Chapter 329 – Returns, Rewards, and Mocking Laughter
In the corridors leading to the exit of the first floor, the mood was not heroic songs, but sharpened sarcasm.
— Seriously, Valen, what's with these insane rewards? Did you bat your eyelashes at the System or something? Valor asked, glancing at the floating notifications.
Arelis, comfortably nestled in Valen's arms, replied calmly:
— You're the one who said you didn't want them. Why are you surprised now?
Valor straightened the collar of his coat, feigning absolute indifference.
— The Great Valor doesn't need trinkets to shine. I'm just saying, for once, the Labyrinth had the good taste to recognize my superiority. A decent compensation. But to say I *need* it…
— That must be it, Valen answered with a sly smile.
— Leave me alone! Valor snapped. I only said the items were incredible, not that I was going to sleep with them!
Ravna, walking at the front, her massive sword resealed, let out a muffled laugh.
— What's incredible is your narcissism. Is that a passive skill? Rank SSS in self-satisfaction.
— You're just stating the obvious, added Valen. He talks about himself in the third person. I'm sure Agniryos got sick of hearing "The Great Valor this," "The Great Valor that."
— Poor guy…, Elyonna murmured. He practically begged me to finish him off. Not because of the pain. Because of the radio station "Valor FM."
— Nonsense! roared Valor, his face slightly red. He was terrified of my power!
— If you'd seen his smile when he got vaporized, Ravna said, shaking her head. Relieved. Finally, silence.
---
### The Dungeon Exit
When they passed through the monumental gate of the first floor, the bustle of hunters hit them head-on. Some were preparing to enter, others cleaning their weapons, others loudly recounting their exploits.
The guard at the entrance, a veteran who had seen it all, checked their cards.
His hands trembled when he saw Valen's.
**Divine Hunter.**
Then Valor's.
**Rank S.**
And finally Ravna's.
**Rank S-.**
— Valen… the Divine Hunter…, he whispered, meeting the star-shaped pupils of the young man.
Valen calmly pulled up his hood and placed a finger on his lips.
The guard nodded, pale, and let them pass without a word.
Beside him, Valor's aura unfolded naturally, crushing, imperial. Other hunters stepped aside almost instinctively, as if an exiled king was crossing the crowd.
— Not my fault if I'm noticed, Valor said. The Great Valor radiates.
— Exactly, Valen replied. I try not to be.
---
### Eldric and the Children
Eldric and the children were waiting near a fountain.
As soon as they saw Ravna, the children leapt.
— Look! It's Uncle Great Valor! shouted Solan. We wanted to see how he was going to marble that walking torch Agniryos!
— Professor Eldric said it was too dangerous, Lyane pouted. But we knew Valor would win.
Their eyes turned to the hooded man carrying a child.
— Who's that? asked Kaor.
Valen lowered his hood.
— It's Valen! The strongest! the twins shouted in unison. Wait… is that your son in your arms?
Valen nearly choked.
— My son? Uh… not exactly. But you can see it that way.
Arelis jumped to the ground with almost royal grace.
— My name is Arelis. And since you're my "father's" friends, I have gifts for you.
Behind them, Valor thought: *If only they knew he's technically older than all of us combined…*
---
### Arelis's Gifts
Solan felt his mana explode in harmony.
— I feel… everything! Fire and water don't repel each other anymore! I can mix fire and ice without it blowing up!
Lyane saw her hands glow with a gentle light. Kaor's scratches vanished instantly.
— I can heal even divine curses? I'm a super-nurse!
Kaor observed the small black core in his palm.
— I can create from nothing… and it holds? I'm going to build the biggest cabin in the world!
---
### Eldric's Evolution — The Codex of Universal Memory
Eldric's grimoire began to levitate. Pages turned frantically, absorbing the Labyrinth's authority.
His book became: **The Codex of Universal Memory.**
**Ability:** It no longer contains only spells, but recordings. Eldric can copy a portion of observed reality and recreate a pedagogical version, faithful in nature, reduced in power.
**Authorization:** Eldric gains exclusive access to the Labyrinth's forbidden pedagogical zones.
— Incredible…, Eldric murmured. I'll be able to teach what even the ancient sages ignored… But you shouldn't have…
— Consider it tuition fees for putting up with Valor, Ravna said.
— Hey! protested Valor. I heard that!
Laughter erupted.
Arelis smiled. Valen pulled his hood back up.
And the Labyrinth observed. Silent.
Because the danger was no longer inside.
It walked freely on its surface.
Chapter 330 – Valor, Dervan, and the Strategic Exit
Valor crossed his arms with a theatrical air, chest puffed out as if about to step on stage.
— I think it's high time for the Great Valor to slip away… with Valen and Arelis.
He shot a sideways glance at Ravna.
— That old one.
— Hey?! protested Ravna.
The children, however, only caught one word.
— You're leaving already, Uncle Valor?! they said almost in unison.
Valor leaned slightly toward them, a confident smile plastered on his face.
— Don't worry. Next time we meet, the Great Valor will teach you how to massacre a monster…
He raised a finger.
— With style.
The children began bouncing as if they'd just won a legendary weapon for free.
— YEAH!!
Ravna slowly placed her hand on her face.
— Why… why will he never change…
— Careful, Valor corrected immediately.
— The Great Valor won't teach you weird spells or strange tricks. You already have competent teachers like Ravna and Eldric to guide you.
He straightened, serious for once.
— I'll teach you how to be sublime in combat.
A silence passed.
Then Ravna blinked.
— …Wait.
She stared at him.
— Did you… just say something nice about me?
Valen tilted his head.
— Serious question: is it legal to be this arrogant? We're talking clinical levels here.
— It's insane, added Elyonna. And I've seen plenty of bizarre cases.
They all burst out laughing.
— Enough, enough! growled Valor.
— You're overdoing it.
— You're right, admitted Valen with a smile.
— But honestly, I couldn't resist.
At that moment, the air shifted.
Something… weighed down.
Ravna frowned.
— …That presence…
She murmured, almost instinctively:
— Dervan.
Valor had already vanished.
A fraction of a second later, BAM.
A kick shot toward a silhouette that appeared behind them.
The figure calmly pulled a hand from his pocket… and blocked the strike with his arm.
The impact caused a brutal shockwave that made the ground tremble.
— Ohh~, Valor said with an intrigued smile.
They both stepped back.
Valor studied the man before him.
No aura.
No trace of mana.
He ran a hand through his hair, chuckling.
— So either you've got zero mana…
— Or you're so strong you're hiding it.
He gave a thumbs‑up.
— Like.
Then pointed at the ground.
— Dislike.
He smirked.
— Admit it. You've got no mana.
Without waiting for an answer, several water blades shot forward at the man.
He caught one bare‑handed… and used it to slice through the others as if they were ordinary swords.
The next instant, he was already behind Valor, blade pointed at his throat.
— Huh—?!
Valor instantly materialized a water sword, deflected the strike, and unleashed a monstrous gust of wind that hurled the man back, shattering his blade in the process.
Invisible slashes immediately tore into the silhouette.
— Heh~, Valor grinned.
But the man conjured a dark red blade… and cut through all the slashes in a single motion.
— Enough, you two, Valen said.
Before anyone could react, Solan ran and leapt onto the silhouette.
— UNCLE DERVAN!!
The man caught the child effortlessly.
— …Solan.
Eldric approached, relieved.
— Mister Dervan, what brings you here?
Dervan, still impassive, replied:
— Oris told me something might happen. He thought it best I follow you.
Valor immediately pointed at himself.
— Valor. Rank S mage. Black Eclipse Guild.
— Dervan. Rank S. Northern Pantheon Guild.
Valor blinked.
— Wait… Oris?
He spread his arms.
— The same Oris Agniryos wanted revenge on?
— I don't know, Dervan replied.
— As far as I know, there's only one Oris.
— …Okay.
Valen sighed.
— Well. Now everything's settled.
Dervan's eyes opened slightly, surprised, as he looked at Valen.
— Forgive the rudeness of this… good gentleman.
— What good gentleman? Valen replied.
— We're about the same age.
Ravna crossed her arms.
— Oris could have warned us too, you know.
— What if the children had been hurt?
— No need to yell at me, Dervan answered.
— It's not my fault.
— Wait until I get my hands on Oris, Ravna muttered.
Valor felt a bad premonition.
— Well!
He waved his hand.
— Until next time!
Before anyone could respond, Valen, Arelis in his arms, and Valor vanished.
— …He ran away? Elyonna asked.
— The Great Valor doesn't call that running, his voice echoed from afar.
— He calls it a stylish strategic exit.
Ravna sighed.
— …I hate him.
The children laughed.
---
⚡ Translation complete — this chapter introduces **Dervan** with a sharp clash against Valor, confirms Oris's shadowy involvement, and ends with Valor's trademark "strategic exit." It's a mix of tension, humor, and foreshadowing.
Would you like me to prepare a **timeline recap (328–331)** showing how each new arrival (Arelis, Valen, Dervan) shifts the balance of the saga?Here's the full translation of **Chapter 330 – Valor, Dervan, and the Strategic Exit** into English, with the clipped rhythm and playful irony preserved:
---
### Chapter 330 – Valor, Dervan, and the Strategic Exit
Valor crossed his arms with a theatrical air, chest puffed out as if about to step on stage.
— I think it's high time for the Great Valor to slip away… with Valen and Arelis.
He shot a sideways glance at Ravna.
— That old one.
— Hey?! protested Ravna.
The children, however, only caught one word.
— You're leaving already, Uncle Valor?! they said almost in unison.
Valor leaned slightly toward them, a confident smile plastered on his face.
— Don't worry. Next time we meet, the Great Valor will teach you how to massacre a monster…
He raised a finger.
— With style.
The children began bouncing as if they'd just won a legendary weapon for free.
— YEAH!!
Ravna slowly placed her hand on her face.
— Why… why will he never change…
— Careful, Valor corrected immediately.
— The Great Valor won't teach you weird spells or strange tricks. You already have competent teachers like Ravna and Eldric to guide you.
He straightened, serious for once.
— I'll teach you how to be sublime in combat.
A silence passed.
Then Ravna blinked.
— …Wait.
She stared at him.
— Did you… just say something nice about me?
Valen tilted his head.
— Serious question: is it legal to be this arrogant? We're talking clinical levels here.
— It's insane, added Elyonna. And I've seen plenty of bizarre cases.
They all burst out laughing.
— Enough, enough! growled Valor.
— You're overdoing it.
— You're right, admitted Valen with a smile.
— But honestly, I couldn't resist.
At that moment, the air shifted.
Something… weighed down.
Ravna frowned.
— …That presence…
She murmured, almost instinctively:
— Dervan.
Valor had already vanished.
A fraction of a second later, BAM.
A kick shot toward a silhouette that appeared behind them.
The figure calmly pulled a hand from his pocket… and blocked the strike with his arm.
The impact caused a brutal shockwave that made the ground tremble.
— Ohh~, Valor said with an intrigued smile.
They both stepped back.
Valor studied the man before him.
No aura.
No trace of mana.
He ran a hand through his hair, chuckling.
— So either you've got zero mana…
— Or you're so strong you're hiding it.
He gave a thumbs‑up.
— Like.
Then pointed at the ground.
— Dislike.
He smirked.
— Admit it. You've got no mana.
Without waiting for an answer, several water blades shot forward at the man.
He caught one bare‑handed… and used it to slice through the others as if they were ordinary swords.
The next instant, he was already behind Valor, blade pointed at his throat.
— Huh—?!
Valor instantly materialized a water sword, deflected the strike, and unleashed a monstrous gust of wind that hurled the man back, shattering his blade in the process.
Invisible slashes immediately tore into the silhouette.
— Heh~, Valor grinned.
But the man conjured a dark red blade… and cut through all the slashes in a single motion.
— Enough, you two, Valen said.
Before anyone could react, Solan ran and leapt onto the silhouette.
— UNCLE DERVAN!!
The man caught the child effortlessly.
— …Solan.
Eldric approached, relieved.
— Mister Dervan, what brings you here?
Dervan, still impassive, replied:
— Oris told me something might happen. He thought it best I follow you.
Valor immediately pointed at himself.
— Valor. Rank S mage. Black Eclipse Guild.
— Dervan. Rank S. Northern Pantheon Guild.
Valor blinked.
— Wait… Oris?
He spread his arms.
— The same Oris Agniryos wanted revenge on?
— I don't know, Dervan replied.
— As far as I know, there's only one Oris.
— …Okay.
Valen sighed.
— Well. Now everything's settled.
Dervan's eyes opened slightly, surprised, as he looked at Valen.
— Forgive the rudeness of this… good gentleman.
— What good gentleman? Valen replied.
— We're about the same age.
Ravna crossed her arms.
— Oris could have warned us too, you know.
— What if the children had been hurt?
— No need to yell at me, Dervan answered.
— It's not my fault.
— Wait until I get my hands on Oris, Ravna muttered.
Valor felt a bad premonition.
— Well!
He waved his hand.
— Until next time!
Before anyone could respond, Valen, Arelis in his arms, and Valor vanished.
— …He ran away? Elyonna asked.
— The Great Valor doesn't call that running, his voice echoed from afar.
— He calls it a stylish strategic exit.
Ravna sighed.
— …I hate him.
The children laughed.
Chapter 331 – Geniuses, Catastrophes, and Impossible Estimates
Ravna crossed her arms, still slightly tense after the… very theatrical… departure of certain individuals.
— Seriously… how can anyone be that immature?
She sighed deeply.
— For hunters of their rank, it's insane.
Eldric nodded, visibly torn between fatigue and amusement.
— Don't get me started. Sometimes I feel like I'm teaching demi‑gods… stuck in the bodies of hyperactive teenagers, with too much ego and not enough sleep.
Dervan, silent until now, studied Ravna more closely. His gaze lingered on her aura. It was different. Denser. More stable. More… affirmed.
— Your aura has changed, he said calmly.
He tilted his head slightly.
— Have you, by chance… reached Rank S?
Kaor's eyes widened.
— WHAT?!
He spun toward Ravna.
— Rank S?!
— Like… *the* Rank S?!
He stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.
— The teacher turned into a final boss?!
Solan crossed his arms, a calm smile on his lips.
— Honestly, I'm not even surprised.
He shrugged.
— She makes us run twenty kilometers before breakfast.
— Without mana, added Kaor.
Lyane timidly raised her hand, her eyes shining with admiration.
— When I grow up… I want to be like her.
Ravna froze for half a second.
— …
Then she looked away, slightly stiff.
— Don't say things like that out of nowhere… it's dangerous for my composure.
Dervan allowed himself a faint smile before turning to Eldric.
— You too have made enormous progress.
His gaze settled on Eldric's grimoire, which seemed almost… breathing, as if observing the conversation.
— With that tome, your rank is hard to estimate. A++… maybe higher.
Eldric blinked.
— A++?
He let out a nervous laugh.
— First time I've been graded without a written exam.
— To be honest, Dervan added, for you… I can't really decide.
He paused.
— Your power isn't raw. It's… conceptual.
Kaor frowned.
— What does that mean?
Solan answered immediately:
— It means if he copies you… we're all doomed.
Eldric paled slightly.
— I'd prefer we avoid that interpretation, thank you.
Dervan then looked at the children, thoughtful.
— This adventure… watching over these kids…
He nodded slowly.
— Seems it paid off.
Ravna smiled, a little proud despite herself.
— Honestly, my powers have become much more structured.
She thought for a moment.
— I've developed four major abilities, each with sub‑skills, specializations… it's gotten very serious.
She pointed at the children.
— And them too. Their abilities are much more structured now.
Dervan's eyes widened slightly.
— …Wow.
He inhaled slowly.
— That's absurd.
— Tell me about it, Ravna replied.
She pointed at Lyane.
— She's become a super nurse. Healing, purification, blessings… even curses some priests refuse to touch.
Lyane raised her arms enthusiastically.
— I can heal even when people scream really loud!
— That's… reassuring, Eldric murmured.
Ravna turned to Solan.
— Him, he can fuse his elements without any problem.
— Fire and ice, wind and lightning… no explosions, no backlash.
Solan smiled proudly.
— Once, I made steam that sang.
— …Excuse me? asked Dervan.
— Long story, said Ravna. Very damp.
Then she looked at Kaor.
— And him… he can create from nothing.
— Stable. Solid. Without collapse.
Kaor puffed out his chest.
— I've almost finished my cabin!
He thought.
— Well… it exploded twice, but that was on purpose.
— Of course, Eldric sighed.
Dervan studied them for a long time.
— Your abilities are… incredible.
— And still, Ravna replied, they're not even fully stabilized.
A silence passed.
Then Kaor raised his hand.
— So…
He hesitated.
— We're geniuses?
Ravna placed her hand on his head.
— No.
She pressed a little.
— You're well‑supervised catastrophes.
Solan smiled.
— That's almost a compliment.
Lyane nodded.
— I like it.
Dervan crossed his arms, thoughtful.
— If this keeps up… the world won't be able to keep up.
Eldric adjusted his glasses.
— That's why we're here.
Ravna sighed… then smiled.
— And unfortunately… that also includes dealing with arrogant idiots with too much ego.
— You mean Valor? asked Kaor.
— Who else? replied Ravna.
In the distance, somewhere, a sneeze echoed.
— …He must have felt a critique, Eldric murmured.
The children burst out laughing.
Chapter 332 – The Great Valor, Victim of Universal Jealousy
Valor suddenly furrowed his brows.
A grave furrow.
Solemn.
Far too serious for the situation.
— There is someone… speaking ill of the Great Valor.
Valen sighed without even lifting his eyes.
— Bless you.
— WHAT?! Valor cried out indignantly.
He pointed an accusing finger at Valen.
— I will resent you for eternity, Valen.
— …Again?
— Because of YOU, he continued dramatically, the Great Valor couldn't obtain new attacks.
Valen blinked.
— …What do you mean?
Valor turned to him, deeply offended.
— Because of YOU, I didn't get to see Agniryos use more techniques.
— And if I had seen them…
He paused.
— …I would have reproduced them.
He enunciated slowly:
— Re. Pro. Duce. Them.
Arelis, calmly nestled in Valen's arms, raised an eyebrow.
— So… you wanted my Labyrinth to be in meltdown?
He sighed, already tired.
— There exist attacks capable of annihilating worlds effortlessly.
— If Agniryos had used that here…
He looked at them calmly.
— And if I had been there to witness it…
— I would have eradicated you both.
Silence.
Then Valor burst out laughing.
— Keep talking.
— Never will an old man playing at being a child eradicate the Great Valor.
Arelis slowly turned his head toward him.
— …Who are you talking to like that?
Valor crossed his arms.
— From what I see, there's only one old man here playing at being a child.
— And strangely… it's you.
— Who else could it be?
Valen immediately raised his hand.
— Okay. Pause.
— Calm down, both of you.
He looked at Valor.
— And you, stop bothering Arelis.
Valor shrugged.
— Pff. Fine.
He turned away.
— Well. Let's continue toward the guild.
He took two steps…
Then stopped dead.
— Wait.
— I have something important to settle.
And he vanished.
A few seconds later—
— WHO DARED SPEAK ILL OF THE GREAT VALOR?!
Valor had appeared before Dervan, Ravna, Eldric, and the children, floating slightly above the ground, arms spread wide like a deity offended by the very existence of the world.
— Do you want me to burn you, or what?!
Solan calmly raised his hand.
— So, Uncle Valor…
— Was it you who sneezed earlier?
Valor's smile froze.
He slowly lifted his head…
Then began levitating even higher.
— You see me sneeze… me?
— ME?
He spread his arms.
— How can you imagine that a being so beautiful…
— so sublime…
— so perfect as the Great Valor…
He placed a hand on his chest.
— …could sneeze?
— Of course it wasn't me.
Kaor and Lyane looked at each other.
— Yet…
— We could have sworn it was you.
Ravna rubbed her face.
— …He's putting on his show again.
— It's truly insane.
Valor royally ignored them.
— Very well.
— The Great Valor will leave you.
He turned—
Then instantly reappeared before Valen.
— THE SUBLIME GREAT VALEN has returned among you.
Valen stared at him.
— You didn't settle anything, did you?
Valor smiled.
— I did.
— I reaffirmed my superiority.
— Mission accomplished.
Arelis sighed deeply.
— One day… this world will pay for letting you speak freely.
Valor placed a hand on his heart.
— The world should thank me.
In the distance, someone sneezed.
Everyone looked at Valor.
— …
— Still wasn't me.
Curtain. 😏🔥