Long Time No See, Little Snake
[It's been a while, 'little snake.']
The overall appearance was similar to the Red Wyvern that had carried me here, but there was one decisive difference: its sheer size.
A body several times larger than my own. It was like a mountain looming right in front of me.
The ruler, master, and pinnacle of the Lava Zone.
The SS-rank monster and area boss of the Lava Zone—Magma Wyvern Arde.
Meeting him again after half a year, he was still as immovable as a mountain.
Even though I'd grown all the way to just below him at SA-rank, he still felt utterly untouchable.
[...As I said I would, I've returned, Arde.]
At the quiet call of his name, he chuckled like a kindly grandfather—hol hol.
[You've grown so much stronger. Not even comparable to before. You must have broken through that wall, eh?]
Even in my human form, he saw right through my aura in an instant.
He'd sensed my presence the moment I entered the 69th floor, after all. That alone was enough to gauge his level.
[It was barely possible. And I got a lot of help along the way.]
Arde chuckled again at my modest nod.
[You've found something precious, haven't you?]
[...You can even see that far?]
[When you've lived as long as I have, little snake, most things become clear.]
[I see... More importantly, there's something I haven't told you. I'm 'Nyx' now.]
At my calm declaration, Arde let out a soft 'hooo...' of admiration.
[Indeed, Nyx. A fine name you've got there. Did you choose it yourself?]
[...I got some good advice.]
[A name from someone dear to you, then. I can tell without you saying it. Cherish it well.]
[...I'll take that advice to heart.]
[Hol hol hol—]
Arde laughed again, sounding genuinely delighted.
His personality was so gentle and kind, a stark contrast to his ferocious appearance.
That must be why he protected so many monsters under his command.
[So, what brings you back here? Why aren't you with those precious ones of yours?]
[...To tie up loose ends.]
After a moment's thought, my words drew a slow nod from Arde.
[...You've had your share of troubles too... I see. Heading back up, then?]
[Plan to. Shouldn't get held up this time, at worst.]
[Hol hol—you seem in a hurry.]
[Yeah. I've got family waiting.]
Arde smiled warmly.
Like a grandfather proudly watching his grandson's growth.
[I'm glad you've found something precious too. Yes, Nyx—you needed a place to lean on. Even monsters who live through endless struggle need a restful haven. I wanted to be that for you if possible... but as always, you stand on your own.]
—Impressive.
The quiet voice made me pause.
This area boss, who didn't seem like one at all, was one of the few who'd shown me genuine goodwill.
I'd received so much grace from him—undeserved favor, really.
I bowed my head deeply.
[Thank you.]
His gentle hol hol laughter followed my quiet words.
And so, after this long-awaited reunion, I bid farewell to Arde.
* * *
After leaving Arde's lair, I hitched another ride on a Red Wyvern's back.
As we headed to the nearest gate, we exchanged some idle chatter.
[Heading up?]
[Yeah, back to my hometown first.]
[Hometown... You said it was a lush green forest, right? Hard for me to picture.]
[It's a beautiful place. Why don't you come see it sometime?]
He laughed lightly at my casual suggestion.
[You're a riot. I have no plans to leave the boss's side.]
[Arde would probably tell you to go anytime.]
[Even if he did, I wouldn't. Staying by his side to the end—that's my dream, my goal.]
[Loyal one, aren't you?]
[When it comes to loyalty, I'm the best in the labyrinth.]
I chuckled at his half-joking sincerity.
Shaking my head, I continued.
[So, how've things been lately? Any special news?]
[Hmm... Special news... Nothing much recently...]
The Red Wyvern suddenly went 'ah' and continued.
[Around when you left, some humans came.]
[What...? Humans...? To this floor?]
[Not this one. Five floors up... Yeah, looked like about 200 of them.]
I let out a low exclamation. Five floors up from here was the 64th.
That floor was probably the deepest any hunters had reached lately.
'200-strong—that's a major expedition. Did a big guild step up themselves?'
Important info for the future, so I quietly filed it away.
[What happened to them? How many made it back alive?]
[Almost all of them did.]
[...What? How? Was there no ruler there?]
[They said the humans were pretty skilled. Killed the land's ruler and retreated.]
[...Impressive.]
Another quiet exclamation.
Usually, deep-floor expeditions took heavy losses, but if his story was true, they'd returned with minimal casualties.
'Lots of high-rank hunters? Does Korea even have a guild with that kind of force...? Or did the hunters level up while I wasn't looking...?'
Or maybe a coalition of major guilds.
Either way, not great news from a monster's perspective.
[So you just let them go? With your temperament, I'd figure you'd hunt them down and wipe them out.]
[...Boss said not to do anything—not even pursue.]
[...Why? Even Arde wouldn't sit still if his subordinates got hit.]
[Boss is wary of the bigger fight that'd come after pursuit. Said killing them would just bring more humans swarming.]
[...Makes sense.]
True to his long life, his wisdom was exceptional.
He considered things ordinary monsters wouldn't even think of.
[But he didn't really do nothing, right?]
Arde was far gentler than most monsters, but still a monster.
He wouldn't be soft enough to ignore invaders who trespassed in his domain and harmed his own.
[Boss only forbade group actions.]
[...I see. Personal payback's fine, then.]
[Even then, keep it moderate. Revenge is good, but no need to sacrifice yourself.]
I nodded calmly at the Red Wyvern's words.
Revenge mattered, but not at the cost of your life.
That's why I'd endured silently until now, with my conviction firm.
As our casual talk wound down, we reached the portal to the next floor.
Short farewell to him, and I passed through.
Planning to keep ascending steadily.
No real trouble in the Lava Zone, regrettably.
Unlike other zones, with Arde the area boss forging tight bonds across floors, word of my return had already spread.
And that I was traveling in human form, no less.
They even knew my exact features—it was a bit chilling.
* * *
55th floor. Plains Zone.
Vast open plains as far as the eye could see. And the climate here was more extreme than anywhere else.
Right as I arrived on the 55th, a typhoon with thunder and lightning raged.
Old memories flooded back unbidden—the hardships from back then.
Man, I'd suffered.
And even now, grown as I was, it hadn't changed much.
Heat or cold I could handle with resistances, but shitty weather was beyond me.
Better hurry through.
Ran into an SA-rank monster at worst.
Orc Lord.
A lord-type commanding hordes of orcs—the pinnacle of the Plains Zone, where group battles ruled.
His aura screamed it: area boss.
Wanting to pass quickly, I tried ignoring him, but his vibe screamed he was itching for a fight.
Maybe because I was in human form?
Seemed I was being underestimated.
Fighting an SA-rank area boss in human form was problematic, so I released Inhwa's Art on the spot.
My body swelled in an instant, growing to small-mountain size. He recoiled in shock.
He hastily summoned his minions.
Lots of A-ranks, even some S-ranks.
A formidable legion.
He looked triumphant.
My left head, rarely excited, thrilled at the chance to move freely after so long.
It activated the Magic Eye on its forehead.
Its power: mind control and charm.
The orc horde—hundreds, maybe thousands—started brawling among themselves.
Quite the spectacle.
The Orc Lord visibly panicked.
He fled with a few unaffected lieutenants.
Running? After picking the fight?
No way I'd let that slide.
Devoured him and his cronies together.
My first gluttony in ages.
Right head was especially pleased.
No, I wasn't gonna steal it.
Yeah, eat up nice and tasty...
Same SA-rank or not, Orc Lords basically had S-rank combat power.
Stronger than average S-ranks, sure, but way below true SA.
What let him rule as SA-rank was his legion.
His strength lay more in commanding than direct combat, so without it, he was frail.
Against me, honed rigorously by Snow? No match at all.
As planned, I aimed to blaze through the Plains Zone.
Ignored most monsters, barring the occasional challengers.
Still, in human form, more picked fights than not—ended up killing more than I let pass.
49th floor.
Starting to spot hunters here and there.
Plains Zone favored group fights, so hunter parties were plentiful.
Smallest groups around 60-70; largest a whopping 300.
Couldn't help thinking they looked like ants.
Could take them if I stuck around.
Human form: 6-4 or 7-3 odds.
True form: 100% win.
Tempted to test it?
Briefly considered, but nah.
No need to stir trouble.
Wiping out 49th-floor hunters would complicate things later.
Maybe down the line, but not now.
Right head, watching from my mindscape, licked its chops quietly—but no means no.
Hold out a bit; I'll feed you something tasty later.
Ignoring the occasional hunters as planned, I swiftly exited the Plains Zone.
41st floor. Desert Zone.
The place that first taught me the labyrinth's brutal climate.
My return after nearly two years.