"So... this is a Labyrinth..."
Noah’s voice dropped to a whisper as he slowly surveyed his surroundings.
It was the first labyrinth he had entered since arriving in this world. The atmosphere felt completely different from a dungeon. The air was unnaturally cool.
Not cold enough to sting the skin, yet chilly enough to send a faint shiver down his spine. There was no breeze. No dripping water. No distant rumble.
Only an oppressive silence that seemed to press against their ears. It felt as though the labyrinth itself was holding its breath.
The only sound came from their footsteps.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Each step echoed throughout the endless corridors before returning a moment later from strange directions that made little sense.
Damien frowned.
"...Did that echo come from behind us?"
Noah stopped walking. Both of them remained perfectly still, listening carefully.
Silence.
Nothing answered them.
"...Probably," Noah muttered.
Neither of them sounded convinced.
They continued forward until the narrow corridor suddenly opened into a massive circular chamber.
Six identical passageways branched out in different directions.
Each entrance was flanked by an ancient stone pillar covered in faded carvings whose meanings had long been forgotten.
Damien scratched the back of his head.
"So..."
"We have to choose one."
Noah glanced at the six identical paths.
"Any idea which one?"
"No."
Damien answered without hesitation.
The two exchanged amused looks.
"I was hoping you’d have some brilliant plan," Damien said with disappointment.
"I was hoping you’d pretend to have one."
A faint chuckle escaped both of them.
For a brief moment, the tense atmosphere eased.
’How exactly did Instructor Morgana inspect this entire labyrinth?’
Noah wondered inwardly. He could not imagine mapping such a place alone.
After looking around once more, he asked,
"Anyway... which path should we take?"
Truthfully, Noah had already made up his mind.
If anyone possessed absurd luck, it was the protagonist standing beside him.
Damien’s intuition had a habit of leading him toward opportunities. Or disasters. Sometimes both. Damien folded his arms and stared at the six corridors. He remained completely silent.
One minute passed.
Then another. Finally, he pointed toward the third passage.
"We’re taking the third route."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Damien shrugged casually.
"Don’t ask. It’s just my intuition."
A small smile appeared on Noah’s face.
’I’ll trust the protagonist’s intuition.’
"Fine."
"Let’s go."
Without another word, the two entered the third passageway.
The corridor stretched endlessly before them.
The walls remained unchanged, built entirely from ancient gray stone bricks illuminated by flickering mana torches.
For several minutes, nothing happened.
The only sound was their steady footsteps.
Then—
Scrape...
The noise echoed from somewhere ahead.
Stone grinding against stone.
It was slow, heavy and deliberate.
Both young men immediately stopped.
Their relaxed expressions disappeared.
Scrape...
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
Then another.
From the darkness ahead, a massive figure slowly emerged.
At first glance, it looked like part of the wall itself.
Then it moved.
The creature stood nearly three meters tall.
Its entire body had been carved from cracked gray stone.
Thick moss covered its broad shoulders, while glowing blue flames burned within the hollow sockets where eyes should have been.
Its enormous fists scraped across the ground as it advanced, carving deep grooves into the ancient stone floor.
A Forgotten Guardian. The giant slowly lifted its head. The blue flames within its eyes burned brighter.
For a single heartbeat neither side moved.
BOOM!
The guardian took one thunderous step forward. The entire path trembled violently.
Dust drifted from the ceiling. The labyrinth had finally acknowledged its newest visitors.
A grin spread across Damien’s face.
"There it is."
Noah slowly drew his sword. "Well, brother... Get ready."
Mana surged from Noah’s core.
It flowed rapidly through every part of his body, strengthening his muscles and sharpening his senses.
The mana then gathered around the blade of his sword, forming an incredibly thin layer of ice along its edge.
The weapon gleamed with a faint frost-blue light.
At the same time, golden mana erupted around Damien’s body.
His aura grew noticeably heavier.
"Let’s destroy it!"
Without waiting another second, Damien exploded forward.
Boom!
The stone floor cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself straight toward the guardian.
Noah followed immediately behind him.
The Forgotten Guardian raised its enormous stone fist.
Damien met it head-on.
CLANG!
His sword collided against the giant’s rocky arm, releasing a deafening metallic sound.
Although the guardian possessed tremendous physical strength, Damien had already reached the Condensed Core (Low) realm.
His raw power was more than enough to contend with it directly.
The guardian’s massive body staggered backward by half a step.
"Your turn!"
Damien shouted.
Noah immediately extended his free hand.
Ice Creation, his ability kicked in.
Mana erupted from beneath the guardian’s feet.
Crack!
Crack!
Thick layers of ice burst upward from the stone floor, rapidly wrapping around both of the giant’s legs.
Within seconds, its lower body had been completely frozen in place. The Forgotten Guardian roared silently as it struggled to move.
The ice cracked violently under its overwhelming strength.
But it bought them exactly what they needed.
Damien smiled.
"Perfect!"
Golden mana gathered around his sword.
He leaped high into the air before bringing his weapon crashing down with tremendous force. His blade shone so brightly that it made the darkness ran away from the passage.
[Heavenly Sacred Radiance]
He used the first form of the sword art, but not with it’s full power.
BOOM!
The golden blade struck the guardian’s shoulder, creating a deep crack across its stone body. Fragments of rock scattered everywhere. The guardian swung its enormous arm toward Damien.
Noah moved instantly. He dashed behind the creature.
His sword flashed.
Slash!
A clean cut appeared behind one of its knees.
Frost spread rapidly from the wound, further weakening the already frozen joint.
The guardian lost its balance.
Its massive body tilted forward.
"Now!"
Damien understood immediately.
Gathering all his strength, he lunged once more.
Golden mana exploded around him.
Clang!
His sword pierced straight through the guardian’s cracked chest.
For a brief moment, everything became still.
CRACK!
Countless fractures spread across the guardian’s entire body.
Blue light leaked from every crack.
A second later—
BOOM!!
The Forgotten Guardian shattered into hundreds of stone fragments that scattered across the chamber floor.
Silence returned.
The only sounds remaining were the small pieces of stone rolling across the ground.
Damien lowered his sword onto his shoulder.
"That was easier than I expected."
Noah exhaled slowly before returning his sword to his side.
"It wasn’t particularly strong."
The two exchanged satisfied smiles. If every guardian inside the labyrinth was around this level...
Their exploration had just become far more promising.
Noah felt more confident about there incoming journey.
’Maybe, this is just a normal labyrinth.’ He thought for a second before dismissing it. Wherever this protagonist Damien was present, danger would always followed there.
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