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The place was a stone corridor, a true labyrinth. The walls were cold and damp, with cracks that looked ancient. The smell of mold and blood permeated the air, creating an oppressive atmosphere. The torches, which seemed to never go out, cast dancing shadows on the walls.
Right after I touched that man, I was teleported to a strange place—it looked like a cavern, but if I had to guess, I'd say we were inside one of the mountains.
But I haven't seen any sign of him since. I think I let go of him for a second while we were coming in and ended up getting separated, so I'm in the right place—just lost halfway through, apparently.
Considering the size of this structure, a lot of money must've been invested. I don't know if this was always here and simply forgotten or if it was built more recently. The marks on the walls look more like battle scars than signs of age.
Well, it's definitely a hideout—that's a fact. But why a labyrinth? And the worst part, this place is eerily empty. Sure, that helps avoid unwanted visitors, but that also means there must be another entrance. Maybe a specific way to enter without going through the maze? Too many questions.
As I walked, I paid close attention to the cracked walls and some slashes. Someone must've been here at some point—this was confirmed moments later when I found a door in one part of the maze. Inside were chains, and the floor reeked of blood. People had been held prisoner here.
I entered the room. It was isolated, with nothing but pairs of chains and shackles around the wall. But that was all.
This place makes me feel strange…
Leaving the room, I returned to the endless hallways. I wasn't able to orient myself properly, even with [Analytical Awareness]. The lack of sound and reinforced walls prevented my senses from forming an effective map.
I just hope Sentil returned to the city and that Merlin is okay. I need to deal with things here, but I'm worried—if any more members from Honda's group are around, I'm not sure I can handle them all at once, especially since I still need to take the princess back.
Then I finally noticed something—footsteps. I dodged to the side as a splash of purple liquid hit where I had just been—apparently venomous. Giant spiders began to appear at terrifying speed.
"Where did you come from?"
Without hesitation, I stretched out my hand and burned them instantly. It was an easy fight, so I kept doing that until the spiders were all gone.
I sensed more presences ahead—definitely not friendly. But I kept moving forward.
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Long ago, before Cirgo was even founded, a colony of elves lived around this area. With the technology of the time, they did their best to build homes and illusionary barriers to protect themselves from the outside world. The mountains themselves were perfect for such things, offering natural protection and isolation.
The elven emperor was a mystery, a figure wrapped in legend and secrecy. But that's not important now. What matters is that due to an incident, the elves of that colony had to take drastic measures, moving to a faraway place.
Stories are told, but none confirmed: some say the elves left because they found a better place; others believe they were attacked within their own colony, and after gaining independence and killing their leader, they moved to establish a new order. These were the biggest conspiracy theories. In reality, it was something simple.
They were attacked by a monster that mysteriously appeared in the colony. The elves named it Gorlak. A mindless beast that fed on mana, making it a natural predator of those born from magic.
Gorlak was a giant larva about 20 meters long. Its mouth was a circle at the end of its body, filled with thousands of sharp teeth all around. Its eyes were so flat against its head they seemed nonexistent. Its crawling body was covered in fur, with small, useless legs. It was an aberration—something senseless. A creature that only destroyed everything magical. For a long time, it was considered useless to nature, but it could be seen as a guardian, reducing large mana concentrations. After the incident with the elves, a Gorlak was never seen again.
The founding of Cirgo happened just two years after the attack, even though it was still elven territory, which opened space for a treaty between the elves and Cirgo's first king.
Sentil was already on his way back to the city when the chaos began. As soon as he saw the castle being invaded and soldiers' bodies strewn across the ground, a lump formed in his throat.
One thought hammered in his mind: if only I had been here…
At least the attack didn't reach the citizens. The zombies were eliminated before they could pass the castle gates.
In the main hall, the only body of an invader lay on the floor. His head was gone. Sentil looked at him in disgust. That man had killed countless soldiers—people with families, people who would never return home. Deep down, he wished he had been the one to finish him.
His master, Roghan, appeared soon after. The curse that had affected him had been healed by one of the healers, but his expression was full of shame.
— I'm sorry… I couldn't protect the king.
At least the king was alive. Recovering, but alive.
Sentil barely heard the words. His heart raced.
— My sister! Where is she?!
Roghan hesitated.
— One of the invaders took her… I'm sorry.
— Damn it!
Heat surged through his body and, without realizing it, his energy leaked out, soft tremors spreading across the ground. But before his rage could explode, Roghan stepped in, forcing him to take a deep breath.
— A boy came here. Said he knew you. I think he went after the invader… but the teleport was already activated.
That monster actually went after Serena?
Sentil clenched his fists, breathing deeply. If he did that… then maybe he was trustworthy. And even if he wasn't, at the moment, he had no choice but to rely on him.
Searches in the mountains were useless. The territory was too vast to be examined in such a short time. In the end, Victor was the only one who could do something for Serena now.
With that thought, Sentil descended to the main hall, where the healers were examining the invader's corpse.
One of them came up to him with a report.
— His name was Honda. He was 48 years old. A former Class (B) adventurer. No apparent illness… but we found something strange in his heart.
— What?
Before the healer could explain, Honda's headless body began to move. First, small spasms. Then violent convulsions.
— Back away! — one of the healers shouted.
Everyone stepped back, eyes wide.
— Something's growing inside him!
Sentil frowned, not understanding.
The corpse began to swell, its skin taking on a reddish tone. Suddenly, blood sprayed in all directions. And then… it exploded.
Silence lasted only a second.
From the blood, a grotesque larva emerged, growing rapidly.
Seeing what was happening, Sentil feared for everyone's safety.
— Everyone, get out of the castle! NOW!
The thing grew every second, its form warping as it was crushed by the ceiling. But instead of dying, it kept regenerating, turning the castle into a fountain of blood.
Finally, the structure couldn't withstand it.
The top of the castle burst open, stones falling in chunks. A deafening roar filled the sky.
A colossal creature—over twenty meters tall—rose from the rubble. Its body pulsed with a red glow.
Roghan turned pale.
— A Gorlak… it can't be…
The legendary mana-devouring creature. And it had just emerged in the heart of Cirgo.
Cirgo, where Serena had released absurd amounts of mana for years. A true feast for a starving monster.
That night, for the first time in decades, the kingdom's danger sirens sounded.
The gates shut, and those already in hiding were even more terrified.
And, at the center of it all, the Gorlak roared.
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As I continued along my path, I noticed how incredibly neglected the place was. The deeper I went, the worse it became. There was blood on the floor, on the walls, and broken passages. But I think I'm finally close to getting out of this cursed labyrinth.
This isn't what I expected when I got here... I thought, feeling a bit disheartened.
I was hoping for something more... simple? Maybe a miraculous welcome and a good opportunity? But no, I'm walking through a labyrinth in a place where torture probably took place. Everything is filthy and reeks. Having such sharp senses is a pain sometimes.
The smell of mold and decay clung to the air, making each breath a nauseating effort. The floor was coated in a sticky layer of grime and dried blood, clinging to my boots with every step. The walls, once maybe majestic, were now stained and cracked.
I couldn't help but look down with a sad expression. But then, I heard something like a "clack." The first different sound I'd heard until now.
That feeling... a familiar chill. Strangely, the temperature dropped even more. I must be deep inside this hideout already.
The environment felt alive, as if the shadows on the walls were watching me, waiting for the right moment to strike. The air was heavy, weighed down with a sense of abandonment.
With that, I made my way through the labyrinth's corridors. If my senses are correct, the exit must be this way…
Then, a reinforced metal door blocked my path. Of course, I opened it without much difficulty using my bare hands. The metal groaned and bent under my strength, echoing down the empty corridor. Behind the door, a massive staircase revealed itself. This time, it was cleaner, but still, the scent of blood lingered.
I began descending the staircase, the sound of my boots growing louder with each step, "tap, tap." The deeper I went, the darker it became, but that wasn't a problem—I could see perfectly. The stone walls around me seemed to close in, making the space feel claustrophobic. The air grew heavier, thick with humidity and a metallic odor.
Suddenly, a scream of agony echoed through the walls, reverberating in the darkness. It was a guttural sound, full of pain and desperation, making my skin crawl. I paused for a moment, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. The creature was somewhere below, its voice laced with suffering.
"Aaaaahhh!" the scream rang out again, closer this time. "Please... help me..."
The voice was weak, almost inaudible, but carried an emotional weight that made me shiver. I continued descending, each step bringing me closer to the origin of that horrible sound. The air around me pulsed with a malevolent energy.
Finally, I reached the bottom of the staircase. The darkness was nearly absolute, but my eyes quickly adjusted. The corridor ahead was shrouded in shadows, and the smell of blood was even stronger here. The creature's scream echoed once more, fainter this time, as if it were losing strength.
"Please..." the voice whispered, barely audible. "Don't leave me here..."
I moved forward cautiously, my senses on high alert. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, staggering toward me. It was a human—or at least, what was left of one. Its skin was pale and rotting, its eyes empty and lifeless, its stomach gaping open, revealing decaying organs. A zombie.
"Aaaaahhh!" the zombie screamed, lunging at me with surprising speed.
I reacted instinctively, slashing with my claws. The strike cut through the air and hit the zombie, which collapsed to the ground with a dull thud. The body twitched for a moment before going still, a dark liquid seeping from its wound. Its entire head was shattered to pieces.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. So this is where all those zombies came from.
Looking around, I realized I was in a room full of cages and corpses. The cages were rusted and stained with dried blood, and the bodies inside... were far worse than the zombie I'd just killed.
I'm sorry. Rest now.
At the back of the room, another staircase revealed itself, descending even deeper into the labyrinth's depths. I swallowed hard at the thought of what I might find next—but I pressed on.
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Serena was engulfed in a familiar darkness, the silent shroud that had always surrounded her. But something was wrong. The cold that should have numbed her wasn't as intense. Her body trembled, and [Ice Rose] reacted instinctively.
The hooded man, focused on the machine's panel where Serena was trapped, sensed the change in the air. The temperature plummeted suddenly. He glanced away from the screen—which displayed 67%—and realized something was out of control.
Serena awoke in a wave of confusion. Her heart raced as she realized she was no longer in her room. The colors and shapes around her were strange, unrecognizable. The air was still cold, but not enough. Something was wrong.
[Ice Rose] didn't wait for its user. The kidnapper moved back at the last second, barely escaping being skewered by ice spears. He wasn't unscathed. Thin cuts opened across his body, and warm blood dripped from his skin.
Serena fell to her knees, shattering the machine's glass and spilling the green liquid onto the floor. Her body was weakened by the abrupt temperature change. Pain in her chest made it hard to breathe. She coughed, struggling for air. [Ice Rose] continued to protect her, even though she was defenseless.
The man didn't waste time. He grabbed a tranquilizer gun and fired.
The needle flew toward Serena. But it never got close.
A shield of ice erupted from the ground and blocked the projectile. The needle froze instantly, shattering upon hitting the floor.
He stepped back. The situation was slipping from his control. Serena wasn't a defenseless victim as long as that ability was active—an ability he didn't know how to handle.
Before he could react, a tendril of ice lunged toward him.
He thought it was the end. The attack was fast, relentless. But, mere inches from his face, the ice burst into a shower of crystals, blowing off his hood. A chill ran down his spine. If [Ice Rose] weren't weakened, he'd be dead.
The machine had drained part of Serena's power. And that meant she was already at her limit.
The capsule before him was designed to steal unique abilities. The plan was to extract [Ice Rose], a rare gift too valuable to waste. In his eyes, it was the only thing of worth that family had.
But there was no time to celebrate.
The silence was broken by firm footsteps echoing outside. The man turned his head, eyes fixed on the door.
Then, an explosion.
The metal door was ripped from its hinges and crashed to the ground.
Smoke slowly dissipated, but the man already knew who was there. The golden eyes glowing in the dim light and the blue winter clothes… there was no doubt.
Victor walked in, unfazed by the tension. His eyes scanned the room until they found Serena, pale and trembling.
He frowned.
"So it was you all along, guild master... Orion?"
His words sounded almost bored, but there was a weight in them that made Orion's stomach churn.
Orion forced a nervous smile, trying to hide his unease.
"You shouldn't be here."
Victor crossed his arms, exhaling irritation.
"Yeah. But since I am..." He tilted his head slightly, his eyes full of contempt. "You kidnapped a blind girl? Aren't you ashamed?"
The venom in Victor's voice struck Orion like a blade.
He felt his throat dry. His body instinctively tensed.
Shit... The Fifth should've warned me he got here through teleportation!
Panic crept into his mind. Everything should've been under control, every detail planned. But there he was, facing Victor, and nothing was going as it should.
Why?
He stared at the boy in front of him, searching for something to regain his advantage.
He's just a kid… Dragan was strong but impulsive. That's probably why he lost. This brat can't be that powerful.
But something was off. Victor didn't look surprised. Nor angry at Orion. He just looked... tired. Like this was just another annoying problem to deal with.
That bothered Orion more than any threat.
He realized Victor wasn't here out of fury or revenge.
He was here by a twist of fate, and he was determined to destroy everything Orion had planned for years. That was unforgivable.
Orion didn't know Victor's true nature—Sentil had kept that secret. So Orion clung to the false hope that he was just a child.
He gripped the hidden dagger tightly. His eyes followed Victor's every movement, searching for an opening.
I'll end this quickly.
Confidence surged in his chest as his mind formed a plan. He'd throw the dagger into Victor's blind spot and, with Serena weakened, finish them both before things got out of hand.
With a swift, nearly invisible motion, Orion hurled the dagger. It sliced through the air in a deadly arc, aimed straight for the boy's chest.
For a moment, Orion was sure he'd landed the hit. The metal gleamed in the light, and for a brief second, he believed it was over.
But then… silence.
Victor didn't scream. Didn't stumble. Didn't fall.
Nothing.
Orion's heart skipped a beat. His eyes scanned the scene, trying to understand what had gone wrong.
Then a calm voice cut through the moment.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Orion froze.
The voice came from behind him.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He hadn't seen Victor move. Hadn't sensed his presence shift.
Slowly, he turned his head, as if his own body refused to believe what was happening.
Victor was kneeling beside Serena, his expression showing no fury or urgency. Just an unsettling calm.
He wasn't even looking at Orion.
Orion felt something tighten in his chest.
Being ignored... was unbearable.
He, the guild master. The leader. The strategist. The one always in control.
And now, there was Victor. A boy treating him like he was irrelevant. As if he weren't even a threat worth noticing.
Rage bubbled inside him, fueled by envy.
He doesn't even try…
Serena, that girl, was born strong. Never had to fight for the power she held. And now Victor, another prodigy, stronger than him without ever struggling to reach it.
Why did they have it so easy?
While Orion's mind fumed, Victor completely ignored his presence.
He gently placed a hand on Serena's shoulder, his fingers brushing over the cold fabric of her clothes. [Ice Rose] didn't react—it was as if it wasn't even there.
Serena let out a soft sigh, her body relaxing.
"Yes... thank you for worrying..."
Her tone was weak, but unlike before, there was a genuine calmness in her voice.
She couldn't see Victor, but she could feel his presence. He was warm. Safe.
Victor's fingers glided gently along her arm.
"Can you stand?"
Serena tried to move her arms, but her legs felt heavy. The machine had drained too much from her, and the temperature shift hadn't helped.
Victor didn't wait.
With a firm yet careful motion, he slipped an arm beneath her legs and another around her back, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. Serena felt his body's warmth contrasting with her own coldness.
Victor frowned slightly, noticing their height difference.
"This feels kind of weird..." he muttered to himself. "You're taller than me."
Serena let out a faint, sincere laugh.
"...And you complain about that now?"
Victor gave a half-smile but didn't reply.
For Orion, though, that scene was unbearable.
His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
They're ignoring me.
I'm the master here!
Victor walked with Serena in his arms, carefully placing her in a safe corner of the room. His movements were quick, precise, yet full of care. At that moment, she was his top priority.
"Stay here. I'll take you home soon."
Serena simply nodded.
Then, Victor finally turned to face Orion.
Now, he was ready to fight.
The golden gaze landed on Orion, and his expression was serious. There was no anger. No hatred. Only unshakable determination.
Inside, however, Victor felt his chest tighten.
I've never fought someone like him before. I've never truly fought to protect someone…
The pressure was immense.
But he wouldn't show it—not now.
If I hesitate, she might get hurt... maybe die.
His fingers curled slightly.
The nervousness still clung to his mind, but he couldn't let it paralyze him.
A life depends solely on me. I can't fail... I can't lose.
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