Chapter 264: The Infinite Labyrinth, Anew (1)
Chapter 264: The Infinite Labyrinth, Anew (1)
In front of the 30th-floor Boss Room.
[Let’s head in.]
Leading the way, I threw open the iron doors of the Boss Room.
The space was shrouded in darkness. As light gradually filtered in from the ceiling, the vast cavern was revealed.
Seawater lapped at both sides of a long path stretching through the center, leading to a wide expanse of land that looked like a designated raid zone.
And there, straight ahead, I saw it.
A 'Mermaid' nearly ten meters tall—roughly the size of a small building—sat alone upon a structure that resembled a throne.
[Tsk.]
A sigh escaped me the moment I stepped inside. I had expected this, but as usual, my bad premonitions were never wrong.
It’s a good thing I prepared in advance.
I had a tactic in mind that I hadn't shared with the others. I had hoped to deal with the Angler Shark Captain easily without resorting to it, but unfortunately, we were now facing a truly formidable foe.
"Lewd Man. Wait."
Zenith called out to me from behind.
[What is it?]
"Something’s wrong. Stop for a moment."
The name 'Lewd Man' might have been awkward, but she didn't seem to care as she addressed me with a tense expression.
"That... that’s not what’s supposed to be here. It should be a massive shark. The 30th-floor boss isn't supposed to be something like that."
[So, you’re saying a different boss should have appeared?]
"Yes."
The others began to grow tense as well.
"It’s not the creature we know. Usually, a three-meter-tall Angler Shark is supposed to jump out. There shouldn't be a throne, either. It’s supposed to be just a wide, circular field..."
Those watching the scene through my vision at the command headquarters were also flustered by the sudden appearance of the giant mermaid and began frantically searching through their records.
—Count! This is a boss we’ve never seen before!
—I’ve never seen anything like that...! It’s a monster that isn't in the records!
It wasn't in the records. It was a Beast appearing for the first time.
"Why would such a Beast..."
"Does the fact that the Angler Shark Captain didn't appear mean something has gone seriously wrong with the Labyrinth...?"
Exactly. That Beast was one that wouldn't normally appear under ordinary circumstances.
[It’s fine. We just need to adapt.]
However, I knew exactly what that giant mermaid was.
[Captain Laura. What do you think?]
"...It seems the Labyrinth was waiting for us. She looks incredibly strong. At the very least... she seems to be on the level of the 40th floor."
With a tense face, Laura immediately drew her bow of light.
"But I won't lose. She’s big, but we can definitely win."
[Then the answer is clear.]
I glared at the mermaid with an expression more serious than usual, and the others raised their guard, drawing their respective weapons.
[It seems the Labyrinth has prepared a surprise party for us. I should probably inform everyone spread throughout the Labyrinth. It’s just before the Labyrinth goes 'Berserk.']
"What? W-wait a minute. The Labyrinth is going Berserk?"
[Yeah. Isn't this exactly that kind of situation? It’s waiting here like this right before the outbreak.]
When I mentioned the Labyrinth going Berserk, the faces of the party members who had descended with me, as well as those at the command headquarters, all turned pale.
"W-what is your basis for suddenly claiming it’s going Berserk?"
[Look at that, Charlotte. Up there. It’s hard to see, but look above its head.]
Above the giant mermaid’s head, a small string of text was floating.
[It’s a Named.]
"Wave Queen Neptunian...?"
[The name alone sounds brutal. It seems that mermaid is the queen of the Sea Elves.]
We had encountered several Named entities before, but this was the first one this massive since the Desmonica of Spawning we found inside the Labyrinth walls.
And even with my in-game knowledge, while I knew of the 'Wave Queen' species, the name Neptunian was new to me. Likely, like the Desmonica of Spawning, it was a unique name given to her in this world.
[I suppose the Queen herself came out because we’ve been capturing too many Sea Elves.]
If an entity that shouldn't normally appear has shown up, there must be a reason.
[It could be because too many were killed in other sectors of the Labyrinth, or simply because the Queen is pissed that we’ve been kidnapping Sea Elves. Either way, there’s no doubt the Labyrinth’s Beasts will start swarming soon.]
I knew the real reason, but I had to explain it to my companions and the people watching using logic that fit the current situation.
[If the Queen considers the Sea Elves her children, then right now, we’re kidnappers who took her daughters. Heh heh heh.]
Judging by the information and experience I possessed, she had undoubtedly appeared out of rage because her kin, the Sea Elves, were being taken as slaves.
I’m glad it’s following the gimmick.
Just as a mother bear attacks if you harm her cub, the Infinite Labyrinth works the same way. When too many individuals of a certain species are slaughtered or captured, the Labyrinth goes into an emergency state, and the boss of that floor is replaced by the leader of that species.
Kill a mass of Slimes, and the Slime Queen appears.
Capture a mass of Succubi, and the Succubus Queen appears.
In the former case, we physically eliminated the threat; in the latter, we were fortunately able to meet her directly and pass through safely after striking a deal.
And now, we had to pay the price for kidnapping a large number of Sea Elves.
[Ah. Relaying to the Knight Orders spread throughout the Labyrinth via the main base. Act according to the manual.]
"Are you serious?"
[Nero, do you not trust me?]
No risk, no return. And the current risk wasn't even a high risk—it was a perfectly manageable one.
[I haven't said it until now, but I expected things to turn out this way.]
Because that’s how it was in the game.
[I’m not the kind of man who launches a large-scale operation without anticipating things going sideways. And you say a Berserk state is happening? Actually, that’s exactly what I wanted.]
Thump.
The moment I took a step forward, Neptunian opened her eyes. Her gaze—staring with only white, pupil-less eyes—was somewhat startling and intimidating, but she wasn't an opponent I couldn't defeat.
[Captain. From now on, everyone follow my instructions. First—]
"Th-that?!"
An unexpected voice came from behind.
"How can something that huge...?!"
[You! What are you doing!]
I grabbed the young knight who had suddenly burst in by the collar and quickly forced him back out of the Boss Room.
[Who gave you permission to barge into the Boss Room?!]
"I-I...! I’m sorry..."
[Is 'sorry' going to fix this?! Damn it, Sir Bernhard!]
I handed the knight over to Bernhard, who was rushing over in a panic.
"My apologies. He suddenly bolted, saying he felt uneasy."
[...Tsk.]
"Um, Lewd Man?! The Queen is starting to move her hands!"
Rumble.
The entire cavern began to shimmer with light. To a casual observer, it was a beautiful sight that could entrance the soul, but I saw something else.
[Che. This is exactly why I came in with a party of exactly six.]
"Wh-what...?"
Rumble, rumble.
Changes began to occur throughout the entire Labyrinth. A red light—the kind that screamed 'we’re screwed'—began to pulse through the Labyrinth.
[Bernhard. Take responsibility for this man and tie him up well. Throw him in the dungeon.]
"The... dungeon, you say?"
[Yes. If you’re hesitant... Sir Lambert!!]
Since he was a knight from an adventurer background, Bernhard seemed a bit uncomfortable with the idea. In that case, I had to call in a specialist.
[If there’s one thing I hate, it’s suffering because of a variable caused by someone else rather than one I created myself. Sir Lambert, come here.]
"Did you call, my Lord?"
[Yes. Bind this man. Take him to the Count’s castle and detain him.]
"Understood. Follow me."
"I-I’m sorry..."
The youth was caught by Lambert and dragged away.
I should just cut him loose or something.
I cannot forgive trolling. If a problem arises due to an strange variable, it’s usually because of guys like him.
"Hm?"
Lambert frowned and stopped in his tracks.
"My Lord. There is something I must tell you urgently."
[What is it?]
"This youth... it seems..."
Just as Lambert, who was holding the young knight’s wrist, was about to say something—
SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!
A scream echoed through the Labyrinth. It was a piercing sound, like ultrasound meant to burst eardrums, and everyone covered their ears.
[It’s started. Everyone except Laura and the six knights, head to the entrance of the 30th floor. Lambert, take that guy to the surface. While we raid the boss, make sure the creatures spawning on each floor don't Backflow to the upper levels.]
"H-hasn't a Berserk state just triggered?!"
[That’s right. Berserk.]
What people feared most was the Infinite Labyrinth going Berserk.
[Laura. What happens when the Infinite Labyrinth goes Berserk?]
"Uh, first, an infinite number of Beasts are spawned, stronger Beasts appear, and the Beasts start coming up to the higher floors through the dimensional gates on each floor, eventually..."
[If we mess up, the Beasts will overflow onto the surface. But think about it this way. What if each sector can handle all the risks of the Berserk state?]
"......Is it a hunt?"
[Exactly.]
Perhaps because she had spent the most time with me, Laura immediately understood what the others hadn't.
[I’ve changed many paradigms here so far. The same goes for war. I will also change the paradigm of raiding this Labyrinth. From now on... I shall call this 'Berserk' state by another name.]
Calling it a Labyrinth Berserk makes it sound dangerous.
[The Great Magic Stone Farming Festival.]
If an infinite number of huntable Beasts appear, doesn't that just mean the farming efficiency increases if you can hunt them all?
In gaming terms, it’s no different from challenging Hard Mode instead of Normal. And if you have enough ability to clear Hard Mode, the Hard Mode Labyrinth simply becomes a farming zone with better and more certain rewards.
[Tell everyone. From today, I shall name the Berserk state of the Infinite Labyrinth... 'Crunch Mode.']