Chapter 131 : To the Labyrinth (17)
Guardian of the Labyrinth.
It referred to a player chosen by the labyrinth, and once one beca a Guardian of the Labyrinth, the player's phantom would remain in the labyrinth to welco new visitors.
In Akiro's Labyrinth, the notorious man wearing a smiling mask was one of those Guardians of the Labyrinth and the mont one beca a Guardian of the Labyrinth, whether they liked it or not, the player beca a celebrity.
It ant becoming a so-called Nad.
At first glance, it might seem like it would only buy grudges from players and bring nothing good, but there were separate rits to be gained as a Guardian of the Labyrinth.
A phenonon occurring due to the distinct characteristics possessed by Akiro's Labyrinth.
Specifically, that the player acquires the experience points earned by the phantom active within the labyrinth.
From the player's perspective, it was essentially like having an avatar that perford automatic hunting for 24 hours a day.
That was why among the players of World of Justice Online, becoming a Guardian of the Labyrinth was often likened to winning a lottery.
It was a very good opportunity to secure fa and practical benefits in one go.
In fact, the man wearing a smiling mask was also a player of rely level 6 when he first beca a Guardian, but thanks to the rits of being a Guardian, he subsequently grew at a trendous speed and reached level 8 not long after.
Of course, for the explorers visiting the labyrinth, it would be the worst news since they would be looking at a phantom growing in real-ti, but that was none of my business.
‘One thing I am concerned about is my identity being discovered due to the phantom but…… I probably don't need to worry about that.’
Actually, I had also taken off the mask of the man wearing a smiling mask a few tis before, but every ti, the inside of the mask was empty.
I didn't know if the labyrinth itself was trying to protect the Guardian's identity or if it simply couldn't read the information inside the mask when the phantom was created.
Anyway, at least if I beca a Guardian while wearing a mask, there was no worry about my identity being exposed.
‘Added to that, the labyrinth breakthrough reward is also given additionally.’
As I recognized myself that I had beco a Guardian of the Labyrinth, the exit of the labyrinth's 5th floor appeared before my eyes.
One of the benefits given as a Guardian.
Akiro's Labyrinth was no longer a target for conquest to .
The fact that I had awakened as a Guardian myself ant the sa as becoming one who protects this law.
“Uh, uh-uh? What? What's going on all of a sudden? Wait, isn't that the exit?”
“You can consider it a sort of privilege given to the Guardian of the Law.”
“Hmm? What's that Guardian of the Law thing about?”
“To put it simply, you can think of it as a player chosen as a phantom in the labyrinth. The man wearing a smiling mask is also one of the Guardians.”
“Ah, you an a player-type NPC. I've heard of it. I heard that what he does is pure evil.”
“That's not wrong.”
I said.
“Let's get out now.”
“Is that really the exit? Is it just over if we leave like this?”
“Yes. If you leave, the 5th floor clear reward will be automatically provided.”
“Wow.”
Luna sighed deeply, perhaps only now realizing that it was finally over.
“Ugh, I'm going to take a bath as soon as I get out. The forest, the sandstorm, and whatever else, my body feels sticky to death.”
“Right, I agree.”
“You too, Cain? That's a bit unexpected.”
“……I am soone who has a bit of mysophobia.”
“Liar.”
Luna stuck her tongue out and laughed.
As I chatted with Luna about trivial things, the exit gradually drew closer.
My steps felt lighter at the thought that this tedious labyrinth would finally be over once we just walked out like this.
But why was it?
Even though I thought it was about ti we arrived, for so reason, the exit that I felt we had almost reached did not get any closer.
‘……No. It is the exact sa spot.’
For so reason, the more I moved my feet, rather than the exit getting closer, it felt like I was falling into a quagmire.
Luna also seed to have noticed the abnormality and stopped walking.
“Cain, what is this? The exit isn't getting closer? Is it originally like this here?”
“No. Such a law does not exist on the 5th floor of Akiro's Labyrinth. It seems so kind of magic is at work.”
However, what kind of magic could it be that Luna, a spatial mage who had reached the realm of Demonic Spirit, could not properly grasp the abnormality occurring in space?
It was impossible.
‘Then is it magic that interferes with the senses themselves, not space? No…… if that were the case, the Postponer of Ruin would have blocked the ntal interference.’
It was neither space nor mind.
And yet, an effect that made it seem like we were walking in the sa place repeatedly…….
The conclusion drawn was simple.
‘It is not magic.’
No magic I knew of could work without Luna and noticing at all.
Then there was only one possibility left.
‘This ans that the laws within Akiro's Labyrinth themselves have partially changed.’
Then why did the laws of the labyrinth suddenly transform?
I could soon know the answer to that.
“……Wait, there is soone over there.”
Just how long had they been there?
Within the space rippling due to the labyrinth's laws, a silhouette was standing there all too naturally.
Because the surroundings were dyed in darkness, I couldn't see its appearance, but it didn't seem to be a demonic beast at least.
“Cain, stand back.”
Luna scattered fragnts of space around her, fully on edge.
If an unidentified person suddenly revealed themselves, it was highly likely for an ill purpose.
I also faced it while being ready to summon my weapon at any mont.
Slide─
The shadow's gaze slowly turned this way.
Thud, thud…….
It crossed spaceti, which should have been twisted, all too easily.
As if it were the master of this law.
Only then could we see the appearance of the uninvited guest.
“What…… is that?”
Luna's face was dyed with shock.
It couldn't be helped.
Anyone would show the sa reaction if they saw sothing that couldn't possibly be seen as human, with strange noise jamming all over its body.
“Don't co closer! If you co any closer than that, I will attack!”
Did Luna's warning work?
Or was it because of another reason?
The steps of the noise silhouette, which had been continuously approaching us, finally stopped.
The reason why neither Luna nor I could move recklessly even though such a dangerous-looking existence had approached this close was simple.
Because we felt it instinctively.
That if we attacked, we would die.
“Postponer of Ruin.”
Eventually, as a voice filled with noise flowed out, I knew that it had co to find .
“Do you know ?”
“I do know, the one who postponed the scheduled ruin from a very long ti ago.”
Luna blocked my front with a growling montum.
“What? What are you talking about right now? If you don't get lost right now─”
“I will arrange a place for a mont.”
As the noise silhouette gestured slightly, the surrounding scenery changed completely.
A white room with nothing in it.
It was surprising that we moved like this with a single small gesture, but more than anything, there was no such space within the Akiro's Labyrinth that I knew.
“What happened to Luna?”
“She has just been moved elsewhere for a mont, so you do not need to worry.”
I didn't ask how such a thing was possible.
From the mont I saw that such a miracle was possible, I had vaguely sensed who the opponent was.
“Who are you?”
“One who postponed ruin, you already know the answer.”
I know the answer, huh…….
In Akiro's Labyrinth, the laws are absolute.
In the first place, because the laws existed as absolute laws, one could break through Akiro's Labyrinth by deciphering them.
Then what did it an that the law itself had suddenly transford?
‘If it is soone who can artificially twist the laws of Akiro's Labyrinth…….’
There was only one.
The one who created the law itself.
“Great Sage Akiro.”
“Just an old specter trapped in re stubbornness.”
To think that Great Sage Akiro, whom I considered rely a figure of the past, would reveal himself before right now…….
And knowing the fact that I am the Postponer of Ruin, at that.
“What is the reason you sought out?”
“To warn that the ruin you postponed is approaching once again.”
The words Great Sage Akiro conveyed to were shocking, and in a sense, they were words I already knew.
Postponer of Ruin.
To put this differently, it was the sa as saying that the ruin had rely been postponed.
“Does that an the Destruction Dragon is resurrecting?”
“That is not a problem I can answer. For the form of ruin can co as anything.”
The noise rippled.
“The path to The Great Heaven has opened. Although it is only a half-asure, it is a self-evident fact that it has opened.”
“What does that an?”
“Those who wish to reach Ascension will wake from their long silence.”
I couldn't fully understand the aning of what Akiro was saying, but I felt I understood at least what he was trying to convey.
Sothing is coming.
I don't know if it's because of the Twilight Troupe's conspiracy, the unusual atmosphere of the Eastern Union, or the turmoil caused by the players.
Anyway, one thing was certain: sothing unavoidable would soon co to this world.
“Let ask one thing.”
That was why I needed to know even more.
What the path I am taking is.
“What is the Ascension Stone?”
“That is…….”
Akiro's noise twitched as if trying to say sothing, but no sound ca out.
“……Is that so, is it that even this cannot escape the shackles of causality.”
A voice that seed to laugh sowhat self-deprecatingly passed by, and Akiro spoke.
“Key. That is all I can say about the Ascension Stone right now.”
Key.
A clue that was both much and little.
Regrettably, there was no ti to think more about it now.
Because from so mont, the structure of the white room we were in had begun to collapse.
“There isn't much ti.”
The lips of the noise twitched.
“Postponer of Ruin, one who perford the great miracle of postponing the unstoppable ruin, you must face reality.”
The gaze rippling with noise went beyond the ceiling of the white room towards the space above.
“The sky is opening.”
“The sky…… is opening?”
“When that ti cos, you too will have to face an unavoidable choice.”
Akiro added.
“What you can do in front of The Great Heaven.”
“What happens when the sky opens?”
“It is unknown. Because it is unknown, your choice is all the more important.”
“Are you saying I can choose?”
“Because you have the qualification, one who postponed ruin.”
I don't know what qualification or what I can choose.
However, Akiro was saying so.
“Keep in mind.”
Eventually, through the completely collapsing white room, Akiro's final voice was heard.
“That a key can open a door but…… conversely, it can also lock it.”
With those words as the last, the white room completely collapsed and brilliant light poured down.
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