "Really?"
Riku chuckled as she sat on the bed. "Don't worry," she said, amused. "I already spoke to the parents. They're aware of the need for secrecy, and I told the kids the same thing."
I let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like I don't have a choice anymore… I'll probably have to visit her.
"What's taking them so long?" I asked, glancing at the entrance. "The Lieutenant and Lady haven't come back yet."
"They're scouting the new entrance the kids used," Riku explained.
"A new entrance…?" I echoed. "You think the labyrinth created it?"
"It's possible," she said. "Every known path was made by the labyrinth itself."
"Should we wait for them?"
Riku shrugged. "You can go home now. Payment will be sent to your bank like usual."
I stood and grabbed my shield, walking over to an empty corner of the chamber to set it down.
"I'll leave this here. It's a bit too heavy—and the elevator in my building sometimes thinks I'm multiple people when I carry it," I joked.
"All good~" Riku said with a smile. "Take care on your way home, alright?"
She stood and gestured for a hug.
I sighed, but she just laughed. I walked toward her and gave her a quick hug. She hugged me back tightly, patting my head.
"I'm glad you're safe," she whispered.
My face turned red. I pushed her away gently, said goodbye, and headed for the staircase above, where the military guards were stationed. I made my way back home and grabbed my phone.
There were several unread messages—most of them from Calvin in our group chat. I ignored them for now. I'd check them tomorrow.
Kleo and Kiara… they saw that version of me.
What should I do? Confront them? Ask them to keep quiet?
I hope they keep their promises.
I shook my head. It was already 1 AM. My next class later will be 8 at morning, it's going to be a tiring one.
I'll sleep on it. I'll also ask Riku if she gets a report from the Lieutenant and Lady about what they found.
Riku's always been like a big sister to me—sweet and caring. When we first met, she was completely against me becoming a Null Agent because of my age. She was always protective, always watching out for me. She taught me basic medical care before the others started my combat training.
She even developed a secondary function for her ability—using her butterflies to swarm enemies, slow their movements, and blind them. It wasn't meant for offense, but she evolved it to protect me and the team. That meant more than I ever let on.
As I reached my building, I looked up at the sky.
It's cloudy... The stars barely make it appearance...
"…Can't see the moon tonight," I murmured.
I hope she can see the moon.
And with that, I stepped inside.
I need to rest.