{ The Sunken Cathedral – Final Chamber }
The air grew thick with ancient dust as Jin-Seok stepped through the final archway. What greeted him wasn't another maze corridor, but something far more imposing—a vast cathedral buried beneath the labyrinth itself. The space stretched impossibly high, its broken dome revealing nothing but endless darkness above. Massive pillars, cracked and weathered by centuries, rose like the ribs of some colossal beast.
Floating braziers cast dancing shadows across the walls, their flames flickering without fuel or wind. The floor beneath his feet was cracked marble, etched with runes so faded they seemed more like scars than script. Along the walls stood the remnants of statues—heroes of forgotten ages, most shattered beyond recognition, their faces worn smooth by time's relentless passage.
But it was the center of this ruined hall that commanded attention. A massive stone throne, carved directly into the far wall like an altar to some absent god. And seated upon it—
*A presence that made the air itself feel heavier.*
The figure was colossal, easily three meters tall, built like living armor forged from muscle and bone. Dark crimson fur, matted with what looked suspiciously like dried blood, covered a frame that spoke of countless battles. Twin-bladed axes rested across his lap with casual familiarity, their edges still sharp despite obvious age. One amber eye fixed on Jin-Seok with lazy interest. The other was milky white, blind but somehow no less terrifying.
A Minotaur. But not just any beast—this one radiated intelligence, weariness, and something else Jin-Seok couldn't quite identify. Resignation, perhaps.
## { The Horned Reckoner Awakens }
The massive head lifted slowly, like a mountain deciding to move.
"Tch... Another one?" The voice rumbled through the chamber, deep and gravelly from disuse. "Took you long enough. They usually die in the second encounter."
Jin-Seok rose from his cautious crouch, brushing marble dust from his suit. The Minotaur's working eye narrowed, studying the masked figure with sudden interest.
"Heh... That suit and that stance." A low chuckle echoed off the cathedral walls. "I've seen that before. Decades ago, maybe longer. You wouldn't happen to be related to that lunatic with white hair who dressed like he raided a woman's wardrobe, would you?"
Jin-Seok tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Maybe. Maybe not."
The Minotaur stretched with a groan that spoke of centuries of sitting in the same position. Joints popped like breaking timber. "Doesn't matter. Not my business anymore." He shifted the axes on his lap with one massive hand. "My freedom's gone. Now I babysit lost kids who think they can conquer the Tower."
There was something in that voice—not just boredom, but a profound loneliness that made Jin-Seok pause. This wasn't the mindless guardian he'd expected.
"You're not just a beast, are you?" Jin-Seok asked carefully.
The Minotaur's laugh was bitter. "Sharp one. No, I was once a Tower Being. Broke the rules. Got sealed. Now I rot here as punishment, waiting..." He trailed off, amber eye distant. "Either for death, or someone strong enough to shatter my curse."
"What exactly did you do?"
The expression shifted, becoming guarded. "Even if I wanted to tell you... I can't. There are rules, kid. I'm bound to them tighter than these chains of light you can't see."
Jin-Seok studied the massive figure, noting the way he held himself—not like a prisoner, but like someone who'd accepted a burden. "Then why tell me anything at all?"
A genuine smile cracked the Minotaur's features. "No reason. Maybe I'm just bored out of my skull. Maybe it's because you're the first one to make it here in decades." The smile faded. "Most don't even clear the illusions. The rest die to the traps. People aren't challenging nightmare mode anymore."
## { Unexpected Kinship }
What followed was perhaps the strangest conversation Jin-Seok had ever experienced. The Minotaur—who eventually introduced himself as Asterion—spoke with the casual familiarity of an old friend. Stories spilled out between them: tales of Tower climbers past, philosophical debates about the nature of strength, even complaints about the quality of recent challengers.
"The last guy who made it this far," Asterion said, gesturing vaguely with one massive hand, "spent the entire fight crying. *Crying!* I mean, I get it, I'm intimidating, but where's the pride? The determination?"
Jin-Seok found himself chuckling. "Maybe he was having a bad day."
"A bad *day?* Kid, I've been having a bad *century.* You don't see me blubbering about it." Asterion paused, then added with surprising gentleness, "Though I suppose everyone handles their burdens differently."
The conversation meandered through topics both profound and mundane. Asterion spoke of the Tower's early days, when the challenges were different, more... personal. Jin-Seok shared his own observations about the current state of climbers, the way fear seemed to drive most of them rather than genuine ambition.
"You know what I like about you?" Asterion said suddenly, leaning forward on his throne. "You don't look at me like I'm just an obstacle. Most see the horns, the size, the axes, and immediately start calculating how to kill me fastest."
"Should I be calculating?" Jin-Seok asked, though his tone remained light.
"Oh, absolutely. I'm about to try very hard to murder you." Asterion's grin was sharp but somehow fond. "But the fact that you're not *just* seeing me as a thing to be overcome... that's refreshing."
There was a moment of easy silence between them, the kind that forms between unlikely friends. Then Asterion's expression grew solemn.
"You remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who saw people instead of obstacles." His voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I wonder what happened to her."
## { The Inevitable Challenge }
The mood shifted as Asterion slowly stood, his full height casting a shadow that seemed to swallow half the chamber. The twin axes came up with practiced ease, though Jin-Seok noticed the slight tremor in the Minotaur's grip—age, or perhaps the weight of reluctance.
"Even though I like you..." Asterion's voice carried genuine regret. "I have to follow the rules."
The stone floor cracked under his hooves as he stepped down from the throne. Each movement was measured, deliberate—not the wild charge of a beast, but the careful positioning of a master warrior.
"I want you to know," he continued, raising the axes into a defensive stance, "this isn't personal. And I won't dishonor you by holding back."
Jin-Seok drew his own weapon, feeling the familiar weight settle into his grip. "I wouldn't want you to."
The first strike came without warning—a horizontal sweep that would have bisected Jin-Seok had he not already been moving. The axe carved through the air where he'd stood, embedding itself in a marble pillar with enough force to send cracks spider-webbing up its length.
"Good reflexes," Asterion said, spinning both weapons with casual expertise. "Let's see how long they hold."
What followed was less a battle than a deadly dance. Jin-Seok moved like water around stone, his enhanced statistics keeping him just ahead of disaster. Every missed strike sent shockwaves through the cathedral, ancient dust raining from the damaged dome above.
Asterion fought with the fluid grace of centuries of experience, but Jin-Seok could see the tells—the slight delay after heavy swings, the way the Minotaur favored his left side, the occasional grimace that spoke of old injuries never properly healed. This wasn't the warrior at his peak, but rather a shadow of former glory.
That shadow was still terrifying.
A feint caught Jin-Seok off-guard—Asterion's axe swept low while his hoof lashed out in a devastating kick. Jin-Seok flew across the chamber, slamming into a pillar hard enough to crack the ancient stone.
"You okay, kid?" Asterion called out, actually pausing the fight.
Jin-Seok coughed, tasting copper. "Peachy," he managed, wiping blood from his mouth.
He stood. Not quickly, not dramatically, but with the steady determination that had carried him this far. Then he charged.
Asterion's grin was savage with approval. "Yes. *That's* it."
The fight evolved from mere survival into something almost artistic. Jin-Seok began reading his opponent's patterns, timing his movements with the rhythm of the axes. He couldn't match Asterion's raw power, but he could be where the Minotaur wasn't expecting him to be.
A perfectly timed dodge led to an opening. Jin-Seok's weapon slipped between plates of natural armor, finding the gap at Asterion's knee. The Minotaur stumbled, axes windmilling for balance.
It was the opening Jin-Seok needed. A final, desperate combination sent the massive warrior toppling backward, axes clattering away across the marble floor.
## { Mercy and Understanding }
Asterion lay on his back, breathing heavily, a tired grin splitting his bovine features. "Damn... You actually did it." He closed his eyes, expression peaceful. "So? What now? End it. Free me."
Jin-Seok picked up one of the fallen axes, its weight surprising him. He walked slowly toward the prone Minotaur, weapon raised.
Asterion's working eye cracked open, watching. There was no fear there, only acceptance and perhaps... hope?
But instead of delivering a killing blow, Jin-Seok knelt and gently placed the axe back within Asterion's reach.
"You've waited so long to be free," Jin-Seok said quietly. "Why give up now?"
The Minotaur blinked, clearly stunned. "I... what?"
"Wait a little longer. I'll free you—not in the way you expect, but the way you deserve."
For a long moment, Asterion simply stared. Then, slowly, he pushed himself up to sitting, one massive hand covering his face. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.
"Kindness like that... I don't deserve it, kid. But fine." He looked up, amber eye bright. "I'll wait."
Then, softer: "Will you visit me again?"
Jin-Seok was already turning toward the hidden passage that had opened behind the throne, but he paused. "Don't worry. The next time you see me, we both leave this room together."
Asterion smiled—the first genuine, unguarded smile Jin-Seok had seen from him. "I'll be here, kid. I'll be waiting."
[ A bond was formed where blood was meant to spill.
The Tower didn't see it coming.
But it happened.
And when they meet again…
The Tower will tremble.
And fate will kneel.]
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{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}