In the Great Flame Kingdom's royal palace
Infernus (speaking to a commander): "Is the army ready?"
Commander: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Infernus: "Excellent. You may go."
Rin (slowly opening his eyes, in a tired voice): "Infernus…"
Infernus (hearing him, sitting beside him): "Rin! Are you okay? How do you feel now?"
Rin (forcing a smile): "Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Infernus (gently stroking his head, tears flowing like a waterfall, voice trembling with emotion): "That's… really good."
Rin (hugging Infernus, softly smoothing his hair): "I told you—I'm fine. I won't die so easily."
Infernus, eyes drying, now serious:
Rin: "Right. Where's Yui? Is she okay?"
Infernus: "Yes, she's fine. She's waiting for you in the infirmary."
Rin rose, leaning heavily on Infernus—unable to walk without support.
Rin: "Thank you, Infernus."
Infernus: "No thanks needed. I'll always help you!"
---
Elsewhere, on level 51 of the labyrinth
Ryo, Zalarosa, and Hinazaki Rika walked side by side, searching for the exit.
Ryo: "Hinazaki…"
Hinazaki Rika: "What is it?"
Ryo: "How long have we been here?"
Hinazaki: "I don't know. What about you, Zalarosa?"
Zalarosa: "Hmm… maybe a few days… or weeks?"
Ryo sighed in resignation: "Apparently, none of us know how long we've been trapped."
System: "The two girls have been in the labyrinth for ten years, while you—just three days."
Ryo: "Oh… thanks, System."
System: "You're welcome!"
Ryo: "Wait, System—I didn't ask this—why is my right eye golden and my left one glowing purple?"
System: "The golden eye is the Eternal Eye; the left is the Hazuki Eye. They remain active even without your activation—they are permanent skills."
Ryo: "Ah… Got it. It bothered me. At least I can see peoples' auras and read their minds—don't know exactly how they look though!"
System: "You fool—just close your right eye and leave the left one open."
Ryo: "You're right!"
Ryo tore a strip from his clothing and tied it over his right eye. Immediately, his vision normalized—he could see people's forms again, and he could't read thoughts.
Ryo: "This is what I wanted—finally!"
Ryo (thinking): "Wait… if I can now control the labyrinth… let me test it."
He raised his hand and visualized the structure. Instantly, the labyrinth shifted, walls rearranging themselves.
Zalarosa (astonished): "What's happening?!"
The maze reconfigured continuously until—suddenly—the exit stood before them.
Hinazaki Rika: "Look… the exit!!!"
Zalarosa and Rika dashed forward and escaped. Ryo remained inside.
Zalarosa: "Ryo? Aren't you coming?"
Ryo: "No. My goal returning here is to free you—and to train."
Rika: "Understood. Are you sure you don't want to come?"
Ryo: "Yes… I am."
Zalarosa tightened her grip on her weapon: "Very well—I'll stay too."
Ryo smiled. Just as Zalarosa was about to step through the exit, Ryo closed it.
Hinazaki Rika: "Let's go, Zalarosa. He clearly wants to focus on training."
Zalarosa (worried): "Alright. Let's go."
---
Inside the labyrinth
Ryo: "Okay—System, let's begin training. What techniques and abilities have I acquired?"
System: "Sword Techniques: 7th Poem – Zaraka the Death Cutter; 6th Poem – Yuichira the World Breaker; 1st Poem – Zanhakarto Master of Worlds; – Last Poem – Black Moon Cutter; 4th Poem – Zanokatra the Eternal Burner."
System: "Skills: Hazuki Left Eye; Eternal Right Eye; Soul Eye Regan; Probability Eye; Immortality Eye; each eye serves its name. Probability Eye shows possible outcomes; Immortality Eye grants undying status. Soul Eye functions as known. You also have "Continental Will" & "Continental Dominion," Flight, Shape-shifting, Control Thread, Endless Field.
Magic: Earth, Nature, Water, Fire + branches: Ice, Flame, Iron, Fusion, Lightning. You do NOT yet have Moon, Sun, or Void Magic."
Ryo: "So… that's all I have?"
System: "Yes. Also, your Kagu-tsuchi sword can now transform into a humanoid form and fight alongside you. You also have the "Labyrinth" and "Lucius" skills—these allow you to create things from your imagination."
Ryo: "Understood. And Hazuki eye—have all its pulses opened?"
System: "Hazuki Eye Pulse 1: Gravity (open); Pulse 2: Time (open); Pulse 3–10: locked."
Ryo: "Got it! Anything else?"
System: "If you faint, Auto-Battle Mode will activate and I'll control your body."
Ryo: "All right—let's start!"
---
Training begins
Ryo rushed through the labyrinth, hunting for monsters—and soon found powerful foes.
Ryo: "Hazuki Pulse 1: Gravity!"
He activated it. A mini black hole—smaller than an atom—emerged from his palm, sucking in monsters and their souls. They vanished entirely; even time forgot them.
Ryo: "That's one deadly skill!"
He wiped them out in an instant.
Seeking a real challenge, he encountered the labyrinth's boss—a beast radiating an intense aura and pressure.
Ryo: "Finally… a worthy opponent!"
He dashed forward, leapt, drew his sword, and descended like a meteor—severing the creature's arm.
The beast roared and attacked Ryo, cornering him.
Ryo: "Sword Technique – Last Poem – Black Moon!"
Darkness fell—light and color vanished. A twenty-meter circle formed around Ryo. He stood center, gripping a grotesque, eerie sword glowing ominously.
The monster froze in horror. Dozens of spirits emerged around Ryo and infiltrated the beast, driving it mad.
Seconds later, Ryo's chilling song echoed—describing death as the monster hallucinated horrific visions.
One minute passed, and Ryo's form shifted into a skeleton draped in a black cloak—still wielding that terrifying sword.
He sliced the beast slowly so it felt every agonizing moment, while his melodic dirge sang of its death.
Then the blade turned red-hot, molten. The monster roared in unbearable pain. Ryo sheathed the sword, which morphed into a scythe. With one sweeping strike, he cleaved both body and soul in two.
Even after death, a final mind-shredding Black Moon portal opened—like a monstrous mouth—swallowing the beast's spirit. Flames burned, and its spirit's screams filled the air.
Then the field dissipated. Everything returned to normal.
Ryo (looking at his sword in shock): "That technique… truly horrifying. I doubt I'll ever use it again."
He continued training for days.
---
Two days later
Ryo sat meditatively in the labyrinth. His eyes were closed; he was attempting to hide all energy and erase his physical presence—yet his body remained.
Eventually he opened his eyes—exhausted, nearly empty of energy—and said:
Ryo: "Alright… time to go back."
---
To be continued…