Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: To Focus In Chaos
Meanwhile…

The knights advanced cautiously through the dense jungle maze, their boots crunching softly on the damp, leaf-littered floor.

The massive trees loomed above them, their twisting vines and thick canopy blocking out almost all light.

Mist coiled at their feet, creating a suffocating atmosphere that seemed to swallow even the sound of their whispers.

Kael raised his hand, signaling the group to halt. His voice was low but firm. “Stay vigilant. The emperor said this maze would test us. Don’t trust the ground, the trees, or even the air.”

Esten nodded, his sharp eyes looking around the surroundings. “Flankers, spread out but stay within sight. We need to secure the sides in case something may be lurking for an ambush.”

Laris, standing at the head of the group, tightened his grip on his sword. “Vanguard, eyes forward. If anything moves, we strike first.”

Lionel trailed near the center, gripping his sword tightly. He muttered to Darian, “Doesn’t this place feel… wrong to you? Like it’s alive?”

Darian nodded with a grim expression on his face. “Alive or not, it’s definitely out to kill us.”

Suddenly, the faint rustle of leaves caught everyone’s attention. One of the knights, stationed toward the back, took a cautious step forward to investigate when the ground beneath him gave way with a sickening crack. He let out a blood-curdling scream as he plummeted into a hidden pit.

“NO!” Kael shouted, rushing to the edge of the gaping hole. He peered down, his heart sinking at the gruesome sight below.

The knight had been impaled on jagged spikes, his body twisted unnaturally, blood pooling around the cruel wooden stakes.

The faint gurgling sound of his last breath echoed upward before fading entirely.

“Fall back from the edge!” Esten yelled. “Flankers, close ranks. Everyone, watch your step!”

The group panic but manged to calm themselves as more knights began to tread carefully, only for another section of the ground to collapse beneath three more men.

Their cries were brief as they were swallowed by the darkness below, followed by the sickening sound of bodies meeting their violent end.

“We can’t stay here!” Esten shouted. “RUN! Forward! It’s our only option!”

The knights broke into a sprint, their armor clanking as they pushed through the dense jungle. Lionel’s breath came in sharp gasps as he glanced at Darian beside him. “This place isn’t a test; it’s a death trap!”

A sudden snapping sound tore through the air. Without warning, a massive log, studded with jagged spikes, swung down from the shadows, slamming into one of the knights with a deafening thud. His body crumpled against the wall of the maze, his armor caving in as blood sprayed across the nearby vines.

The group froze in their tracks, horrified by the gruesome scene. Laris turned, his face pale but serious. “We don’t have time to mourn! Keep moving, or we’ll all end up like him!”

“But what is this place?!” one of the knights cried, his voice trembling. “It’s like the maze itself wants us dead!”

“Exactly!” Laris snapped. “Which means standing still is suicide. Move, now!”

The group hesitated only a moment longer before pressing on, their nerves frayed and their senses heightened. Every step felt like a gamble, every sound a potential harbinger of death.

As they trudged forward, Kael fell into stride beside Esten. “We need to figure out how to anticipate these traps, or we won’t last much longer.”

Esten nodded, his jaw tight. “Agreed, but right now, survival is all that matters. We’ll strategize if we find a sefe place to take some moments to pause and think.”

Darian’s eyes darted around as he whispered to Lionel, “I’ve seen a lot of strange things serving the empire, but this… this is something else entirely.”

Lionel swallowed hard, gripping his weapon so tightly his knuckles turned white. “We’ll make it through. We have to. For the empire.”

Laris glanced back at the group, his voice rising above the din of their rapid footsteps. “Steel yourselves! This is what the emperor prepared us for. Push forward, no matter what lies ahead!”

The knights charged forward, their movements cautious but hurried. Every shadow seemed to hide another deadly trap, every sound a harbinger of doom. Kael jogged near the center of the group, his sharp eyes catching a bend in the path ahead.

“Hold up,” Kael commanded, raising a hand to signal the group. “There’s a turn up ahead. Be ready for anything. These traps won’t stop.”

The knights slowed, trying to be more observerant. Laris at the vanguard tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze darting between the trees. “Vanguard, fan out. Stay sharp. Flankers, keep those sides covered!”

As they approached the bend, one of the knights at the rear unknowingly stepped onto what looked like a tangled vine.

With a loud snap, the vine tightened around his armored leg, yanking him off his feet. He was dragged violently toward the wall, he screamed loudly, causing the others to pause and look for a moment.

“Help!” the knight yelled, clawing at the ground as he was pulled toward the roots of a massive tree embedded in the wall.

“Hold on!” one of the flankers, a younger knight named Ren, shouted, Ren leaped forward, sword gleaming in the faint light as he slashed at the vine.

The blade bit into the tough plant, severing it with a wet snap. The freed knight scrambled to his feet, clutching Ren’s arm with a shaky grip.

“Thank you,” the knight stammered, his voice trembling with gratitude. “You saved—”

VOOM

Before he could finish, the ground beneath them groaned ominously.

A split second later, it collapsed entirely, swallowing both men into a hidden pit. Their screams of terror echoed as they plunged into the darkness.

The horrific sound of their bodies meeting jagged spikes echoed through the jungle, a sickening crunch followed by sudden silence.

Esten cursed, his jaw tight with suppressed anger and grief. “Shit. We’re dropping like livestock.”

Laris, who had paused momentarily to glance back, yelled sharply, “There’s no time to stop! Keep moving forward! We’ll mourn them later if we survive.”

Kael clenched his fists as he stepped forward, his voice low but resolute. “He’s right. Keep going. Don’t stop again.”

Lionel stumbled slightly, the growing sense of helplessness threatening to overwhelm him. “This maze is insane. How did the emperor manage to create something like this?”

Darian’s face was pale, his voice shaky. “Well how it was created doesn’t really matter at this point, we’re knights of the empire. We’ll endure.”

The group pressed forward, their nerves stretched thin. Every step felt like courting death, but the resolve in their leaders voices kept them moving.

Esten, running beside Kael, muttered through gritted teeth, “We’re going to lose everyone at this rate.”

Laris, leading the vanguard, slowed his pace and raised a hand to signal the group to stop. He turned, his stern face glistening with sweat under the filtered sunlight.

“We won’t survive if we keep stumbling blindly into these traps,” he said. “The only way we’ll make it is if we can predict where they are and avoid them entirely.”

Esten, wiping sweat and grime from his face, glanced around at the unassuming greenery. “And how exactly are we supposed to do that? Everything here looks identical—just leaves, vines, and shadows. Nothing stands out.”

Kael, standing beside him, took a deep breath, his tone calm yet resolute. “We’ll need to calm our nerves and focus.”

Esten and Laris exchanged glances before looking back at him, confusion and skepticism etched on their faces. “Focus? What is that supposed to mean?” Laris asked.

Kael’s green eyes narrowed, his voice steady. “His Majesty empowered us before we entered this maze. I’m certain he did it so we could make it through this trial. What other purpose could there be in granting men who’ve already proven their resolve a blessing, only for them to die without using it?”

Laris frowned. “And how exactly do you suggest we focus in a situation like this?”

Before Kael could respond, a sharp snap echoed through the jungle.

In an instant, a massive log swung down from the canopy, its deadly momentum aiming straight for him. Kael caught the motion in the corner of his vision, the log practically inches from slamming him into the wall and turning him into a mangled heap.

Time seemed to slow as his instincts sharpened. His teeth clenched, and his emerald eyes blazed with mana.

In the next instant… The log thundered into the wall with an explosive…

BOOM

Sending dust and debris billowing through the air.

The knights froze in shock, their eyes wide as they stared at the dust cloud. Laris and Esten yelled out simultaneously, “Kael!”

When no response came, Laris gritted his teeth, anguish and frustration flashing across his face. “Damn it… We need to keep—”

“Haha!”

A sudden laugh rang out. The knights turned toward the dust cloud and saw Kael emerging unscathed, his eyes glowing with his green mana. He adjusted his stance, his grin fierce as he met their astonished gazes.

“By the gods! He lives!” one of the knights said in shock.

“We just need to focus,” Kael repeated, his voice firm and unwavering. “His Majesty granted us power that our bodies aren’t yet accustomed to. As long as we concentrate, we’ll sense the disturbances around us before the traps activate.”

He said, gazing down as his hands as he flexed his fingers.

Laris stared at him, with a look of awe on his face, before breaking into a grin of his own. “If you’re right, Kael, then we might just make it out of here.”

Esten nodded. “Let’s test your theory, then. Everyone, steady yourselves. Let’s see if we’ve been given the means to survive this madness.”