Day 50: Power Check and Heavenly Intruders
On the 50th day in the Ancient Labyrinth, to test my newly unleashed power, I held a mock battle with the spirits summoned by the Hedgehog Summoner God.
At first, I focused solely on evasion without counterattacking.
［Duduuumba!］
The spirits' movements unfolded as clearly as a frame from a slow-motion film. I minimized unnecessary motions, effortlessly deflecting every attack with the barest shifts.
Evasion's solid.
Next, I took every hit head-on with my body. I was certain it wouldn't threaten my life—this was why I dared such recklessness. As long as vital spots weren't targeted or damage didn't pile up in one area, I wouldn't suffer a scratch.
［Doomba! Duduuuumbaaaat!］
As expected, no damage at all. Even absorbing the spirits' assaults felt like nothing more than a ticklish spring breeze brushing my skin. Of course, I deliberately let vital-point strikes glance off. Even the toughest creature has weak spots—better not test them.
"Toughyang! I read in a book that being tough is good yang!"
The Hedgehog Summoner God and Merino Ulla, having watched the spectacle, applauded with cheers like seals.
Finally, I went on the offensive. As a spirit lunged at me, I powered up my arm and threw a punch.
Bam—! The strike tore through the air, cleanly obliterating one spirit's form. Destructive power was solid too. Not bad at all.
"Whoaaa! That punch is terrifying yang... I'd die if it hit me yang!"
Merino Ulla and the Art Pega Unicorn cheered.
The other spirits, meanwhile, dodged my attacks with the Duumba Dance. That dance really works wonders. It might even be one of the top evasion techniques across dimensions. Not that I'd ever learn something so tacky.
"Hedgehog, that's enough for the mock battle. You can unsummon the spirits now."
Originally, five seal runes marked my back. Now, only three remained. Melody Fox erased one, Niara Nephensis another, leaving me at stage 2 liberation. By threat level, that's A-grade equivalent power—enough to face SS-grade Ancient Labyrinth monsters. SS-grades nerf to A-grade near explorers, after all.
Regrettably, further unsealing exceeded Niara Nephensis's power. Simple reason: her strength was nerfed to A-grade, insufficient for higher seals. She admitted it herself, and my tests all failed.
"......"
Her tone had shifted from overbearing in life to gentle now. That creepy face with a loving expression? Hard to get used to.
Even with A-grade power restored, I had no plans to fight monsters directly unless forced. SS- or S-grade foes? I'd hang back unless unavoidable.
Why dodge S-grades? Variables exist—like the Curse Devil Gentleman right here.
Curse Devil Gentleman. Countless explorers slain by his kind. No stats, but he claims they're top killers. They can even doom higher beings via that ultimate curse—the Decay Curse, triggered on death. No nerf post-mortem; it fully corrupts the foe.
Of course, he can't use it now—soulless puppet and all. Ultimate curses demand souls.
Monsters like that mean caution, even post-unsealing. Arrogance from power could end me.
If forced to fight... only take on one grade below me. Same grade? Retreat somehow. Can't guarantee wins there.
SS-grade (nerfed A)? Need stage 3. SSS (nerfed S)? Stage 4. Higher? Full liberation first.
Fighting above my level's too risky.
As always, I seek sure victories. With so many dependents now, flee ugly if it's iffy.
Shouldn't come to that anyway—monsters always at my side.
Finishing those thoughts—
Seo Dan-bi chimed in—a rare direct query.
"What's up?"
"Probably."
I called Azeras. Had she battled Solorb-level foes as an explorer?
"No Solorbs... but I fought Giant Bone Find..."
"Giant Bone Find? Rings a bell."
Tilting my head, Neo Hyung-seok interjected.
Ah, right—Giant Bone Find, that massive skeleton.
"Forgot the name. But you fought it, Azeras?"
"Yes..."
"Outcome?"
"My only... utter defeat... Felt evenly matched... so I challenged it... but no contest... Made me anxious... if I was truly getting stronger..."
"Survived despite the loss, though."
"Apologized... and it forgave me."
"...Giant Bone Find spared you for apologizing?"
"Told me not to rush it again... and left..."
Huh. Gentler than it looks.
Mid-convo, Merino Ulla's voice called from afar.
"Yanyang! Everyone gather for meal yang!"
Food ready. I and Azeras headed over. Menu: blood pancakes. Tasty as expected from her.
Mid-feast with monsters—
An uninvited mortal has invaded the Ancient Labyrinth!
All explorers in the Ancient Labyrinth: please seek shelter temporarily.
What the hell?
Somewhere in the Ancient Labyrinth. A massive dimensional rift linked to the heavens cracked open. Beyond it, countless celestials marched in orderly ranks into the labyrinth.
"Hmm. Niara's here?"
"Ominous aura. No ordinary world."
"Did we have to come? Overkill. No way something happened to Niara."
Total: 31,390. By my threat gauge: 7 SS-grade, 1,383 S-grade, 30,000 A-grade.
They were Niara Nephensis's followers. Chasing fallen god Lilith Morphia across worlds, worried when Niara didn't return, they formed a massive search party.
"Dimensional God, well done."
"Finding Mother? No hardship."
Opening a portal to the Ancient Labyrinth is near-impossible. But not entirely. Soul-bound to Niara, the Dimensional God tracked her via divine realm authority. After sacrificing dozens of worlds as offerings, they succeeded. The neglected dimensional veil helped too.
They knew nothing of this place. Not that it was the Ancient Labyrinth. Nor that Niara was dead—her soul still wandered, blank as white paper.
Believing her alive, all entered. The rift sealed.
A figure emerged before the heavenly legion: a crocodile. The Crocodile Merchant.
Celestial gazes locked on him.
In the Ancient Labyrinth, intruders weren't welcome like drifters. Only invitees: chosen explorers or dark portal victims. Forceful entrants? Excluded. Neutral monsters like the Crocodile Merchant handled it.
They puzzled. What was this croc? Such audacity?
They sensed no power from him. Beneath them, soul unimpressive. Just a bug bluffing.
"Vile wretch dares speak of safety?"
"These creatures blind to gods?"
"Felt this world's higher... illusion."
"Annoying. Remove the pest."
They regretted it.
The Crocodile Merchant clasped hands slowly.
"From before the start, beyond the end, I send you forth."
They felt his true soul then. He clapped lightly.
Clap.
A small sound echoed. Tens of thousands of celestial souls vanished instantly. Grounded ones collapsed like puppets with cut strings; aerial ones plummeted like rain, life's flame extinguished. A flock stripped of wings.
The Crocodile Merchant strolled amid the corpses, looting promising spoils.
Smirking, he gathered long, then left as if nothing happened.
Intruders: 0
Explorers, proceed with your adventures.
Intruders cleared fast. Neither Art Pega Unicorn nor Azeras knew what they were.
"Hm..."
"What's wrong yang? Worried yang?"
"Nah, nothing."
"Yanyang."
Eh, probably not worth fretting. I'd learn later. All dead anyway—ignore for now.