"Hey Axel, I know you're not gonna like this, but I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY need to go away for a while. Those damn cops are kinda on my ass right now, and I've got too much on me to go on the run. So I stashed some stuff in the basement in a hurry. Could you help me sort out the mess down there? Pretty please?
Love,
Unc."
---
"Haaaaaah… What a drag…"
A young man in his twenties, with disheveled dark hair and an unassuming look, sighed in exasperation. Tossing the letter on the table, he grabbed a lighter and burned it to ash before trudging toward the basement.
The young man, Axel, lived a rather mundane life—well, aside from having an uncle who made his living as a thief. Though Axel scraped by with part-time jobs, his earnings barely kept him above the poverty line. Ever since his parents passed away from illness, Axel had been alone, save for occasional visits from his uncle. These visits, however, weren't exactly heartwarming family reunions—they were more about hiding stolen goods or dodging the cops.
Still, Axel didn't mind too much. His uncle often gave him a share of the loot as a thank-you for his "help." Today seemed like it would be just another routine cleanup of his uncle's stashed junk.
But then...
---
Rumble... Rumble...
"Huh, let's see... Old coin, bronze staff, weird painting… Did Unc rob a museum this time or something?"
Rumble... Rumble...
While sorting through the stash of artifacts, Axel's gaze fell on something glowing in one of the piles. It emitted a soft, otherworldly light, its surface shimmering like liquid glass. There was something unsettlingly pragmatic about it, as though it didn't belong in this world.
"Huh? What's this glowing ball? It looks... strange. Is this some kind of rare crystal?"
---
[Ding!]
"Whoa!"
[System rebooting... Reboot complete. Binding host...]
"What the fuck!?" Axel yelped, dropping the glowing orb. "U-Unbind! UNBIND HOST THIS INSTANT!"
[Host request processing... Request denied. Binding process shall be permanent...]
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
[Binding complete. System restarting...]
'Just what the hell have I gotten myself into…?'
[System start...]
[Ding!]
A neutral, androgynous voice echoed in Axel's mind, neither feminine nor masculine in tone.
[Greetings, Master Axel Thorn. Thank you for binding to the Labyrinth Nexus System. You will now begin the initiation process to become a Labyrinth Master. Do you have any questions before we proceed?]
---
"Haaaaah… Fine, let's start with this: Can I undo this crap? I didn't sign up for any of this."
[My apologies, Master Axel. It is impossible to undo the binding. The core has chosen you as its wielder to become a Labyrinth Master.]
"Great. Just great. What even is this core? And why was I chosen? Also, what's this initiation process supposed to be!?"
[The core is the glowing sphere you were holding—it is also known as the Labyrinth Nexus. It serves as the power source of your labyrinth, allowing you to upgrade, reinforce, and gather resources for your domain.
As for why you were chosen, each core has unique standards for selecting its master. Something within you must have appealed to it.
The initiation process is a series of trials designed to test your wit and strength. Failure to complete these trials will result in deprivation of the system and severe penalties, such as memory loss, brain death, or vegetative states.]
"Of course there are penalties…" Axel groaned. "Alright, fine, I get it. Guess I don't have a choice, huh?"
---
Axel paused, rubbing his temples.
"Say… You're a system, right? So, do you do all those 'golden finger' things, like in the novels?"
[Apologies, Master Axel. I am unfamiliar with the term 'golden finger.' As a system, I provide detailed status reports, mission notifications, rewards, and other functions to assist you in your role as a Labyrinth Master. The initiation process will begin shortly. You may ask one final question.]
---
"Alright, then. What does being a Labyrinth Master actually mean?"
[A Labyrinth Master wields control over a mystical dungeon through the Labyrinth Nexus, shaping its layout, summoning monsters, and setting deadly traps to challenge intruders. They empower their dungeon and minions, manipulate space, and grow their domain through collected resources. A Labyrinth Master thrives as both creator and defender of their ever-evolving labyrinth.]
[Initiation process beginning... Creating portal to the world of Aetherium...]
---
"Huh? Portal? To where!?" Axel froze. "No one said anything about getting transported to another world!"
[Portal created. Portal stabilized. Transportation begins in 5… 4… 3…]
"Haaaaah… What a greaaaat fucking day…"
[Transportation initiated. Good luck, Master Axel. See you on the other side.]
---
With a flash of brilliant light, Axel was enveloped in an otherworldly glow.
And so began his journey as a Labyrinth Master, in a world he had never asked to be a part of.