Adam knew he had to move swiftly to survive the ever-changing labyrinth. Without hesitation, he left the group behind, his footsteps echoing through the empty corridors.
As Adam departed, Arin called out, "Wait for us too!" Adam turned back, his expression unyielding. "I have no interest in going with you." With that, he turned and disappeared into the fog.
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Kaide sneered, "Let him die here, alone. We don't need someone who doesn't want to work together." Eli's gaze lingered on Adam's disappearing figure, her expression thoughtful. Arin's eyes narrowed, sensing Adam's determination. The group remained silent, each lost in their thoughts, before continuing their own journey.
Adam pressed on, his senses heightened. He noticed the maze walls shifting and reforming, creating new pathways and sealing off others. The walls seemed to melt and reassemble, like a living entity. Every few minutes, the layout changed, forcing Adam to adapt.
As he navigated the twisting corridors, Adam's visibility was limited by the dense fog. He opened his Mana Eyes, scanning the area for potential threats. The fog swirled, revealing glimpses of the maze's layout. Adam's Mana Eyes detected no immediate dangers, but he remained cautious.
Suddenly, the wall ahead began to shift, its sections sliding apart to reveal a narrow gap. Adam sprinted toward the opening, his armor weighing him down. He realized the magic armor was hindering his movement.
"I can absorb kinetic energy," Adam thought. "Why not the armor's magic?" Focusing his mind, Adam activated his Kinetic Enigma skill, absorbing the mana infused in the armor.
Adam felt a surge of relief as his Kinetic Enigma skill absorbed the magical armor's mana. The weight distributing evenly, the armor transformed into regular gear.
[Magical Armor lost its property of increasing weight]
[Host equipped with normal Armor]
[Host mana increased by 10 points]
Adam's mana now stood at 310 points. He utilized the extra mana to boost his speed, temporarily increasing his agility by 3 points.
[Host agility increased temporarily by 3 points]
With renewed swiftness, Adam sprinted toward the corridor's end, avoiding being trapped by the shifting walls. He glanced back, awestruck, as the wall sealed behind him.
The corridor's transformation was breathtaking. The once-open passage now ended in a solid, cold-gray wall. The surface was smooth, devoid of any markings or seams. It was as if the wall had always been there.
Adam turned to face the unknown, and his eyes widened in dismay. The maze's walls had transformed into a dizzying array of mirrors, reflecting infinite iterations of himself. Every direction seemed identical, making it impossible to discern a clear path.
The mirror maze stretched out before him like a labyrinthine hall of reflections. Each mirror seemed to ripple and distort, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Adam's sense of direction dissolved, leaving him disoriented.
Cautiously, Adam advanced, his hand extended to detect mirrors ahead. Each step was deliberate, as he sought to avoid collisions.
Upon encountering a mirror, Adam would glance left, then right, searching for an opening. His patience paid off when he discovered a narrow path on the right.
Adam proceeded down the path, his Mana Eyes scanning the surroundings. However, the mirrors interfered with his ability, blocking his usually keen senses.
"Mana Eyes unable to penetrate mirror maze," Adam realized, frustrated.
As he ventured deeper, Adam spotted a concentrated mana emanating from the floor ahead. The energy pulsed, like a beacon calling to him.
Adam's Mana Eyes detected a concentrated mana signature ahead, signaling a potential trap. A plan formed in his mind. He picked up a nearby rock and tossed it onto the suspicious floor section.
Instantly, pointed spikes burst forth, impaling the rock with deadly precision. The spikes retracted, leaving the rock shattered and smoldering.
"The spikes would have skewered me if I hadn't activated Mana Eyes," Adam thought, grateful for his narrow escape.
He decided to keep his Mana Eyes active, ensuring timely warnings of impending dangers. With increased speed, Adam sprinted forward, leaping over the trap.
As he landed, a sharp spoke burst from the mirror wall on his right. Adam's pre-activated Mana Eyes alerted him to the threat. He sprinted forward, narrowly avoiding the spoke's deadly path.
Adam maintained caution, scrutinizing the walls and floor for hidden dangers. His rapid pace proved beneficial, allowing him to evade traps.
However, his speed nearly proved disastrous when he collided with a mirror wall ahead. The impact shattered the glass, revealing a plain stone wall behind.
The broken mirror revealed a secret: the maze's mirrors concealed hidden paths.
Inspired, Adam gathered rocks and devised a strategy. He hurled the rocks ahead, using them to detect mirrors.
If a rock passed through unimpeded, Adam knew the path was clear. If it hit a mirror, the shattering glass would reveal the correct direction.
With his rock-based radar, Adam navigated the mirror maze, avoiding deadly traps.
Finally, Adam reached the maze's end, exhaling in relief.
"Damn, this is getting serious," he muttered, glancing back at the treacherous path.
Adam pondered, "How much time has passed?" He mentally commanded, "Mission status."
__________________________________________
System Update:
[Time Remaining: 2 hours 49 minutes]
[Host Health: 800/800]
[Mana: 240/500]
[Task Progress: 22%]
__________________________________________
"Only this much time has passed?" Adam thought. "I don't have much time to rest since my match ended with Gannet, and I haven't even checked my reward."
Adam mentally commanded, "Status window."
__________________________________________
Name: Adam Bak
Level: 5
Health: 800/800
Mana Points: 80/500
Experience: 0/500
Attributes
Strength: 13
Agility: 14
Intelligence: 15
Endurance: 11
Luck: 3
Unassigned Stat Points: 12
Skills
Kinetic Enigma (Legendary)
Mana Eyes (Unique)
Learning (default)
__________________________________________
Adam whispered to himself, "Six unassigned stat points and a new skill...what's with the default 'Learning' skill?"
Adam's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of shifting walls. The maze was changing again.
Adam tuned out the maze's shifting sounds and focused on the "Learning" skill. He clicked on it, and a detailed explanation appeared:
__________________________________________
Skill: Learning (Default)
Explanation: This skill enables the host to analyze the mechanisms behind magical items and spells, facilitating mastery. The system stores information, alleviating mental burden.
Summary: Accelerated learning capacity; instant comprehension of written documents, magical theories, and complex mechanisms.
__________________________________________
"That's the greatest cheat anyone has!" Adam exclaimed, eyes widening in awe.
The Learning skill's potential was staggering. Adam envisioned mastering ancient tomes, deciphering arcane spells, and reverse-engineering mystical artifacts with ease.
"Now, how should I distribute my 6 stat points?" Adam pondered aloud.
Before he could deliberate, a dark silhouette descended from above, striking Adam with an eerie, unsettling feeling.
A black shadowy figure swooped down, its presence seeming to darken the air around Adam.
Adam's instincts screamed warning as the shadow attacked.
__________________________________________
System Alert:
[Host under attack!]
[Unknown entity detected]
[Entity Classification: Shadowborn]
[Entity Strength: Unknown]
[Recommended Action: Defend]
__________________________________________