After about two hours, Yue's scolding came to an end. Once more she prefaced that there would be things to talk about once they exit the dredged labyrinth. One being the reason behind her unnatural activity, and the other Tio's new found relationship with Ivan.
Two completely polarizing points in seriousness but things they'd need to talk about either way.
Now that they were all reunited there was no point in waiting around. Apparently a new passage had opened beneath the tree centered in Yue's arena. It would've been a timesaver if she had saved her scolding for along the way but there were no points in regretting what they couldn't change.
And thus the group began another journey. There were no traps, no psychological attacks, no enemies, for the first time since entering the dungeon they could truly relax.
Well… as much as one could relax when traversing a narrow and icy tunnel, one which the average mortal would freeze into a statue-like state if they were to step foot in.
While the others were playing Ivan took his time processing the state of Yue. Even in the face of the others' antics her smile seemed just a bit too hollow. She'd respond to the inquiry of others half-heartedly. 'What revelation could have driven her to this state?'
Ivan mused for a bit, considering the severity of the situation it should be something related to before they met. And the only touchy subject he could think of was the betrayal of her vassals.
As even in the past when he asked about her life before they met she would always be inclined to refuse. Stating she'd rather not trudge in the past and live her life forevermore as 'Yue'.
The conditions in which she had been sealed were quite peculiar. Ivan didn't know how close Yue was with her uncle but there was a great chance she trusted him to the degree of letting him know the extension of her regenerative powers.
That being the one weakness it had, the fact that she was unable to regenerate should she be completely drained of her mana. A feat possible considering Yue herself said that regenerating is a process that heavily consumes mana.
'So why did her uncle not finish her off…?' If he truly intended to pull a coup d'etat over Yue then leaving her alive was no different than keeping a bomb in his cellar. Though he supposed that was the point.
'He didn't want to kill her…' Ivan sighed, if that were the case then things were truly complicated. Even if Yue was locked in the dungeon for a reason such as to protect her then why did he go so far as to make her hate him? Why would her uncle go as far as to kill her dozens of times and create an uprising within her empire?
The answer was obvious, he simply did it because he wanted to hide his inventions. Something or someone was watching him, something or someone was trying to use his precious niece for likely nefarious deeds.
'In order to come to a reliable conclusion I must await Yue's words.' He turned to his compatriot who had locked herself around his arm.
Noticing his stare she looked up at him, smiling faintly before nodding. 'All in due time', her eyes seemed to say. For some reason Ivan wanted to pinch her cheeks for giving him such a cheesy look.
Her word was enough to him, they seemed to be reaching the end of the labyrinth anyways. After another hour of walking the group found themselves at the end of the tunnel they had been traversing.
They met a wall of solid ice, engraved in its center was a heptagon-shaped crest. Ivan came to the conclusion that it was the symbol of the liberator who had made this labyrinth. As the labyrinth before had all imprinted a crest near the end as well.
As they approached the crest illuminated with a white light before swallowing the wall it stood on with it. Ivan approached that wall of light carefully, his fingers rippling off of it as the light rippled like water.
"Another teleportation door huh… Though I'm quite optimistic about this. That crest on the wall was a good sign for things to come anyway. But just in case, allow us to enter with tempered expectations. I am expecting the end but also the beginning of new bullshit…"
With a nod the group gathered up behind him. As Ivan said there was a good chance this was the end of the labyrinth. The last trial seemed fitting and only now did they see a crest, that was usually the routine of the other labyrinths.
Sure the journey was brutal but the creator of the labyrinth didn't seem malicious enough to bait them through false hopes. In fact the architect seemed to be quite serious about their trials, everything except the ice skaters at least. Those seemed more like a suggestion of Miledi than anything…
"Off we go~!" With extra spring in his step Ivan marched forward, being consumed by the wall of light, And behind him a conga line of attractive and cute ladies.
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The light faded and the group was met with a new sight, Their relief at having not been separated only lasted seconds before they laid eyes on the land that had likely not been stepped on for centuries.
Cylinder pillars of ice supported the icy ceiling above them, the expansive room they were in was enough to fit about 500 or so other people. And standing in the middle of the rink of ice was none other than a mansion made of ice.
Unlike other areas in the labyrinth this new zone had water that wasn't frozen, bubbling on its surface suggesting a heat source nearby. Miniature islands darted the mansion in a circular pattern, each teeming with icy greens and dark spruce trees.
Apart from that were murals and sculptures of ice. No doubt this was the lair for the deceased Vander Schnee.
The group only took a minute or so before they snapped out of their stupor. Other than what was mentioned before there was nothing else to be observed within the room. It's only building being the mansion that stood at its center.
A miniature sun stood in the sky, completely identical to that of the one illuminating Oscar's lair. For as much as Oscar went on about how the two disliked each other, there was no denying there stood friendship in that relationship.
'Otherwise their lairs wouldn't be nearly as identical~!' That's right, Schnee's lair seemed to be an exact copy of Oscar's, only instead of luscious green and thriving life his lair was a beautiful cold and quiet sanctuary full of arts.
CLANK!
It took some effort to open the steel-iced doors, centuries of unuse seemed to have taken their toll on them.
But immediately the group was met with another sight. Only several meters away from the front doors was a magic circle identical in shape and size to the one found before Oscar's body.
"So this is it huh… the final magic circle… the final ancient magic…" In order to proceed into the mansion one needed to walk through the array. Which meant allowing it to scan their brain and bestowing them the last ancient magic.
Well, for Yue and Ivan it'd be the last one they needed, the others would need to backtrack a bit and clear the others for a full set. Something Ivan intended on having them do as the chance was too valuable to pass up.
"Let us go… one more step…" The group linked arms, and together they took one step forward.
And then—
'ARRGGHH!"
"GYYYAAHH!"
Pain racked Ivan and Yue's mind like 50 megatons of TNT.
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It's ridiculously hot in my room! Like why!? Why is it hotter in the night than it is the day?! In any case allow me to make my exit quickly. My legs are burning. Four more days till AX, I'm excited yet nervous, it being my first expo and all.
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