Each level of the labyrinth is a world unto itself, with its own unique terrain and ecosystem.
The first level is a chaotic mix of forests, swamps, caves, and wastelands.
The second level, known as the Blazing Desert, is covered in self-illuminating sand.
Once you pass through these initial levels, the true madness of the labyrinth begins.
Take, for example, the third level, where I once clashed with the infamous Kalcas on a mission for the Tsar’s special forces. It was a hellscape of thick swamps teeming with vengeful spirits and frogmen.
“Things change completely from the fourth level onward.”
The Dark Ink Ridge.
Explorers call it “the labyrinth within the labyrinth.”
This high-altitude mountain range is shrouded in impenetrable darkness, with thick fog that confuses the senses flowing through its valleys and slopes.
For someone like Dalen, who needed a map app just to find the convenience store near his office, such a complex environment was a death sentence.
“If I had to rate my navigation skills back then, they’d be a 4 or 5.”
Considering the average adult male’s skill level is a 10, that’s laughably low.
Deleting his character forty-six times was almost inevitable.
But thanks to his extensive gaming experience, thorough research, and near-supernatural control, he managed to overcome these challenges.
As a result, Dalen memorized the paths and even figured out the traps and monster placement algorithms that changed periodically.
“If I’d studied that hard in school, I could’ve easily gotten into med school.”
With that past behind him, he wasn’t too worried.
The world he faced now might be larger than the one he’d seen in the game, but the key features were mostly the same.
Even if there were slight differences, it didn’t matter. The body he now inhabited wasn’t directionally challenged, and he wasn’t venturing into the labyrinth alone.
“At least you know the way. I’ll join the knights and prepare for the next battle in Falcion,” Edgar said, turning north.
As Bourbon moved to follow, Sienna called out to him.
“Bourbon, take care of the commander.”
[Of course.]
“And don’t forget the letters for the Tsar and the High Orc Chieftain. You packed the dragon materials for Master Reberon, right?”
[Yes, yes, I’ve got everything. Stop nagging. This isn’t a crow’s nest.]
A witch bossing around a dragon—what a sight. Bourbon’s grumbling made the group chuckle.
Bourbon transformed into his dragon form, carrying Edgar away.
The group, having seen them off, turned their backs on the devastated headquarters and stepped into the rift.
It had only been three days since the battle with the dragon legion ended. The massive canyon bore the scars of war.
Collapsed defenses and fortresses. The bodies of paladins and crusaders lay scattered.
Their deaths were gruesome, unlike the clean deaths of typical wars. Some were bitten, others torn apart by dragon claws.
Crusaders melted by dragon breath. Paladins impaled on dragon horns.
Riders frozen with their steeds, shattered into pieces. Bloodstains hardened on the rubble of the fallen fortress.
”······.”
”······.”
The group moved in silence, as if by agreement. The cold wind carried the scent of death. Dalen instinctively checked his armor and weapons.
Whoosh…
A cold wind rose from the rift. Long, black hair fluttered at the edge of his vision. It was Sienna, walking at the rear of the group.
Her long eyelashes, sharp nose, and confident gaze were captivating. As thoughts flitted through his mind, he recalled the news Sienna had shared with him a few days ago.
“The Elf King has formally requested asylum in the labyrinth city. The Eastern Knight Kingdom and the Western Guild Alliance have also proposed alliances.”
The East and West were preparing for war.
Having experienced this future multiple times, Dalen knew it was less about war and more about abandoning territory to join the labyrinth city.
“The battlefield is shrinking.”
The northern war had weakened the Tsar’s nation. The empire was fractured.
Some nobles, unable to tolerate the Pantheon’s tyranny, had risen in rebellion. The emperor had essentially fallen into the hands of the Pantheon, backed by Enaxagus. In this case, the rebellion was almost a relief.
The main headquarters of the paladins was destroyed, and the elves’ homeland was occupied. Only the Eastern Tri-Kingdoms and the Western Guild Alliance remained intact.
“Neither is particularly reliable.”
The alliance’s military strength was akin to a small kingdom.
The Eastern Tri-Kingdoms had never successfully withstood an assault from the Rafilem.
The South and North had fallen. The East and West were precarious.
All that remained was the central city alliance. Fortunately, humanity’s strength was consolidating in the continent’s center.
The Tsar’s nation had long been an ally of the city alliance. Now, the East, West, and elves were joining.
From the south, Edgar, Bourbon, and the remaining paladin forces were moving north.
If the main force joined the labyrinth city, humanity’s last bastion would be fortified.
The dragon bones and hearts stored in Bourbon’s dimensional pocket would be reforged into powerful weapons and armor at the mithril forge.
“Now, it’s up to us.”
Dalen took a deep breath and surveyed the remaining group.
After sending off Bourbon and Edgar, eight of them had entered the rift.
Demon slayers, future swordmasters, time-manipulating wizards Felber Valentino and Tommy Valentino.
The Witch of Feathers, the Blue-scaled Dragon Akasha, the One-eyed Craftsman, and Dalen himself.
Each was a hero destined to shine in a world on the brink of apocalypse. A party he could only dream of from behind a monitor.
“This isn’t a hopeless fight.”
Would they reach the Stone of Wishes first, or would the evil gods’ army destroy the labyrinth city?
The odds weren’t low. They had already weakened two evil gods and destroyed one.
Then, something rustled ahead. A greenish skin peeked through the rubble of a collapsed fortress. Bulging eyes and slimy hands.
Squeak—
A hand instinctively reached for his axe. It flew just as a frogman leaped out, arms raised.
“Human! Human tribe! Help! Help me… croak!”
The frog’s head snapped back, landing on the stone floor. Sienna, forming a seal beside him, spoke hesitantly.
“That… didn’t seem like it was going to attack us.”
”······.”
“Didn’t it say ‘help’?”
Dalen scratched the back of his head. Damn, who knew a frog could speak human?
A room devoid of sunlight.
The dome-shaped ceiling, like an enlarged piece of the night sky, rotated slowly but dizzyingly.
Gloomy blue light and fiery red light blazed. Among the bright stars and strange celestial bodies, ominous shadows slithered like snakes.
”······.”
Inuoko Todd, the envoy of the Golden Palace, closed his eyes as he gazed at the celestial sphere.
Every visit to this place made his head spin.
“They say there’s a reason this room is hidden in the deepest part of the twenty-six halls.”
“The ever-changing face.”
A blond youth approached, tapping his chest to ease his discomfort. It was Everon Raktala, with the refined look of a noble.
“They say an ordinary person would have their mind torn apart just by glancing at this sphere. It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Bird Without a Shadow?”
“You don’t come to the halls often, so we rarely meet.”
“That’s because I’m always busy with external affairs, senior.”
Everon offered a polite smile, bowing slightly. Todd, hands in his pockets, closed his eyes again.
Conflict is inevitable where people live. Even at the pinnacle of the labyrinth city Falcion, within the Golden Palace, where only the highest transcendents could enter the twenty-six halls, it was no different.
Todd and Everon were prime examples. After several major conflicts, their relationship was far from amicable.
“You seem excited. You’ve never been the serious type, but you’ve been even more so in recent years.”
“I can’t deny it.”
“···We’re not here for small talk, are we? Why are you here?”
“I bring a message from the Seer. He says you’ve worked hard traveling far, and you should rest.”
Todd’s brow furrowed. Was that all? With war looming?
When he left the main headquarters with the other paladin forces, it was on the brink of falling to the dragon legion.
The commander had volunteered to be bait to buy time, but how long could they hold against hundreds of dragons?
He had rushed back for that reason. The long-time ally, the paladin order, was on the verge of annihilation, and if they couldn’t support them, they at least needed to prepare for the dragon legion’s invasion.
“Wait, so you listened and took a break? And you didn’t even speak directly, but sent a greenhorn as your proxy?”
Todd couldn’t wrap his head around it. Trusting what this rookie said in the first place was…
“Go back, Todd.”
A voice resonated through the vast hall, echoing like a distant bell. Todd slowly turned his head.
In the very center of the expansive chamber, where all the starlight converged, stood a white-haired girl.
”…Seer.”
“I won’t say it again, Todd. But don’t worry. The tragedy you fear won’t come to pass. The threat of the Dragon Legion has vanished.”
“Vanished? How…?”
“Just as I said. It’s gone. So return to your domain and rest.”
It was a clear dismissal. Todd pressed his lips together, glancing briefly at Everon before turning to leave.
Soon, his presence faded entirely from the celestial sphere, leaving just the two of them beneath the stars.
The white-haired girl ran a weary hand through her hair. Everon cast a sidelong glance in the direction Todd had gone and remarked, “Honestly, for someone who’s lived twice as long as me, he’s not exactly the most easygoing fellow.”
”…”
“Just because we’ve had a few disagreements, does he have to be so prickly? Isn’t it frustrating, old lady?”
“How shameless can you be? Do you really think that’s something you should be saying?”
The girl spoke, her white eyes glaring at Everon.
“I was wondering why it was so quiet… and here you are, showing your face.”
“I don’t know what you mean…”
“Do I really need to expose your true identity? You, the malevolent god of fate and defiance.”
The blond young man chuckled brightly.