Everyone had gathered inside the central meeting chamber of the labyrinth—the usual ones, of course. Veldora, Ramiris, Myourmiles, and a few key officials from Eterna's management council. The air was filled with an uneasy tension.
"You were so slow, Atem!" Ramiris shouted, fluttering her wings irritably.
"Yeah," Veldora added with a smirk, "you're the captain, remember? You should be the first one here!"
I arched a brow, my expression stern but composed. "Captain, huh? That's new," I replied, my voice low yet commanding. "But let's put titles aside for now. Report—what's the current situation?"
Ramiris immediately pointed at the glowing crystal display before her, panic visible in her every movement. "It's gotten really bad! They've already reached Floor Thirty-Eight!"
The crystal's light brightened, and a miniature projection appeared above the table—tiny spectral figures marching through the labyrinth's halls. The holographic detail was immaculate. Ramiris' ability to visualize real-time events inside her domain was impressive, even by my standards.
Still, I wanted a clearer picture. "Solarys," I murmured within my mind, "can we get a full analysis of their progress?"
«Suggestion: If permission to interface with Ramiris' Intrinsic Skill 'Labyrinth Creation' is granted, enhanced intelligence gathering will be possible.»
I nodded faintly. "That's rare for you to suggest something, Solarys. Very well. Let's see what happens."
"Ramiris," I said aloud, turning toward her. "I want to request access to your skill—'Labyrinth Creation.' Will you allow me to interfere with it?"
Ramiris blinked. "Interfere? What do you mean interfere? What are you trying to do?"
"Simply put," I said, leaning forward slightly, my tone calm but heavy with authority, "I want to pull every layer of information from within it. The labyrinth is your creation—but its structure now belongs to Eterna. I need full access."
Ramiris tilted her head, confusion still clouding her expression. "You mean… all the information in there? That's a lot! Even I delete most of it because it's too much to handle."
She wasn't exaggerating. The labyrinth housed over a thousand challengers at any given time, endless items scattered across every level, and hundreds of beings living within its lower depths. The sheer flood of data would overwhelm almost anyone.
But not me.
«Confirmation: No issue detected. Full data integration possible.»
Solarys' voice resonated through me like a calm wave of light.
I smiled faintly. "No problem."
"No problem?" Ramiris frowned. "You sound like you don't even believe that yourself."
Before I could respond, Veldora cut in with his usual booming laugh. "Oh, come on, Ramiris! Just hand it over to Atem. He's not going to break it. If anyone can handle that much information, it's him!"
Ramiris hesitated for a moment, then sighed in defeat. "Fine! I'll give Atem the access to interfere with my 'Labyrinth Creation'!"
She floated closer and tapped her tiny hand against my chest, glowing symbols linking between us. Instantly, I felt the connection snap into place.
«Report: Connection established with the Intrinsic Skill 'Labyrinth Creation' of individual 'Ramiris.'
Commencing deep data extraction.»
In the next instant, a surge of information poured into my mind like an unending storm—images, readings, movement data, mana flow—all of it rushing into me. But my body did not falter. Solarys guided the flow like a divine hand, organizing everything effortlessly.
«Report: Analysis complete. Captain of team 'Green Rebellion' possesses strength exceeding rank A. Remaining members display power consistent with prior assessments. Additional data streams now being processed.»
As expected, Solarys never failed. But it didn't stop there.
«Notice: Expanding scan to include all active combatants within the labyrinth. Processing at full speed.»
I could sense her working—rapidly, flawlessly. I didn't interrupt. She was doing exactly what I needed.
"I see," I said quietly.
Ramiris blinked at me. "See what, Atem?"
Veldora chuckled. "That was fast. Did you already crash from information overload?"
I ignored his jab. Ramiris, however, looked genuinely worried, her eyes darting nervously.
"I've identified the truth," I said with a confident grin. "Their captain… he's not just strong. He's beyond rank A."
I raised my hand, and the projection above the table flickered. The image transformed, enhanced by Solarys' calculations. The challengers' movements became sharper, their mana signatures visible like fiery auras in miniature.
"EH!?" Ramiris gasped. "H-How did you do that!? That's my skill! Even I can't show details like that!"
I crossed my arms. "When you granted me access, I learned how to use it instinctively."
"No way! I can only display what I've already observed!" she cried, flailing her arms.
"Then I'll just take it from here," I said coolly. "You've done enough, Ramiris. Leave the observation to me."
She huffed, muttering something about show-offs, but I ignored her. My attention returned to the moving figures on the display.
The captain of Green Rebellion stood at the center—his energy sharp, his body resonating with spirit power. "A spirit wielder," I murmured. "Not a simple adventurer. If he's concealing greater spirits, his power is far higher than we initially thought."
"So he's stronger than rank A monsters?" Ramiris asked.
"Yes," I said. "The Freedom Association's ranking system measures who can defeat what type of creature. But it doesn't account for real battle conditions—poison, terrain, exhaustion, coordination. Those things decide survival."
Masayuki, who had been quietly watching, raised a hesitant hand. "Then what about my team? How strong are we?"
I considered for a moment. "Jinrai barely reaches rank A. Strong, but not unbreakable. The Tempest Serpent would give him trouble if he faced it alone. But with the ogre squad beside him, it's manageable."
Veldora grinned. "Still, that poison mist of the serpent isn't something armor can block. One mistake and you're done for!"
I nodded. "Exactly. This isn't a game. Resistances determine life or death."
Myourmiles smirked proudly. "But Masayuki-sama's team balance is exceptional! That's why he's so beloved by the people—and recognized by Atem-sama himself!"
Masayuki looked both flattered and horrified. "Please don't make this weird!"
I continued, ignoring their exchange. "The problem is deeper. Not only is that captain powerful, but his right-hand man also registers as rank A. The Apostles of Verte are no common mercenaries—they're elite combatants trained for large-scale warfare."
Veldora folded his arms. "Impossible! Where did so many high-class warriors come from?"
"To me," I said with a hint of disdain, "they're still insignificant. But together, they're dangerous."
The others fell silent at my tone.
"If they continue like this," I said, "they'll reach the floor I personally prepared for intruders."
Ramiris paled. "Oh no… that's not good!"
Her reaction caught my attention. "Why?" I asked sharply.
Veldora and Ramiris exchanged uneasy looks, their confidence suddenly faltering.
"Is there something you two aren't telling me?" I pressed, my aura flaring slightly. The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop.
Finally, Ramiris turned back to me, biting her lip. "The thing is… during those three days you locked yourself away…"
She hesitated, her voice trembling.
"…something happened inside the labyrinth."
And as she spoke, I felt a slow ache form at the back of my mind—because from the tone in her voice, I knew whatever she was about to reveal was going to be troublesome.
Everyone was gathered inside the meeting chamber deep within the Labyrinth of Eterna. The atmosphere was heavy, tension thick enough to cut through. Ramiris floated in agitation above the table while Veldora lounged with his usual smug grin.
"The Holy Knight Order has begun their training," Ramiris reported, waving her small hands in frustration. "They started from Floor 51. Those floors are mine, you know! I filled them with my most devious traps!"
She conjured a series of holographic projections in the air—vivid 3D illusions showing the knights advancing. The images glowed softly, casting flickering light across the room.
Adalmann, the guardian of the sixtieth floor, had apparently gone all out. "He summoned entire hordes of undead," Ramiris said, trying to sound proud, but the look on her face betrayed disappointment. "There were corridors filled with endless undead spawns and even chambers without oxygen! Perfect for his army of corpses!"
Veldora chuckled, arms crossed. "Hmph! Quite creative, little one."
Ramiris's wings drooped. "Yeah… but all of it was useless! The Holy Knights purified everything! All my carefully planned undead waves—gone! The oxygen-free rooms—overcome! They just revived anyone who fell!"
Atem leaned back in his seat, his golden eyes sharp and calculating. His aura alone seemed to command silence. "They countered your traps perfectly. You did your part well, Ramiris." His tone carried quiet authority—calm, assured, but with an edge of command that made everyone listen. "Holy Knights are disciplined. Their magic and faith act as natural counters to death and decay."
Ramiris looked up, blinking, slightly comforted by his words. "Y-you think so?"
He nodded once. "But that only means we need to adapt. Every strategy has a weakness, even theirs."
Myourmiles adjusted his glasses, nodding. "The Holy Knights reached Floor 60 soon after. Adalmann fought well but… he was defeated."
Atem closed his eyes briefly, thoughtful. "He lost?"
"Badly," Ramiris admitted. "They purified his entire army. Poor guy was so frustrated afterward."
Atem sighed, standing up slowly. The motion drew everyone's attention immediately. His cape brushed against the stone floor as he crossed his arms. "He's strong, but he relies too much on the dead. Against those who wield holy light, that reliance is a weakness. I'll speak with him later."
Ramiris nodded quickly. "You should. He looked… really down about it."
Veldora groaned, his pride clearly wounded. "Hmph! That's not even the worst part. The Knights kept going—through my section next."
That caught Atem's interest. His sharp gaze flicked toward Veldora. "Your section?"
"Yes! Floors sixty-one through seventy! I made sure every inch was covered in lethal traps!" Veldora clenched his fist dramatically. "Sliding floors, invisible barriers, halls filled with light beams of death—it was magnificent!"
Ramiris crossed her arms, wings flapping in irritation. "And yet, they dodged everything!"
Atem raised an eyebrow. "Everything?"
"They evaded every trap!" Ramiris shouted, her tiny voice echoing. "Not even one caught them off guard!"
Veldora slammed his hand on the table. "Even my Elemental Colossus—a masterpiece—was destroyed!"
Atem's gaze sharpened. "Destroyed?"
Veldora puffed his chest. "Yes, but not before it crushed them once! It took all of them together to bring it down!"
Myourmiles interjected carefully, "Though… one of the Holy Knights said something afterward that might have… upset Hinata-sama."
Ramiris tilted her head. "Oh yeah, that part…"
Atem looked at them both, tone firm. "Speak."
"Well," Myourmiles continued, "after defeating the Colossus, a knight named Fritz remarked—'I bet even Hinata-sama wouldn't make it through this labyrinth.'"
Atem frowned slightly, his golden eyes narrowing. "A foolish challenge," he muttered. "They invoked her pride."
Veldora looked uneasy. "Indeed. Because of that, Hinata herself decided to take the challenge."
Atem turned his gaze toward him sharply. "She entered the Labyrinth?"
"Yes," Ramiris said, suddenly looking nervous. "And… that's the problem."
Atem's tone dropped an octave, serious and commanding. "Explain."
"Hinata made it to Floor 95."
The room fell silent. Even Veldora's smug grin froze.
Atem's expression didn't change, but the air in the room grew heavier. "Floor ninety-five… on her first day?"
Ramiris nodded frantically. "She started from Floor 61 and just kept going! She immobilized the Elemental Colossus instantly with her 'Disintegration' spell and moved straight through to Floor 80 without stopping!"
Veldora groaned and buried his face in his hands. "It was humiliating."
Atem's voice was calm, but each word carried weight. "And the guardian of Floor 80?"
"Zegion," Ramiris said softly. "But he was in a cocoon, evolving at the time. Apito tried to stop her, though."
Atem's eyes flicked upward, his aura flaring slightly. "Apito."
Ramiris nodded. "She fought Hinata directly. You should've seen it—it was like watching lightning itself! Apito's speed is unmatched among all monsters, but Hinata saw through every single move she made. She anticipated everything!"
Myourmiles adjusted his glasses again. "Hinata's precision was frightening, Atem-sama. She fought as if she had already studied Apito's every attack."
Veldora let out a low whistle. "She is a monster in human form."
Atem exhaled quietly, gaze fixed on the floating projection showing the knights' advance. "No. She's not a monster," he said, his voice calm but laced with something sharp—admiration, perhaps, or challenge. "She's a warrior who has sharpened her resolve to the edge of divinity."