The Harpy's Challenge
I worked hard to adapt to this maze! I once heard that humans fear the unknown.
Back when I read those words, I didn't really get what they meant. But now that I'm living it, I think I understand.
"Hoo..."
The darkness had swallowed the surroundings completely—nothing was visible. The thicker it got, the more my anxiety grew, but I couldn't just sit still.
You cannot leave until you defeat the monster guarding the maze.
To escape this damn place, I had to take down the boss.
...Has it already been about two days?
No clock, so I couldn't tell exactly how much time had passed, but it felt like two days. Fortunately, I didn't need food or sleep in here. Or rather, I didn't have the luxury to even notice such things.
"Grrr." "Here they come again..."
They'd pop out of the darkness whenever I let my guard down. I quickly assumed a counter stance, and soon two glowing eyes lit up in the shadows. Hard to see clearly through the gloom, but it was definitely a bipedal monster around 2 meters tall. Its main weapon was probably those claws—if they even grazed me, my only set of armor would be shredded.
"Grk!"
Bam—!
I parried the sudden claw swipe, then immediately thrust my blade into its gut. The massive body shuddered intermittently before going still.
The massive EXP flooding in now that the crisis was over would normally feel ecstatic, but not in this situation. If I lingered, more monsters would hear the noise and swarm me.
I'm gonna lose it.
The one I just dropped didn't seem like one of the stronger ones in this maze, at least to me. And yet, if I didn't go all out, I'd be the one dying.
If regular monsters are this tough, how insanely strong is the boss gonna be?
That terrifying question got answered sooner than I'd like.
"Halt! Warrior of Odin, what purpose brings you to this place!"
Something that looked like a named mob or boss spoke up. A sweet, melodic voice—though not quite as good as Master's.
"I came to and found myself here." "Lies! Do you think the god of war and wisdom would send his great warrior into the Trial Maze without reason!" "No, I'm seriously losing it... How the hell should I know?"
Being in the dark too long had made my tone sharp.
"If you won't answer properly, you'll meet your end here! Come forth, my spear!"
Kwaaaang—!
A deafening roar tore through my ears as the darkness lifted. My eyes adjusted to the light abnormally fast, letting me see exactly what monster I was facing.
A bird's body with a human face, gripping a spear coiled in blue electricity. The harpy swung its long spear and charged. As a named monster, its speed was insane—I couldn't counter, barely managing a guard.
So damn fast!
The harpy glanced at my sword and sneered.
"Wielding a weapon as short as you are, eh?"
Why bring up my height! Setting that aside, it knew spear-vs-sword matchups inside out. Master once said nine out of ten times, the spear wins. The reach difference is hard to overcome without top-tier skill.
"Odin liked skewering routed soldiers on spears for display. I'll do the same to you."
It exploited that gap perfectly—keeping distance, thrusting to force big defensive motions. Probably trying to wear me down for an easy kill.
Not letting that happen.
Most monsters have superior stamina to players. This one too, no doubt.
"Tired already? Odin must've sacrificed his last eye too—naming trash like you a great warrior."
From that birdbrain's chatter, it seemed Odin was why I was here. One of Babel's constellations? They treat players like toys, so it might be enjoying my suffering.
"Time to end this!"
The harpy used wings I'd never seen before, soaring up and slamming down with its spear—gravity-accelerated strike. But...
Too straight-line.
Master said predictable attacks are easy to read. After a few exchanges, I'd memorized its patterns with my body. I knew exactly how to deflect it. My enhanced dynamic vision synergized explosively.
"You blocked..."
Not just blocked—I sliced the spear tip with my sun blade. Weaponless, the harpy panicked, creating an opening. I rammed my blade into its torso.
The flood of EXP from downing a strong foe was so thrilling it numbed my brain for a moment... Is this why players go psychopathic? Experience this enough, and your brain rewires itself.
Please select a Trait.
Back-to-back dopamine hits from rewards. My fingertips stiffened slightly.
By the time I get out, I'll be way stronger.
Maybe this place isn't so bad after all... Wait, did I just think like one of those psycho players? Better escape before I go nuts.
Two weeks into her disciple's disappearance.
The Sword Saint, Ryu Ga-eul, irritably drummed her fingers on the table—tap tap.
Someone of her caliber could unsettle everyone just by staying silent. Even the local assemblyman, Park Byung-seon, felt it.
"Um, Sword Saint... No need to worry too much. Looks like one of Babel's constellations dragged him into a trial dungeon, right?" "..."
Trial dungeons were opened by Babel's constellations to temper promising players. Only a tiny fraction survived and grew stronger.
"The gods only give trials you can handle. He'll overcome it for sure." "Mayor, didn't I tell you multiple times not to open your mouth while I'm thinking?"
Ga-eul finally spoke, casually crushing the assemblyman. No one dared protest as she treated the gold-badge-wearing politician like a subordinate.
"Mayor, I'm here not for your cheap comfort, but to check the value of the snacks I handed out."
Top players' wealth rivaled corporations'. Item sales weren't taxed—only income—since the world couldn't function without them. As the pinnacle, Ga-eul had long bankrolled politicians to bend to her will.
"Ahem, as you said before, I can't just mobilize police freely. Gotta protect citizens, you know? Heard about the crazy players popping up lately...?"
The mayor toughened his tone to avoid losing the staredown, but it was futile.
"Not my problem."
What she wanted was beyond playing with the justice system—it was outright mockery. Mobilize all police to seize auction house items. That'd force open item warehouses unsellable otherwise, letting her pluck whatever she wanted.
"Do that, and while I might be fine, you won't be!" "Whatever."
Of course, it was utterly taboo. Top rankers stored items in auction houses instead of banks—tampering meant violating their property rights.
"So I should just wait? I've waited 30 years." "30 years? You don't mean the disciple, but—" "I've waited 30 years. Don't you get it?"
Ga-eul's glaring eyes burned with lust-tinged fury. Anyone who crossed her would feel it manifest.
"Three days. Decide in three days. Or something fun happens soon."
Having endured 30 years, she had no reason to hold back anymore. The spinster's rage pierced the heavens.