Chapter 37: The Living Labyrinth
Eren emerged into darkness, the portal depositing him onto cold, uneven stone. As his eyes adjusted, faint blue lights flickered to life along the walls, illuminating an intricate labyrinth stretching endlessly in every direction. The walls were smooth and metallic, their surfaces etched with glowing runes that pulsed like a heartbeat.
System Interface Activated
Floor 18: The Living Labyrinth
• Objective: Locate the Core of the Maze and activate the key mechanism.
• Hazards: Dynamic paths, maze guardians, limited visibility.
Eren's gaze darted to the runes as they shifted, their glowing patterns forming symbols that didn't stay still long enough to decipher. The labyrinth wasn't just a maze—it was alive.
"Dynamic paths," he muttered. "Great. Just what I needed."
He reached for his scanner, recently upgraded in the Phantom Gate, and powered it on. The device emitted a soft hum as it attempted to map the labyrinth. The screen displayed shifting lines that blurred and redrew themselves every few seconds, struggling to keep up with the maze's constant changes.
"Looks like I'm on my own for this one."
The Maze Changes
Eren started cautiously, marking the walls with a small piece of chalk as he progressed. The blue lights above him dimmed and brightened sporadically, casting eerie shadows. Every few minutes, a low rumble echoed through the maze as the walls rearranged themselves.
At one point, he encountered a dead end where his chalk markings suddenly reappeared—clear evidence he'd been redirected back to a path he'd already taken. He grit his teeth, realizing that conventional navigation wouldn't work here.
System Update
Hint Unlocked: "Follow the rhythm of the runes."
Eren stopped and focused on the pulsing runes. They emitted faint vibrations, their patterns forming a cadence. He closed his eyes, trying to tune into the rhythm. When he opened them, the runes seemed to guide his gaze, pointing him toward an unassuming corridor he'd missed before.
"This better work," he muttered, stepping into the new path.
The Guardians Awaken
As he delved deeper, the maze's hostility revealed itself. A chilling growl echoed behind him, followed by the sound of heavy, metallic footsteps. Eren turned to see a towering construct emerge from the shadows. It resembled a suit of armor, but its joints glowed with the same runes as the walls, and its steps resonated with the maze's rhythm.
System Interface Update
Entity Identified: Labyrinth Guardian
• Threat Level: High
• Weakness: Disrupt the maze's rhythm to destabilize the guardian.
Eren activated his energy blade, the hum of its coil contrasting sharply with the rhythmic vibrations of the maze. The guardian advanced, its massive arm swinging a glowing halberd. Eren dodged, narrowly avoiding the weapon's devastating arc, and countered with a strike to its exposed joints.
The blow landed but didn't slow the guardian. Its rune-covered form pulsed angrily, the runes on the walls intensifying in response.
"Disrupt the rhythm," Eren thought, eyeing the environment. The guardian was connected to the maze, and the maze was connected to the runes.
A plan formed quickly. He reached into his pack and pulled out a small frequency disruptor he'd built during a previous floor. He activated it, adjusting the dials until the hum it emitted clashed with the maze's cadence.
The effect was immediate. The guardian staggered, its glowing runes flickering erratically. Eren seized the opportunity, lunging forward and plunging his blade into its core. The guardian collapsed in a heap of metallic fragments, its energy dissipating into the walls.
The Core
The maze seemed to react to the guardian's defeat. The walls shifted again, but this time the movement felt intentional, like a path was being cleared for him. Eren followed the new route, which led him to a massive chamber at the heart of the labyrinth.
In the center of the room stood the Core of the Maze—a large, crystalline structure that pulsed with light and energy. Surrounding it were three pedestal-like mechanisms, each with a series of dials and switches.
System Interface Update
Core Mechanism Identified
• Objective: Synchronize the dials to stabilize the labyrinth's energy flow.
Eren approached the first pedestal, studying the symbols engraved on its surface. They mirrored the runes he'd seen throughout the maze. As he turned the dials, the Core reacted, its light shifting from blue to green.
He moved to the second pedestal, repeating the process. However, as he worked, the maze began to quake violently. The system interface flashed a warning.
Warning: Energy Overload Imminent. Guardians Reinitializing.
Eren cursed under his breath, quickening his pace. The third pedestal proved trickier than the others, its dials resisting his movements. Behind him, the sound of metallic footsteps grew louder as multiple guardians closed in.
"Almost there…"
He forced the final dial into place. The Core surged with energy, its light stabilizing into a steady green glow. The quaking stopped, and the guardians froze mid-step before crumbling into inert fragments.
System Interface Update
Floor 18 Cleared
Reward: Labyrinth Key – Unlocks hidden pathways on future floors.
Eren retrieved the key, a small metallic artifact shaped like an intricate puzzle piece. He pocketed it and turned toward the newly revealed exit, a spiral staircase descending into darkness.
As he stepped onto the staircase, the labyrinth began to fade, its runes dimming until only silence remained.
Eren tightened his grip on the Labyrinth Key. Each floor was more challenging than the last, but with every victory, he felt himself growing stronger—and more determined to uncover the Tower's secrets.
Love anyone who read this if you want we can have a conversation you can ask me any question about any story and I will answer honestly because by this point not even my friend thinks this story will succeed.
-Gachadevildog