The spiral staircase emptied into a cavernous hall.
It was a majestic space, reminiscent of a grand temple, with soaring ceilings and pure white pillars standing at perfect intervals. Geometric patterns were etched into the floor, surrounding a massive magic circle in the center that pulsed with a faint, steady light.
Deep within the hall, several towering entrances were arranged in a wide fan shape. Most were sealed tight; only seven of the massive stone doors stood open, while the others were fitted so seamlessly into the walls that not a single gap was visible.
"It’s... a bit stifling in here," Lene whispered.
She was right. Despite the sheer scale of the room, the air felt strangely cramped. An oppressive weight hung over us, as if we were being watched by an unseen gaze, making the skin crawl.
Beside me, Elysia scanned our surroundings with a measured gaze.
"Records indicate that the Primal Labyrinth is unlike any other," she said, her voice calm and academic. "It is said to possess multiple Cores, each one capable of maintaining the dungeon’s structure independently."
She fixed her eyes on the solitary open door directly ahead. Her gaze was sharp enough to pierce stone.
"One of those Cores likely lies beyond that door. If we destroy it, the labyrinth’s structure will reorganize, forcing the sealed doors to open. At least, that is what the research suggests."
"Then... if we destroy all of them...!"
"—The entire place will collapse, just like any other labyrinth," Elysia finished.
Their voices echoed through the unnatural silence. I stepped forward to follow them, my boots clicking against the stone as we entered the radius of the central magic circle.
The air suddenly turned heavy and stagnant, clinging to my skin like oil. A low, vibrating hum—an unpleasant, grating sound—reverberated through the hall. The magic circle beneath us gave a single, violent pulse, and its soft glow shifted instantly into a bloody crimson.
"Just as I feared," I muttered. "We’ve triggered it."
My mind immediately flashed to a specific mechanic from the game: the Alertness System.
It was a hidden value that fluctuated based on a player's actions. Exterminating monsters too quickly or displaying combat power far beyond the expected level would cause it to spike. Once it crossed a certain threshold, the labyrinth would designate the intruder as a Dangerous Entity and begin an active, hostile purge.
This meant the deployment of high-tier species, shifting floor layouts, and overwhelming attrition tactics. It was a balance mechanic designed by the developers to ensure that over-leveled players couldn't simply breeze through the content.
While the system was a nightmare for most, there were actually benefits to triggering it—though I didn't have time to dwell on those right now.
The discordant hum grew louder, and the entire hall was bathed in the crimson light of the circle.
The floor seemed to ripple like water. Torrents of flame erupted through the gaps in the stonework, coalescing into human-sized fireballs. At the center of each flame, an ominous, glowing core flickered like a malevolent eye.
"Flare Wraiths...!" Elysia hissed, her eyes widening.
The Flare Wraiths were spectral monsters clad in living fire. They were typically found on high-altitude plateaus at night, in graveyards, or within mid-sized labyrinths. In terms of raw power, they were mid-tier—roughly level 30—but their ghostly nature gave them a frustrating resistance to physical attacks.
"Rai-sama!"
I followed Lene’s frantic gesture toward the far wall.
The stone itself was warping. Crawling out from the distorted masonry were several reptilian humanoids covered in shimmering gold scales. They brandished spears, swords, shields, and hammers that crackled with arcs of purple lightning, slowly advancing toward us with predatory confidence.
"Lizardmen too...?" Lene’s voice shook.
Lizardmen were a fantasy staple—bipedal lizards that usually wore nothing but tattered loincloths. They fought with a mix of weaponry, claws, and jagged fangs. In the game, their difficulty varied wildly depending on their equipment and the floor they occupied.
The ones currently closing in on us looked to be on par with the Flare Wraiths—somewhere in the level 30 range.
"That's quite a reception," I said.
"It seems the labyrinth doesn't appreciate our—or rather, your—presence," Elysia replied.
I nodded. Between my massive mana reserves and overwhelming combat ability, the labyrinth had every reason to spike its Alertness Level. It clearly wanted us dead. The summoning didn't stop; monsters continued to pour from the walls until we were completely encircled by a small army of Flare Wraiths and Lizardmen.
"We need to pull back," I decided.
"Agreed," Elysia said, her hand going to her weapon. "Though I doubt they intend to let us leave quietly."
The air exploded before she even finished her sentence.
A Flare Wraith launched a fireball directly at us. Moving on instinct, I instantly cast several layers of Ability Reinforcement on myself and swatted the projectile away with my bare fist. It was heavy and searingly hot, but against my reinforced strength, it was as harmless as a toy.
The deflected fireball careened off and slammed into the face of an advancing Lizardman. The creature writhed in agony for a moment before collapsing onto the stones, its face a charred, bubbling mess. The game had never depicted the gore so vividly; the sight was enough to make my stomach turn.
"Run!!" I shouted.
I didn't give them a choice. I cast Ability Reinforcement on both Elysia and Lene to bridge the gap in our stats. Without it, they would be at a severe disadvantage against this many high-level foes.
"Hah!"
Lene manifested her Greatsword in a flash of light and delivered a wide, horizontal swing.
Her enhanced strength sent the nearest line of Lizardmen flying, but unlike the Grave Hounds from before, these enemies weren't killed in a single strike. They scrambled back to their feet almost immediately, hissing as they resumed their advance.
Lene’s expression darkened as she realized her strike had lacked its usual lethality. Seeing her hesitation, a Flare Wraith seized the opening and launched a fireball at her point-blank range.
Before the flame could touch her, a blue blur intercepted it. Elysia’s slender blade flashed, cleaving the fireball clean down the middle. The two halves dissipated into harmless mist before they could even singe Lene's clothes.
"Elysia-sama!"
"Save your thanks! Just focus on the exit!"
"Right!"
We sprinted toward the only available escape route, moving through the tightening circle of monsters.
I pushed the two of them ahead of me and spun around to hold the line. I kicked a Lizardman’s spear aside and hammered my fist into its chest as it stumbled. The blow was focused and heavy; it punched a hole straight through the creature’s torso, sending the corpse flying back into the ranks behind it.
I swatted away incoming flames with my reinforced hands. My palms were beginning to sting from the heat, and my clothes were scorched, but I ignored the pain.
(I just need to buy time... until they reach the stairs...!)
I fought a calculated retreat, acting as the rearguard. Lene carved a path through the front, while Elysia expertly parried any stragglers that tried to flank them. Finally, the stone steps leading back to the surface came into view.
"Rai!"
"Rai-sama, hurry!"
"Keep going!" I roared back.
I skidded to a halt and began kneading my mana, extending my palm toward the encroaching horde. The monsters ignored the two girls fleeing up the stairs, their collective malice focused entirely on me.
Watching the high-level monsters close in with murderous intent was far more terrifying than any boss fight on a screen, but for my purposes, their clustering was perfect. I permitted myself a small, grim smile and unleashed my magic.
A thunderous roar filled the hall.
A localized windstorm erupted in the center of the chamber, swelling instantly into a violent vortex. The gale shook the massive pillars, lifting the Flare Wraiths and the heavy Lizardmen into the air like dry leaves. It was a Great Tornado—a high-level area-of-effect spell that shredded everything caught in its path before slamming the remains against the ceiling.
The crimson-lit hall was momentarily drowned out by a blinding, greenish-white storm.
The roars of the monsters and the crackle of their lightning were swallowed whole by the howling wind.
"That should do it."
I turned on my heel and sprinted up the stairs. With the raging tornado acting as a temporary barrier behind me, I left the abyss and the monsters behind.