Chapter 11 - Clearing The Labyrinth

After the dinner with Clara, Cale felt a sense of anticipation mingled with nerves. He had meticulously prepared for this moment. Donning his leather armor and securing the sword Alvara had entrusted him with by his side, he felt a reassuring weight against his hip. The bag slung over his shoulder was spacious enough to accommodate healing potions, food, and water. "I'm going to be gone for a whole week; this is the only chance to go out into the world and take the artifact on my list. It's not that far away from here. Let's check the list again before I move."

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ITEM LIST

ITEM NAME: Fragment of the unknown/Soul Bound

ITEM RANK: UNKNOWN Description: Fragment of the unknown is a rare game item, obtainable only through special events. This shard contains the essence of legendary creatures, granting the player incredible powers.

- Dragon Essence: Unleashes the power of dragons, allowing the player to breathe the element of the dragon and harness immense strength.

- Phoenix Essence: Grants the player immortality, allowing them to rise from the ashes upon defeat. The cooldown duration of Phoenix immortality decreases as the player levels up, allowing for more frequent use.

- Ophanim Essence: Bestows the ability to teleport instantly to any location, along with the skill of possessing an all-seeing eye, revealing hidden secrets and enemies.

And any other Creatures.

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ITEM NAME: Mask Veil of Illusion

ITEM RANK: UNIQUE

Description: The Veil of Illusion is a mask of unparalleled deception, capable of shrouding your true identity with a facade of your choosing. Crafted with intricate bone face construction, it seamlessly melds with your features, creating an illusion so convincing, it feels like your genuine face. However, its power comes with a caveat: to maintain the facade, you must meticulously memorize every nuance of the chosen visage, from the subtlest expression to the slightest twitch. Only then can you navigate the delicate dance of deception, concealing your true intentions behind the mask's captivating guise.

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ITEM NAME: Ascension Stone

ITEM RANK: UNIQUE

Description: The Ascension Stone is a consumable item that breaks any limit, granting temporary transcendence to its user. Whether physical, mental, or spiritual, it enables individuals to surpass previous boundaries and reach unprecedented levels of power, knowledge, and enlightenment. Its fleeting effects make it a sought-after treasure among Players.

This tree is the most important item I need to find. I can obtain a lot of A-E rank items while passing every challenge to obtain this. I already explained about the Fragment of the Unknown. The Veil of Illusion is used by the game's main character to change his face, but he can still obtain a different item from his shop, even if it's of a lower rank. The game's main character used the Ascension Stone to break the limit of his pet because in the game, the main character is already limitless.

*** As the clock struck midnight, urgency gripped Cale's heart. Time was of the essence as he urgently sought the hidden passage that would grant him escape. With every passing second, the risk of detection heightened, fueling his need for haste.

Stepping out of his chamber, Cale's keen eyes scanned the darkened hallway, vigilant for any signs of movement. With each silent step, he moved like a shadow, his footsteps barely audible against the polished floors.

Descending the grand staircase, every creak of the aged wood felt like a thunderous roar in the silence of the night. Cale's pulse quickened with each step, his senses heightened as he strained to detect anyone.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of stealthy navigation, Cale reached the place where the hidden passage was, revealing a dead-end brick wall. Pushing multiple bricks in a pattern, the wall began to reveal a passage with stairs leading underground. As he slipped into the darkness of the passage, a sense of triumph mingled with the lingering tension of his daring escape.

***

After 10 minutes of walking underground, I finally arrived at where the MC is going to fall. I noticed it because I'm just walking looking for it in-game. The reason why the MC fell is that he's the one leading the way while running; he didn't notice the nearly collapsed floor and fell to the entrance of the underground labyrinth.

I take a large rock nearby and throw it to the nearly collapsed floor. After the rock contacts the floor, it collapses, revealing darkness. The game didn't say how deep the ground is. MC survived, so I should too, right? Hesitating for a minute, I finally jump.

"Awahhhhh!"

"Ugh!" With a groan, I cursed to the ground. "F*ck, my butt hurts. Ughh, f*ck, I thought I was going to die there." Looking around while cursing, all I need to do now is look for a labyrinth entrance.

Struggling to stand, I shake off the dust from my clothes and armor while holding the sword Alvara gave me. After checking for any injuries, I start to move while looking around. I see the walls adorned with drawings of multiple people bowing to a floating figure. I don't understand a single thing; maybe it's a god or something.

Walking for 15 minutes, I finally arrive in front of a large, majestic, golden gate. If I enter, I don't know if the plan is going to be useful in the game. I already know what traps and monsters I'm going to encounter, but this is not a game anymore. I came here 9 years early, so I don't know if my knowledge is still valid. I just need to be careful and not depend on my plan and knowledge. Clearing my doubts, I push the gate with all my strength, and it opens enough for me to fit through. After that, I enter.

***

Stepping inside the labyrinth, a long hallway stretches out in front of me. If the game's rules still apply, then I already know what to do.

The hallway stretches ahead, its walls lined with rows of glowing stones placed side by side. Each stone emits a soft, ethereal light, casting a gentle glow that illuminates the passage. The walls themselves are made of ancient, weathered stone, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols of forgotten lore. The air is cool and musty, carrying with it a sense of age and mystery. As I move forward, the soft light from the glowing stones dances across the floor, creating shifting patterns of shadows that seem to whisper secrets of the labyrinth's past. As I cautiously proceed down the long hallway, I keep a keen eye out for anything that might trigger traps. Each step is deliberate, every movement calculated to avoid potential danger. My senses are heightened, attuned to any signs of danger lurking in the shadows. With each passing moment, the tension mounts as I navigate the labyrinth.

***

After 30 minutes of jumping, crouching, and dodging, I arrived at a stairway leading down. As I walked down, I already know that it's just the start. After I arrive down there, the real start to the labyrinth challenge begins. The labyrinth has 10 floors. Floor 1 is that trap I passed just now. If someone who doesn't have the knowledge I have, they would already die. Only skilled or experienced veterans can pass that. And floor 2 is thereal start, where I'll be fighting undead. After clearing floors 2 to 10, I can obtain all kinds of different random rewards in-game, so I don't know what reward I can get. But the rewards from floors 9 to 10 are the most valuable. Floor 9 rewards the number 2 Mask Veil of Illusion ranked second on my list of priorities. 10 rewards the Fragment of the Unknown where I can obtain As for the Ascension Stone, its location lay elsewhere, perhaps a two-day journey from my current position that why i need the Mask Veil to not get unwanted attention