Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Loophole
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Gnoll.
A monster close to a beast, despite bearing the title of heteromorphic race, one with whom conversation is impossible.
They travel in packs, tracking their prey with the swift, ferocious strength unique to beasts.
Tormented by endless hunger, they pursue the scent of their quarry with keen noses and sharp eyes that detect movement even in darkness, chasing relentlessly to the end.
Some among them possess the intelligence to use tools, donning weapons or armor.
Explorers rate them as anything but easy foes in the Labyrinth, given their numbers and tool usage.
Well, that's the word on the street, anyway.
Honestly, back when I knew nothing about the Labyrinth, that might've rung true. But it doesn't faze me much now.
Against simple opponents who don't even use mana, debating life and death feels trivial. I've been through far too much already.
"Kwaaak!"
The gnoll let out a savage roar.
Its sharp claws lunged forward, the trajectory slicing through the air in stark clarity.
"Kwaak."
I mimicked its cry exactly.
Tilting my head back slightly, I effortlessly dodged the claws aimed at my face.
"Krrrng!"
"Sorry, I can't understand a word you're saying."
The beast came at me with everything it had.
Off-beat timing, razor-sharp slashes, swift kicks, and improvised stabs with a dagger pulled from its bosom.
It pulled out every trick to land even a single hit on me.
True to its heteromorphic label, it at least had some basic combat patterns.
But I dodged them all with ease.
Gnolls' moves are predictable as hell.
Especially since this one lacked even the basic technique to reinforce its body with mana.
Facing something like this didn't feel like combat so much as syncing to a rhythm game.
Up, up, down, down, left, right.
Like dancing, I predicted its path and slipped away from the trajectory.
No need to counterattack.
I focused solely on evasion.
Just as taking hits from monsters unlocks certain skills, perfect dodges grant others.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have dodged several full-force strikes from your opponent. Condition fulfilled. Acquired Light Body Movement skill. "Perfect. Time to die."
I drew the wraith knight's sword from behind my back.
Screeech!
The vertical slash cleaved its crown, splitting it like a log felled by an axe.
One swing, one kill.
The cleanly bisected body crumpled to the ground, dropping a glowing mana stone.
"Oh, mana stone drop."
I pocketed the blood-veined stone.
"Kyung kyung!"
"Kuha!"
The other gnolls watched from afar like spectators.
Almost cheering, as if the victor was one of their own.
From the moment their leader fell, they had no intention of fighting me.
They were fully prepped to flee, especially after I marked one as my sacrifice.
You might ask why they didn't all rush me at once, but surprisingly, these pack hunters have zero camaraderie.
They huddle together purely for survival and efficiency.
With a leader, they at least formed a pack. Without one, they were just a rabble.
But if they were ready to run, why haven't they?
Because it's entertaining.
Modern folks know the drill: whip out the phone to record some rare spectacle, danger be damned.
They know they could get hurt, but figure it won't be them. Same psychology here.
That's what I've learned from multiple Labyrinth stints.
"I'll let you live, so scram."
I shooed them away with a wave.
They caught on quick and bolted in panic.
"Lucky for both of us."
I'd planned to beat them until a mana stone dropped, but it came quick, saving me the hassle.
Cornered rats bite cats, after all. If I'd rampaged more, they'd have teamed up eventually.
Not keen on wasting time here, I opted to end the fight.
No blood on my hands, and they kept their lives. Win-win.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Light Body Movement ⚡ Increases speed slightly when activated. 💨 Lightens the weight of held weapons. "Got it on a whim, but the performance is meh, as expected."
Still, it's the only skill from the top layer with no drawbacks, so no hesitation in grabbing it.
I'd decided this when picking the quest: head straight down from the upper layers.
The Labyrinth's topmost floor is like a game's starting zone.
Gamers know: no matter how hard you grind in beginner areas, rewards stay meager.
And this starter zone has dark fantasy-level difficulty.
Even veterans die if careless in its vicious design.
If everywhere's risky anyway, why not go for the bigger rewards in deadlier depths?
Proven by countless regressions: clear the path down, kill the elite guards, and grow fast descending from the top.
But I'd tweak the plan here.
Landed in the top layer's west side, right in a gnoll nest.
Game story or my luck? Either way, perfect.
Other spots? Maybe not. But here, something special awaits.
"There it is."
I spotted the gnolls' abandoned settlement nearby.
They'd looted anything useful, leaving empty tents.
I ignored their junk; not what I needed.
The key was their special structure here.
In the center of the tents: an eerie altar exuding sinister vibes.
Built on a foundation of neatly stacked human skulls, a twisted inverted cross rose high.
Atop it, an outsized skull glared with eyeless menace, radiating chill dread.
The gnolls' altar to their god.
"Always gives me the creeps."
Why gnolls aren't mere monsters but a heteromorphic race.
They have religion.
They worship and serve transcendent beings.
Beings far from the gods we imagine, of course.
"Then, time to offer a sacrifice."
I placed the fresh mana stone before the altar.
Without hesitation, I slashed my wrist, letting blood flow.
It poured like a river over the stone, soaking the altar.
The ancient altar drank it greedily, like a parched man gulping water.
Next step.
Invoke their god's name.
Which was... that one, right?
"Orobas."
I uttered the demon's true name.
Instantly, the blood defying gravity rose in droplets, merging with the mana stone and ascending.
And then.
Whoosh!
Space tore open, a black claw emerging to snatch the offering.
"Payment received."
A gloomy, low voice echoed.
Unmistakably demonic.
Now just an arm, but once mid-layer overlord.
It answered my call of its true name.
Normally, you'd investigate mid-layers, restore its ruined tome, learn the name. But I knew from regressions.
A loophole, plain and simple.
Like speedrunning a game, memorizing locked door codes without hints.
"Grant my wish, and lend me your power."
I offered blood, flesh, and mana stone.
The demon owed equivalent value.
"One of three paths you must tread. I grant its signpost."
With payment taken, it bade me choose from three options.
"First: the path paved in endless blood. If you crave strength, open this way."
Path of Carnage.
Relentless trials, powerful monsters hunting you in mortal combat.
Survive the timer for rich rewards.
Pass.
With just two skills and mediocre growth, I'd be torn apart before rewards.
Save it for after powering up here.
"Second: What waits at desire's end? Can you seize glorious success?"
Path of Greed.
Mana stone drop rates skyrocket, rare monsters and materials spawn.
Pinpoints nearby artifacts too.
Pass, obviously.
More stones are nice but temporary; I already know key artifact spots.
"Third: A coward's passage. Fleeing and hiding is all you're fit for."
And last, Path of Shadows.
"I'll take the third."
I chose without pause.
"Very well. Meet the condition. The path opens when fulfilled."
The eerie voice faded, the rift sealing slowly.
A sheet of paper fluttered down. I picked it up and read.
"Hah."
A sigh escaped.
Seeing its condition, I smacked my forehead.
"Guess I'll stick around the top layer longer."
Our demon friend was in a foul mood today, tossing me the most mismatched quest imaginable.