Day 1[1] in Jerrica's Labyrinth
As I stepped into the moon pool portal, the sensation was immediate and surreal. The floor dissolved beneath my feet, and I began to fall. But unlike a typical plummet, our descent felt measured, almost comforting. It was like gravity itself had been smoothed out, ensuring we didn't spiral into panic. An endless white stretched in all directions, like a blank canvas awaiting creation. The backdrop wasn't entirely barren, though—prismatic droplets of light cascaded around us, leaving behind faint, iridescent trails as they fell. It was mesmerizing, yet disorienting. There was no smell, no hint of the earthy or metallic scents we were used to. Even sound seemed reluctant to exist here, as the only noise came from our talking and the faint shuffle of clothing. The absence of wind confirmed what we all silently suspected: there wasn't even air in this dimension. If not for the subtle tug of gravity pulling at my ankles, I might have thought we'd been suspended in time.
"This is a trippy way to enter somewhere," I muttered, my voice cutting through the eerie silence. Hearing my own words echo back faintly was a strange comfort—a reminder that we were still tethered to reality.
Alex tilted his head, his eyes reflecting the streaking lights. "I think it's kind of cool looking," he said, his tone casual but tinged with awe.
Artamis glanced around, his brows knitting together. "Where are we falling to?" he asked, his voice steady but curious.
Steez squinted into the endless expanse below, trying to find some clue to our destination. "I don't know. I can't see the exit," he admitted, shaking his head.
Luda, ever the pragmatist, crossed his arms as he floated. "How long have we been falling?" he asked, his tone even but questioning.
I shrugged, realizing I had no sense of time here. "Huh? Now that I'm thinking about it…"
Luda glanced at me, then at the endless white around us. "It's been at least half an hour," he informed me, his voice cutting through the quiet with an almost clinical precision. To pass the time, we started talking about the morning—the events that had led us here—and the strange Bible left behind. Luda mentioned he'd read it once we made camp, which didn't surprise me. I knew he wouldn't pass up a chance to get more strength.
"I forgot to mention back up top," Luda added, his tone shifting slightly, "my new [Midnoon Star: Satanael] has this ability to steal skill buffs and power boosts from opponents. Allowing me to use them myself, temporarily." His words hung in the air, drawing our attention. It was an impressive ability, one that could shift the tide of battle in an instant. Luda had a few of those types of skills.
I couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Think it would work on my [Adaptive Predator]?"
Before Luda could answer, [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] whispered in my mind. His voice, calm and logical as always, informed me, It wouldn't work.
"Luda's Soul Core isn't equipped to handle or use [Adaptive Predator] without [Midnight Star: Belial] as a conduit. As well as being incompatible with his personal skill [Overcompensation]."
Satisfied with that answer, I let the topic drift, watching as Steez and Alex decided to make the most of our situation. They tucked into balls, spinning and flipping as if they were performing aerial acrobatics. Steez pulled off a particularly clean somersault, his form sharp and precise.
"Yo, rate that one!" he shouted, grinning.
Not to be outdone, Alex launched himself into a series of tumbles, adding a twist for flair. Artamis and I stayed back, playing the role of judges. Luda played the role of the audience.
"Solid nine," I called out after one of Alex's flips.
"Eight point three," Artamis added, his voice devoid of enthusiasm but still fair.
Steez grinned, clearly enjoying the competition. "You're gonna need more than a twist to beat me, my nigga!" he teased.
The sudden-death rounds got intense, but ultimately, Steez edged Alex out with eight sets of triple backflips that even I had to admit were impressive. It was a moment of levity in an otherwise surreal journey.
Just as our laughter began to fade, a voice echoed through the void, mechanical and authoritative.
«The spiritual identification of Sonata Core Zero, Sonata Core Uno, Sonata Core Fire, and Sonata Core Wyth has been recorded. The addition of Artamis Mikazuki has been recorded. Due to the recognized identification of Sonata Core Zero, relocating to special coordinates.»
The announcement left us stunned.
"Wait, special?" I asked, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "I've never been here before."
Artamis scoffed lightly. "Well damn, I like how I was singled out," he remarked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Alex frowned, piecing the information together. "Were those each of our numbers? So who's Uno, Fire, and Wyth? I'm sure Xiro is Zero," he said, looking around for confirmation.
Luda nodded. "I know mine is Uno. I remember seeing that during my awakening," he said confidently.
Steez scratched his head. "I think I'm Wyth," he offered, his voice trailing off as he considered the possibility.
The revelation settled over us like a heavy blanket, each of us processing it in our own way. Whatever lay ahead, it was clear that this journey was only just beginning.
As the Prime Realm System finished speaking, the void began to shift. The endless white began to darken, hues of black and violet bleeding into the space around us. Prismatic droplets of light flickered out one by one, replaced by glowing streaks of spiritons. It was as if we had entered the bloodstream of some cosmic being.
We had to put our games on hold as a new light burst to life below us. It wasn't subtle or soft—it erupted in a luminous flare that quickly twisted and spiraled, opening into a swirling portal. Without so much as a warning, the ground gave out beneath us, and we descended through its glowing core. Unlike a free fall, we landed gently, as though some unseen force cushioned our descent, placing us in the center of a long, foreboding hallway. The walls were hewn from natural stone, their jagged edges suggesting they were carved with brute force rather than finesse. Mana crystals, glowing faintly in hues of blue and green, jutted out at irregular intervals, their light creating dancing shadows that made the tunnel appear endless in both directions.
A spark of excitement flickered in me—I mean, come on, I'd seen my fair share of dungeon-crawling video games and animes growing up, and places like this? They were always treasure troves of wild discoveries and even wilder dangers. Now, I had a front-row seat to live out the fantasy. But as I took in my surroundings, that excitement came with a chill. The place wasn't exactly inviting. Rocks were strewn across the dusty floor, cobwebs clung to every corner like ancient scars, and a faint scent of rot clawed at my nostrils. The ambiance was made worse by the eerie soundtrack of distant whispers and what sounded like scraping claws on stone. It was as creepy as I imagined—no, worse.
The labyrinth's architecture seemed to revel in its grim aesthetic. Shadows loomed large over the walls, and dried bloodstains streaked along the floor in ominous trails. There was no mistaking it—these walls had witnessed countless battles. And without any visible exit, we weren't leaving anytime soon.
"Where the hell did it drop us?" I asked, shaking off the smile on my face.
"Is this a hallway?" Steez's voice echoed, almost as if the labyrinth itself were mocking us by repeating his words.
Before anyone could answer, the disembodied voice of the Prime Realm System cut through the tension like a knife: «Now beginning, Trial of the Thriller.»
"Damn, just like that?" I muttered. "A nigga ain't even changed clothes yet."
Alex tilted his head toward the endless pathways, his brows furrowed. "So, which way do we go? Left or right?"
Luda crossed his arms, looking thoughtful. "Shouldn't we check our provisions first?"
Artamis's eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening. "That's going to have to wait. Looks like the welcoming committee is here."
Reacting to the same alert from our [Sense Presence], we all turned to see what he had noticed. A faint rattle of bone on stone echoed closer. From the shadows ahead, they emerged—rotted skeleton warriors, moving with an unsettling rhythm. Some carried battered swords and shields, while others clutched staffs that pulsed with faint magical energy. Their empty eye sockets glowed with a malicious red light, and their moans created a discordant symphony of horror. The smell hit next—old death, decayed flesh, and something acrid, like burning wood.
The dim mana crystals illuminated their grotesque forms as they stumbled forward, their collective mass becoming more horrifying by the second. Weapons glinting faintly in the dim light, hundreds poured into view. My gut told me this wasn't your typical undead crowd. Activating [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi], I ran an [Analyze] on them. The results were immediate.
"These things… they're made of paraparticles," I muttered, my voice laced with curiosity and confusion.
"What the hell are paraparticles?" I thought aloud.
Tsukuyomi's voice resonated in my mind, calm and precise. "Entities that exist on the border between pure energy and matter, used for evolutions or interactions beyond traditional physics. Soul Essence would be a more appropriate name for them."
That clicked for me instantly. A flashback to one of my favorite side-scrolling beat 'em up games gave me an idea of how we should proceed.
"Everyone, get ready. We're advancing through them," I announced with my smile returning.
Alex gave me a skeptical look. "Why are we going that way?"
I grinned bigger. "Sidescrollers have always taught me when in doubt, go straight."
Luda chuckled. "Then forward we push."
Alex, ever the hothead, took the lead. He exploded into motion, his boots igniting with scarlet flames of mystical fire. The first skeleton didn't stand a chance—Alex's flying kick caved in its ribcage, sending shards of bone hurtling into the undead horde behind it like a grisly bowling strike.
Needing to release some steam, I raised my palm and created Lunar Mana. Pulling from my [Wind Mana Arts: Air Blades], I infused the air with electromagnetic force. The development of molding electromagnetism into the fluid viscosity of air created a few ideas in my head, but I planned to start with a simple one. The mana swirled, crackling like a quiet storm condensed into a single crescent blade of energy. With a sharp flick of my wrist, I unleashed the attack. The modified spell tore through the skeleton warriors, their shields and armor offering no resistance. Sparks of electricity danced across their shattered forms, and the sound of crunching bone mixed with the hiss of mana discharges. The spell didn't stop there—it carved a luminous arc through the horde, leaving a glowing trail before finally dissipating. One hundred and fifty-six skeletons fell, crumbling into heaps of dust and bone. The trail of crescent light was a thicker, sharper, faster version than its wind predecessors.
Luda whistled, impressed. "What attack spell is that?"
I smirked. "I'mma call it Lunar Gale Slash. I should be able to use it with my sword."
"Boring," Artamis interjected, rolling his eyes.
I shot him a glare. "You might be right. But it's far better than your 'Boom.'"
"Hey!" Artamis snapped. "You take that back. Boom is the greatest spell name, and you know it."
Before we could continue our banter, the battlefield shifted. The skeletons we had defeated began to dissolve into shimmering orbs of spiritual matter. The orbs floated toward us, merging into my body and Soul Core like mist being absorbed into the air. Alex experienced the same phenomenon.
Right on cue, Tsukuyomi spoke up in my mind. "Soul Essence has been fully analyzed. The paraparticles are needed for the development of a Lord Seed, as well as to manipulate evolution."
That made me grin. I turned to the squad, my excitement hard to hide. "Yo, killing them is how we gain a Lord Seed."
Steez's face lit up. "Word? Say less."
"Smooth," Alex said, cracking his knuckles.
Luda's smile widened. "Then our next objective is clear."
Artamis sighed dramatically. "A shame I can't use my Nuclear Mana Arts in this tight space."
Luda laughed. "Why not use a smaller version of that attack?"
Artamis scoffed. "Prince Luda, I don't do smaller versions."
"Hahaha, respect."
I glanced around at the squad. "How's everyone's MP looking?"
Artamis shrugged. "Decent. Plus, I got bullets to spare."
Steez nodded. "Without that stupid Domain Art draining it, I'm good."
Alex smirked. "Same here. I could fight for years like this."
He'd regret those words soon enough. I knew the fight with Taurus had taken a small toll on them. Mentally, meeting that angel changed me a lot in such a short time, and I knew it had affected them as well. I could no longer just rest with the thought of those trap niggas lurking somewhere on Gaia. When I got back to the Mortal Realm, I was planning to do a lot of angelic cleansing. The Heavens were feeding off the world that just became mine, and that shit was about to be put to a stop. Once I dealt with the Paradiso Realm, then I would focus on ruling Velonica and protecting Gaia from future fuckery as my personal paradise. The goals and endgame were clear: fight, dominate, and carve a path to the end of this labyrinth.
We proceeded to rip through countless undead, as every skeleton adversary proved nothing but fodder to our strength. Their brittle bones shattered beneath our strikes, each swing of a blade or flash of magic tearing through ranks like a storm. They were too slow for our speed, their movements stiff and predictable, yet their sheer numbers were suffocating. No matter how many fell, no matter how many were destroyed, a new platoon awaited us around every corner. The echo of clattering bones never ceased, a constant, maddening rhythm that seemed to mock our efforts. I couldn't help but think how this trial wasn't about defeating enemies but enduring their endless waves—a battle against attrition itself.
The enemies, however, didn't remain the same, and for that, I was grateful. If we had been stuck fighting skeletons for the entirety of this insane route, it would have felt like some cruel joke in hell. After several days of what became effortless victories, the labyrinth evolved its approach. Wraiths and specters joined the fray, their ghastly forms drifting through walls and ceilings with eerie grace. Their high-pitched, disembodied shrieks sent chills down the spine, but they brought a challenge that, while momentary, was a welcome change. Physical attacks passed through them uselessly, weapons cleaving through nothing but air. Yet, anything imbued with mana struck them as though they were flesh and blood. Their strength reminded me of those Watchers we fought back in Goblin Cave, so it didn't take long for us to adapt. By the end of their debut, they were nothing more than punching bags for us to unload on, as satisfying to destroy as they were frail. We made them our bitches with little fanfare.
But the labyrinth wasn't done yet. It didn't take long before new opponents were added to the mix, this time in the form of zombies. These weren't just shambling corpses of regular people—no, these undead were once artists who died at some point within the labyrinth. Their movements were clumsy but purposeful, like puppets controlled by a sadistic master. [Sage Wisdom] dropped insight on me, giving clarity to my theories. Paraparticles, it explained, were originally spiritons from a soul. These fragmented spiritons, after merging with Ether particles, were converted into the essence that now filled this labyrinth. Knowing this, the significance of these zombies wasn't lost on me; they were a grim reminder of what failure here could mean. Their presence carried the weight of lives lost, their grotesque forms bearing the scars of their final moments. It was a morbid thought, but there was no time to dwell on it—they too fell to our combined might.
Throughout this endless onslaught, the Wolfpak's growth was nothing short of extraordinary. Alex, driven by an unrelenting desire to not be left behind, unlocked his Sonata Soul Core in the midst of combat. The moment it happened, a shift rippled through the battlefield. [Dominus Irae], his newly awakened skill, roared to life, channeling raw rage into every strike. The effect was immediate and devastating; each blow he landed shook the ground, his strength and power multiplying exponentially. But it didn't stop there. The skill allowed him to absorb and convert incoming attacks into raw magical energy, which he then redirected with amplified force. Watching him wield it was like witnessing a force of nature, a fury given form. Thanks to the Crest of the Wolfpak, I could copy the skill for myself, though I waited for a moment when the battlefield wasn't so chaotic to properly explore its capabilities.
Alex's awakening gave me an outside perspective on Sonata Cores and their mechanics. I had suspected they were more than just power boosts, and now I was certain. The awakening process, the way the core responded to emotion and intent, all of it made sense now. The knowledge came to me like pieces of a puzzle falling into place, and it was exhilarating.
Luda's growth wasn't far behind. His [Dominus Avaritiae] revealed itself as an ability that seemed almost unfair in its potential. With it, he could endlessly accumulate wealth, resources, and power. Anything he collected, whether material objects or mana, could be multiplied or duplicated without limit. Even more impressively, his possessions became impervious to theft or destruction by others. It was a skill tailored for dominance, one that could reshape battles and economies alike. Naturally, I copied it too. My own [Dominus Superbiae] allowed me to bypass the typical Soul Core Skill Limit, as those Dominus-named abilities were far too large for any other core to handle. The safety mechanisms within their cores rejected any attempt to install a copy, but my own core had no such restriction. This meant I alone possessed all three of these monstrous skills, though I was still waiting for the chance to add Steez's [Dominus Desidiae] to the collection, as its installation was incomplete.
Steez's situation was a bit more complicated. His Sonata Core was fundamentally incompatible with his V-Skill [Storm Sage: Susanoo]. I'd been theorizing this for a while now: Sonata Cores were intrinsically tied to V-Skills with a "Star" designation in their title. Without that connection, the core and skill couldn't fully integrate. It annoyed him, but he didn't sweat it too much. Instead, I did. As Crest Leader, I had the ability to modify skills and arts through the [Crest Link], a perk I was more than willing to exploit once I had my Lord Seed. In the meantime, my clones handled the endless swarms of enemies, allowing me the mental bandwidth to explore these theories in greater detail. It was a delicate balancing act, managing the chaos of battle while unraveling the mysteries of our power, but it was what I did best.
Endless waves of enemies continued to pour from every direction, the sound of battle becoming an ever-present symphony. The clash of steel, the hum of mana, the guttural growls of the undead—it all blurred into a single cacophony. My hands moved on instinct, blade and spell tearing through anything in my path. Yet, even as insanity threatened to creep in, I felt a strange sense of exhilaration. This was our trial, our crucible, and with every enemy that fell, we grew stronger. The labyrinth threw everything it had at us, and still, we endured. It would take more than endless hordes and spectral horrors to break us.
Thanks to the relentless efficiency of our clones, we established a makeshift mobile camp just behind the frontlines. It wasn't anything fancy—barebones, really—but it gave the others a chance to catch their breath, rest, and handle basic needs like using the restroom. At first, we ran into the problem of food. Endless combat drained their stamina, and rations didn't last long. That's when I started relying on [Transmutation], crafting elaborate feasts from raw mana. Plates of roasted meat, fluffy bread, and hearty stews materialized from my skill. Everyone loved it at first—until one day, they didn't need it anymore. That's when we all unlocked [Self Sustain], a game-changer of a skill.
With [Self Sustain], the need to eat, sleep, piss, or even breathe disappeared. Our bodies converted mana into the energy we needed to survive. Even their sleep cycles dropped to zero. The Wolfpak stopped sleeping entirely, which meant we could leap back into the fight at any moment without missing a beat. Sure, it was a little freaky at first—living without the basics we'd always relied on—but the freedom it gave us was worth it.
I found myself taking point on the frontline more often than not, holding it solo while the others recharged their MP. It was second nature to me by now. My two Yin Mana clones flanked me like silent sentinels, guarding the endless hallway of Jerrica's Labyrinth. The undead came in droves, but we carved through them like they were nothing. I didn't mind the routine—if anything, it gave me time to think.
One day, as I made my way back to camp to check on everyone, I spotted Luda leaning against the cold stone wall. He had his grimoire in hand, its pristine white cover catching the flickering torchlight. The embossed symbol of a lone woman holding up a radiant sun gleamed faintly. Below that, the celestial script of "Veni, Vedi, Vici" was more legible now than ever, like the book itself had grown stronger alongside him. I hadn't seen him mess with the grimoire in days, maybe weeks. We'd been so caught up in the rhythm of slaying the undead that I thought he'd forgotten about it.
Yet there he was, bathed in layers of spiritons and magitons, his body steadily absorbing the magical energy radiating from the grimoire. His eyes were closed, signaling he was in his mind-space. Curious, I decided to wait for him to snap back to reality. It didn't take long. His eyes fluttered open, blinking rapidly as he reoriented himself.
"Yo, Xi," Luda greeted, straightening up. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting on you," I said, smirking. My gaze shifted to the grimoire. "So... that Bible. You finally crack it, or are you just looking busy?"
He chuckled. "You don't waste any time, do you?"
"You get a new skill?"
"Yeah," he nodded, holding the grimoire closer. "I picked up [Spirit Weapon: Meridian Goddess] and some kind of Soul Contract Ritual. It feels like something alive is waiting inside this thing, Xi. But I can't bring her out yet. It's like she's sizing me up, waiting for me to prove myself."
I raised an eyebrow. "So these Bibles are behind gaining a Guardian Armament? That means you're getting your own Luna to fight with, soon."
"Right," he replied, flipping the book shut. "But according to the voice I heard, my Mana Pool isn't big enough yet."
"The stronger the spirit, the more MP they burn through," I explained. "You've gotta make them submit to you, too."
Luda cocked his head. "Like the cat demon back at Goblin Cave?"
I grinned. "I have three, actually. I've got an incomplete Guardian Armament with two Spirit Weapon animas waiting for seals. I should probably handle that soon."
Luda pushed himself off the wall and strode to the center of the hallway. With his hand outstretched, he closed his eyes, trying to gather spiritual energy. Nothing happened. He opened his eyes, frustration creeping into his expression, then tried again. This went on for several minutes—each attempt as fruitless as the last.
Watching him struggle, I couldn't help but remember how natural it felt for me to summon the Red Queen. Even when she was Mikazuki, calling her felt as instinctive as breathing. But clearly, the process wasn't the same for everyone.
"What am I doing wrong?" Luda finally asked, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"That depends," I said, crossing my arms. "How are you trying to call the energy?"
"The same way I summon my weapons," he replied.
I shook my head. "That's probably your issue. Guardian Armaments and Spirit Weapons don't work like that. Try using [Soul Domination] as a base and pull from your Soul Core instead of mana frequencies."
He frowned in thought, then nodded. "Strange… I never would've thought to approach it that way."
Stretching out his hand again, Luda exhaled slowly. This time, spiritons began to coalesce around his palm. Gradually, they formed the handle of a massive double-bladed greataxe. The weapon's twin blades shimmered, each one etched with an eclipsed sun symbol at the bridge.
The fan axe radiated a ferocious energy, its presence almost overwhelming. Luda gripped it tightly and gave it a few experimental swings. It moved effortlessly in his hands, slicing through the air with a low hum of power.
"How does she feel?" I asked.
"Great," he said, his grin wide and genuine. "Feels like it's a part of me. Way different from my [Mana Weapon Summon]."
"Well," I said, smirking, "once she gets her soul, you'll unlock her abilities. That's when shit gets really interesting."
"I can't wait," he replied, excitement lighting up his face. "Thanks for the help, Xi."
"No prob," I said, nodding.
Luda's smile was pure, full of excitement and newfound confidence. He was finally seeing the growth he'd been chasing for so long. Watching my brothers evolve like this filled me with pride. Artamis had been crafting ammo that could devastate spiritual beings and honing his hand-to-hand combat with [Kinetic Manipulation]. Steez was working on his speed and defensive skills, pushing himself to be untouchable in a fight. And Alex, with his Sonata Core awakened, was a completely new Tengu. His boost in power had unlocked a confidence he didn't have before, and now he walked with a cocky smirk like he owned the place.
As for me, I enjoyed being a witness to their progress. It fueled my drive to keep expanding my arsenal of skills and arts. I wanted more power, not just for myself but for them. I had to grow, to push past the limits of my body. Being stuck at my current ceiling? It was maddening. I had to do something about it.
Five Month-Cycles later on Gaia...
Day 723[2] in Jerrica's Labyrinth
Strangely, after two years of the same routine, the more Soul Essence we collected, the more refreshed we started to feel. It wasn't just a fleeting sensation—it was as if our bodies and minds were rejuvenated with every orb absorbed. The undead hordes pressed against us relentlessly, yet each kill brought a wave of revitalization. My mana felt fuller, my strikes sharper, my stamina unyielding. It was like tapping into an endless reserve of vitality. We fought continuously for 720 Gaian Days—that's five Earth years—but to us, it felt as fleeting as the blink of an eye. The passage of time blurred into an abstract concept. Without [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] marking the days and hours in my mind, I wouldn't have known how much time had slipped away.
The labyrinth teemed with undead artists. These creatures could cast Mana Arts and Combat Arts but lacked the capacity to wield skills. The absence of a Soul Core rendered them incapable of skill activation. It fascinated me, really. Skills were so deeply tied to the Soul Core—the anchor of one's mana and abilities—that even these resilient husks, brimming with mana, couldn't access them. Basic fireballs sizzled past us, pointy earth spikes jutted upward in predictable patterns, and the occasional crackling lightning bolt lit the dim corridors. It was uninspired, almost like watching toddlers scribble with crayons. Still, every now and then, amidst the sea of 312 million undead we obliterated, something new would emerge. An art or spell would catch my eye, and I'd commit it to memory, just in case. But those moments were rare, mere gems in a vast desert of mediocrity.
What truly captivated my attention was the labyrinth itself—specifically, the spells reinforcing its structure. The walls and ceilings were impervious to damage, protected by a sophisticated spellwork of [Absolute Mana Cancel] and [Absolute Damage Negation]. These two opposing forces were intricately interwoven into a barrier layering style that felt oddly familiar. The protection was so robust that Artamis could fire off his Nuclear Mana Arts without worry of collapsing the entire place, unlike that one time in the Goblin Cave. The power behind the labyrinth's design was awe-inspiring. Whoever created it must have been an unparalleled force in their time. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to fight them. On some real nigga shit, I needed to see what their hands were about.
As we fought through the last year, I experimented a lot. My maximum mana output remained capped, but I discovered new ways to amplify the potency of my spells. Using Mana Arts was like singing the hook of a song I could never forget—intuitive, rhythmic, and natural. But mana, like nature, followed a familiar set of rules. By "boiling" the mana within my body, I created a steam-like effect of converted magitons that released more energy, much like a spiritual magick kettle. This technique exponentially boosted the power of my attacks. It was based on the principles behind nuclear energy. The skill [Neutrino Rush] operated on this very mechanic, boiling the energy within to unleash devastating force. It was breathtaking to witness and even more exhilarating to wield. The sheer magnitude of power that could be generated from something so fundamentally simple was astonishing. But I digress.
"It's hard to believe you when you say you can't get any stronger," Alex said, his tone lined with disbelief as he cut down a group of undead with a wide arc of his blade.
"What you mean?" I asked, releasing a concentrated beam of light from my extended palm.
The energy seared through the crowd of undead, carving a gaping hole in their ranks. The explosion that followed rumbled through the corridor, scattering bone fragments and ash. It was almost comedic how desensitized we had become to the constant fighting. The zombies were nothing more than gnats to us now, a minor inconvenience at best. I hardly needed to focus anymore; it was as automatic as scratching an itch.
Alex shook his head, watching the aftermath of my attack. "I don't know. It's hard to explain, but your arts, movements, and swordsmanship keep breaking their previous limits. How the hell are you breaking the rules of life?"
I smirked, wiping the ash off my blade with a flick. "Cause, fuck them rules. Tell life I'll do what I want."
Alex stared at me, the corners of his lips twitching with the ghost of a smile. Ultimately, he just shook his head, muttering something under his breath about how I rarely made sense without multiple explanations and mnemonic crystal projections. That's just how it was with me. I did what I wanted, no matter when and where. And nothing would stop me.
Many of the labyrinth's corners gave us no choice but to press forward, offering only one or two hallways that quickly led back to dead ends. There was rarely a reason to scout ahead—we'd learned early on that whatever lay in wait would find its way to us soon enough. Kilometer after kilometer, we pressed deeper into the endless abyss, leaving piles of rotting bodies in our wake. The stench was something else, a rank concoction of decaying flesh mixed with the pungent sweat of non-stop combat. If it hadn't been for the bathing spell I conjured, we would've smelled like straight ass. Even then, that spell couldn't erase the persistent aroma of slaughter that seemed to cling to our very souls, a cologne of death we carried like a curse.
Finally, after cutting through what felt like the last wave of undead, we stumbled into a circular chamber with no exit. The air shifted, cooler and less stagnant than before, but the oppressive silence told us this room wasn't the end. It was something else. As soon as we entered, the walls behind us were sealed shut with an audible clang. We were trapped.
"What now?" Artamis asked, his tone as deadpan as ever.
"Who pressed a button?" I replied, scanning the room.
"That's bright," Luda muttered, shielding his eyes from an unknown source of light.
"There was a button?" Alex looked around, genuinely confused.
The chamber we found ourselves in was unlike anything we had encountered before. Gone were the grim, gray stones and dimly lit halls of the labyrinth. In their place stood a breathtaking marble temple that made me feel like we had just wandered into the home of a god. The walls gleamed with ivory and silver, their surfaces etched with intricate designs that seemed to shift and shimmer as if alive. Pillars encircled the space, rising to support a domed ceiling that reminded me of some ancient Greek palace, complete with flowing patterns of vines and celestial symbols. The air smelled cleaner, almost sweet, and a faint breeze carried the sound of running water.
A circular platform floated 15 meters above a crystal-clear moat that encircled the room. The sunlight streaming in from above caught the rippling water, scattering brilliant patterns across the ceiling. My eyes burned from the sudden brightness; after so long in the darkness, the light was almost offensive. And yet, it was a beautiful drop. If only we had some bitches.
"Where's this water coming from?" Steez asked, his voice laced with skepticism as he crouched near the edge of the moat.
"There's daylight here," Luda said, blinking up at the sunlit ceiling.
"I already miss the darkness," I muttered, squinting against the unfamiliar glow.
At the center of the platform, a podium stood solitary, housing a single glass orb that pulsed faintly with light. It gave off an otherworldly hum that resonated in my chest as we approached, like a distant heartbeat calling out. The stirring began almost immediately. A strange pressure rose in my chest, subtle at first, like the faint discomfort of a hiccup that won't come out. But it grew heavier with each step, the tremendous amount of Soul Essence we'd gathered resurfacing all at once. It felt like a burp you didn't want to release but couldn't hold back either. I tried to brush it off as nothing and reached out, placing my palm on the orb.
"This is pretty cool looking," I said, appreciating its craftsmanship.
The instant my hand made contact, the orb flared to life. A surge of mana poured into it, draining from me faster than I could react. The pulsing light raced down the podium's length, illuminating the entire room in waves of blinding brilliance.
The voice of the Prime Realm System echoed in my mind.
«Trial of the Thriller complete. Converting collected Soul Essence into Lord Seed. Analyzing. Requirements for Pure Lord Seed met. Upgrading conversion.»
The orb's light expanded in waves, enveloping us in a cascading brilliance. It felt like being submerged in pure energy, every fiber of my being vibrating with raw power.
"We completed it?"
I asked aloud, watching as spirit energy and Ether began to burn around me. My body shimmered with a white and silver aura that felt oddly familiar, its warmth spreading through me like a second skin. I looked down at my glowing form and grinned. I knew exactly what was happening—this was the beginning of my evolution.
"You're about to evolve, Xi?" Steez asked, his expression a mix of excitement and curiosity.
"Yeah," I said, nodding toward the orb. "Touch it, everyone."
They didn't need to be told twice. One by one, each of them slapped their hands on the orb, triggering their own transformations. The room filled with a symphony of mana bursts and Ether resonances, each of them glowing with their own unique auras.
"Perfect. I gained a Pure Lord Seed," Luda said, flexing his fingers as though testing out newfound strength.
"Smooth, I did too!" Alex exclaimed, his aura swirling with azure Ether particles.
"Gang gang. Got mine," Steez added with a laugh, his body radiating a smoky blue glow.
"What about you, Art?" I asked, glancing at my brother.
He shook his head, his usual calm demeanor unshaken. "Nah, I just got a Lord Seed. I don't want a pure one."
"Whut you mean you don't want one?" I asked, confused by his response.
"I'm not here for all that power, Xi. I got other things I want to do instead of fighting all my life," he said, his tone resolute. His gaze fixed on the orb as if it held answers he didn't want.
"Ughh. Sure, lil' brother," I replied, rolling my eyes but understanding his choice.
Artamis had never been as hungry for battle as the rest of us. He preferred peace, crafting weapons, and ending fights as efficiently as possible. He had the potential to match Steez and me in raw power, but his laid-back nature kept him from chasing it. I figured the only way he'd ever reach his true potential would be if something—or—someone pushed him there. That's how our family worked; passion was our fuel for growth.
The air in the room grew dense as Ether particles thickened, swirling around us in waves. Each of us pulsed with newfound energy, and the space seemed to vibrate with our combined power. Then it happened. A ripple shot through me, starting at my core and radiating outward. It wasn't painful, but it was jarring enough to snatch my consciousness away.
Before I could process what was happening, everything faded into a midnight abyss. My mind was weightless, floating in a sea of darkness. No thoughts, no sounds, just the infinite void. And yet, I felt ready.
[End of Chapter]
[1] Year 1.
[2] Year 5.