Arise From Weakness (OC/ Male Reader x Arifureta)

(S3) Chapter 63 Devilsh Trial

No one's POV

After completing the previous trial, the party found themselves once more in a sea of trees.
Unlike before though, they could see the ceiling and had a clear guidepost for where they were meant to go.

From what Hajime could tell, this space was similar to the forest he had encountered in the Great Orcus Labyrinth and was situated in an enclosed, underground space. While most of the trees were of uniform size, there was one further in that was much larger than the rest. If this room followed the same pattern as the others, that was where their next teleportation circle was.

Hajime: Looks like we all made it together this time.

Hajime said as he looked over the party. He'd been worried they'd get hit with more fakes, but it appeared that had been a needless concern.

Yue: Hajime, are there any fakes?

Hajime: Nope, everyone's real. At least, that's what my eye and my instincts tell me.

Shea and the others relaxed visibly. The party then set off through the dense jungle toward the large tree in the distance. Nhazul glanced back to make sure everyone was still with him and noticed Kouki and Suzu both had dark
expressions still. Nhazul could understand why Suzu still wasn't over her dream.

Going from an illusion where your best friend was still with you into a reality where she'd betrayed and nearly killed you was about as traumatic as it got. The dream had likely reopened the emotional wounds that had barely begun to heal.

That still left Kouki, however. Nhazul had no idea what he'd seen, but judging by Kouki's sunken eyes, and the neutral expression he
was struggling to keep, it must have left quite the negative impression on him. That, or he was frustrated at failing to overcome yet another trial.

But while Nhazul did sympathize, this was a labyrinth. A murderous maze where the party could be thrown into a life threatening situation at any moment. If Suzu and Kouki kept carrying that emotional baggage with them, they wouldn't last long.

Nhazul: Amanogawa, Taniguchi. Are you guys really serious about tackling this labyrinth?

Kouki: Wha!? O-Of course we are!

Suzu: Huh? Y-Yeah, I am!

Nhazul's sharp glare pierced through the both of them, as his eyes would glow purple. Ryutarou seethed at Nhazul's words, but before he could come to his friends' defense, Nhazul continued.

Nhazul: This is a labyrinth. Death lurks around every corner. We might be thrown into hell at any second. If you can't focus anymore, you may as well give up here. Otherwise, you'll die.

Kouki: W-Wait, I-

Nhazul: Regardless of your reasons, the fact of the matter was that you couldn't clear the last trial.

At the very least, you need the determination to pass all the others if you want to survive. And I don't see that determination from either of you. If your will's been broken, then you're nothing more than dead weight.

Kouki and Suzu: ...

Nhazul: If you can move forward any longer, I'll leave Beru to guard you both until we return. So decide, here and now. Are you willing to do this, or not? I won't let anyone with halfhearted feelings continue on with
us.

Silence followed Nhazul's speech. Kouki grit his teeth in an attempt to hold in his rage. He wasn't angry at Nhazul, but at himself for being so weak.

He'd unconsciously felt a sense of safety, knowing that even if he was distracted Nhazul knew the others would be able to clean up anything that came their way. The whole reason he was here was because he didn't agree with Nhazul not Hajime's methods or his morals, and he wanted the strength to prove that they were mistaken.