(Yoo before we begin the story i would like to give a Big shout out to Dallas242 For being our newest patreon member. A cool monster I must say. And really appreciate all the support from everyone. My college has also began so i wont be able to post daily but i will try to post a chaps as soon as possible and minimum of one chapter a week. Alright lets continue.)
We soared above the clouds in perfect formation—Zalario floating calmly on my right, Karlos on my left, carrying Reinhart like a travel bag with legs, dangling helplessly. The sky was serene, golden rays glinting off our figures as we cut through the open air.
Zalario turned his head slightly toward me."So, Velsun… where exactly are we heading?"
I kept my gaze ahead, a confident glint in my eyes."We're going to Ramiris' Labyrinth."
That name hit like a thunderclap.
Zalario's eyes narrowed in surprise, while Karlos' brows furrowed deeply, his pupils dilating.("Ramiris… the Spirit Queen?") His grip on Reinhart tightened unconsciously.
Meanwhile, the ever-curious Reinhart blinked, tilting his head like a puzzled student. "Who's Ramiris?"
This time, Karlos answered, his voice firm but edged with wariness."She is the Queen of Spirits… ruler of all elementals. One of the strongest entities in this world. If I weren't with Lord Velsun, I would never want to face her—ever."
Reinhart's eyes widened, shock washing over him.
Zalario added in his calm, stoic tone,"Indeed. She is ancient, a direct friend of our Creator God—Lord Veldanava, your elder brother, Velsun."
I smiled at that, my eyes reflecting the sun."Just know this, Reinhart…" I said quietly, yet my words were like a mountain's weight."If Ramiris and I were to ever fight… even I don't know if I'd win."
That shattered Reinhart's composure. His face drained of all color, eyes staring ahead blankly.
Inside his mind, he always saw me as inevitable—the summit. Nothing stood above me. And now I had casually admitted there was someone I wasn't even confident of defeating?
("What kind of monster is this Ramiris…?") he thought in silence.
In truth, I was honest. I didn't know the full extent of her power. Back in my past life, buried in forum posts and fantasy novels, people always spoke of Prime Ramiris as something terrifying—an existence too powerful and as old as Veldanava himself.
And now, we were flying right into the mouth of her labyrinth.
"Hang tight, Reinhart," I muttered with a smirk, watching the land shift beneath us. "Your destiny's about to change forever."
After a few minutes of flight, the scenery beneath us shifted dramatically. Towering trees gave way to an eerie, ancient forest cloaked in an unnatural mist. The ground below shimmered faintly with layers of protective magic. And then, as if hidden between dimensions, a massive stone archway emerged from the foliage—a cracked monument etched with glowing runes.
We had arrived.
The Entrance to Ramiris' Labyrinth.
We slowed our flight and gently descended. Karlos landed first, finally setting Reinhart down. The high human stumbled slightly, brushing off his clothes with what little dignity he could muster.
I stepped forward and placed my hand on the ancient stone door.It pulsed with ethereal energy.
"This is it…" I murmured. "The Labyrinth of the Spirit Queen."
Zalario scanned the surroundings cautiously."There's a vast barrier here. Ancient… spiritual in nature. A defensive mechanism. She definitely doesn't want visitors unless they're expected."
I nodded."Mimir, notify Ramiris of our presence."
Mimir's voice echoed in my mind almost immediately. "Aye lad. Already done. She'll open the gate for you… now."
As the words left his mouth, the runes on the archway glowed gold. The heavy doors rumbled, and with a loud creaaak, they slowly opened inward. A wave of dense magic and spiritual pressure flooded out, enough to make Reinhart drop to one knee instinctively.
Karlos and Zalario remained unfazed, used to such forces.
"Tch…" Reinhart gritted his teeth, pushing himself up with sheer will. "This… is what it means to be one of the strongest?"
I placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled."Get used to it. You'll be bathing in power soon enough."
With that, I took the first step forward, crossing the threshold.
The labyrinth awaited.
We stepped into the labyrinth, and immediately the atmosphere shifted. The air was thick with ancient magic, humming like a living entity. The paths branched out endlessly in every direction—stone corridors, shimmering portals, shifting walls—each one deliberately designed to confuse and disorient.
I narrowed my eyes.
"No shortcuts," I said aloud. "We're not using magic sense or detection skills. Let's solve this properly."
Zalario and Karlos looked at me, then gave small nods. Reinhart, meanwhile, was already trying to memorize the twists and turns like a soldier planning a battle. Smart, but naive.
We walked.
And walked.
And walked.
Every path led to another. Every turn looked the same. Even time began to feel distorted. After a full hour of this game, I let out a slow breath and smiled—but it wasn't a happy smile.
"Alright," I muttered, "enough of this."
A ripple spread from my feet.
I released a flicker of my True Dragon Haki.
Not much. Just a little.
But even that was enough to shake the entire floor of the labyrinth. The stone walls groaned. The torches on the walls flickered violently. Magic flared like it was being smothered by the weight of divine authority.
Karlos and Zalario stood firm.
Reinhart, though—he dropped to one knee again, gritting his teeth, his body soaked in sweat.
"Now," I said softly, still smiling, "it's a little rude to make guests wander endlessly in circles, don't you think?"
A sudden gust of wind answered me, and then—
Fwoosh—!
The corridor before us was suddenly filled with glowing beings—dozens of them. Some no larger than my hand, others as tall as Reinhart. Ethereal and radiant, their forms shimmered like candlelight in water.
Elemental spirits.
Most were lesser spirits—wind, earth, fire, and water types—but a few greater elementals hovered at the center, their magic strong and refined. They looked nervous.
One of them stepped forward—a greater wind spirit with long, flowing tendrils of breeze for hair.
"Forgive our Queen, Lord Velsun," it said in a delicate voice that rippled like a breeze through the grass. "She… prefers not to meet anyone directly unless she deems them worthy."
I raised an eyebrow. "Worthy, huh? I suppose I'll play along—"
"—But don't test my patience again."
The spirits flinched.
Zalario just crossed his arms, amused. Karlos chuckled softly.
Reinhart stood up slowly, still rattled but firm. "Spirits... This pressure… this power… it's a different realm entirely," he muttered.
The greater wind spirit bowed again.
"We were sent to observe and test your resolve. But… you've passed. The Queen is now aware and will grant you access to the Heart of the Labyrinth."
The ground shifted.
The walls began to glow with runes—guiding lines that slowly carved a clear path through the maze.
"Follow the path. She awaits."
I gave a nod.
"Good. Let's not keep her waiting then."
As we walked deeper into the labyrinth, following the rune-lit path, a sudden shift in the air stopped me in my tracks.
Flashes of gold and crimson.
Dozens of light and fire elemental spirits emerged from the walls and air itself, surrounding me—not in hostility, but in reverence. They shimmered brightly, bathing the corridor in warmth and radiance.
Then, in a synchronized motion, they all bowed mid-air, their bodies pulsing with respectful energy.
A greater spirit of light with a serene, almost angelic presence stepped forward. Her form was humanoid, composed of condensed light, eyes glowing like twin stars.
"We beg your forgiveness, Lord Velsun," she said, voice soft and radiant. "We wished to approach you sooner, but were bound by Lady Ramiris' orders."
"Indeed, please forgive us!" added a towering greater fire spirit, his body flickering like a pillar of golden flame. "We longed to bask in your presence, but could not disobey her."
I blinked in surprise.
"It's alright," I replied, a bit puzzled. "But… why the special treatment? Why only from light and fire spirits? Meanwhile, that greater spirit of darkness back there—"
I gestured with my chin toward the back, where a shadowy, horned spirit hovered behind the others—watching me intently, its expression bordering on fear, disdain… or awe.
"That one looks at me like I'm some kind of monster or… garbage."
The light spirit hesitated. Then she gave a reverent smile.
"Because, Lord Velsun… you are the True Dragon of the Sun."
"The sun," the fire spirit added, "is the source of both our elements. It brings warmth, flame, and illumination. To us, you are not just a powerful being—you are our patron deity. The one our very essence was born from."
For a moment, I was silent.
Then I gave a quiet, stunned chuckle. "I see…" I looked at my palm, watching a flicker of solar energy pulse gently within. "So that's why…"
It made sense now. My Divine Dragon of the Sun nature wasn't just a title—it carried divine authority over domains I hadn't fully explored yet. Light, fire, even warmth—these spirits were innately drawn to me, bound to revere me.
As for the darkness spirit, I could feel its trembling aura. I met its gaze.
"I'm not your enemy," I said calmly. "But you don't need to bow either. I won't harm a spirit that hasn't wronged me."
The greater darkness spirit gave a stiff nod—uncertain, but slowly relaxing its aura.
Zalario whistled low under his breath. "You're basically their god, and you didn't even realize it, huh?"
Karlos smirked. "The day I'm surprised by Lord Velsun is the day I stop being shocked altogether."
Reinhart just looked between the spirits and me, overwhelmed. "Is there any limit to what you are…?" he muttered, voice hushed.
I turned toward the path again, the spirits respectfully parting to make way.
"Let's keep going. Ramiris is waiting… and I have a hero to awaken."
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