The air changed the instant we stepped through the entrance.
A heavy, damp chill replaced the clarity of the outside world. The scent of wet earth rose from the floor, and a viscous flow of mana seemed to cling to my skin.
It wasn't as oppressive as the Primal Labyrinth, but I still felt the eerie sensation of being watched.
"Watch your step. It's a very steep incline."
Rio's voice echoed from the front.
Looking ahead, I saw that she was right. Unlike the structured spiral staircase of the Primal Labyrinth, this was a crude, jagged descent with exposed strata and raw rock faces.
The path was completely unmaintained; in several places, the soil had crumbled away, leaving the ground slick and treacherous.
"It feels more like a cave than a labyrinth..."
"Ahaha. I guess it would feel that way after the Primal Labyrinth."
Rio replied casually to Lene, who was walking just ahead of me.
"A D-Rank—a 'just-born' labyrinth—is usually like this. In older ones from B-Rank upward, the passages are usually more defined."
As she spoke, Rio continued her descent with practiced ease.
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her step. She reached the bottom of the slope in no time and hopped down into a small clearing at the base of the incline.
Turning back to look up at us, she pointed.
"It's a bit slippery right there!"
I looked down at the spot she indicated and saw that the earth was indeed give way. Stepping there would have almost certainly resulted in a fall.
"See that rock sticking out? You should step on that instead!"
Continuing in a bright tone, she pointed to a small outcropping in the middle of the slope.
I followed her instructions, and the footing was significantly more stable. It held my weight much better than the loose soil would have.
Guided by Rio's advice, I finished the descent.
After clearing the final ledge and landing with a light thud, I turned to her.
"Thanks. That helped a lot."
"Ehehe. You're very welcome!"
She puffed out her chest proudly at the gratitude.
"Rio, you're quite skilled at this. You can read the terrain very quickly," Lene remarked as she followed me down, sounding impressed.
Rio's smile widened as she clasped her hands behind her head.
"I used to come to places like this all the time with my grandfather."
"For your magic tool research?"
"Yeah."
Rio nodded lightly, her finger tracing the rough surface of the labyrinth wall.
"Part of it was gathering materials for research, and—"
She stopped mid-sentence for a heartbeat.
The fingertip tracing the wall slowed its movement.
"...I used to help him with his surveys, too. Ancient ruins, crumbling caves... we dived into plenty of places with bad footing like this."
She shrugged her shoulders and gave a cheerful, characteristic grin.
"So, I just got used to it."
"...I see."
I kept my answer brief and deliberately looked away.
It had only been a flash, but I hadn't missed the way her voice trailed off. I'd noticed her finger hesitate against the rock and the subtle drop in her tone.
However, it would have been tactless to point it out.
She had only just had a falling out with her grandfather; it was impossible for her not to have complicated feelings about it.
That was why I didn't pry. Instead, I surveyed our surroundings as if I hadn't noticed a thing.
"I suppose this is where the real exploration begins..."
The area beyond the slope opened into a small, cavernous space.
The ceiling was low, with jagged rocks protruding from above. Damp earth clung to the walls, and the rhythmic "plip-plop" of groundwater echoed through the chamber.
The sunlight from the entrance was a distant, fading memory.
In its place, the interior was dimly lit by patches of pale-blue moss growing along the ceiling and walls. Their faint, flickering glow wasn't nearly enough to rely on.
(Right, even in the game, low-rank labyrinths were pitch black...)
As I was reflecting on this, I felt a tug on my sleeve.
Rio was clutching my arm, and in her other hand, she held a magic tool that looked similar to the coordinate stake we had seen outside.
It was a long, slender rod with a white magic stone embedded in the tip.
"Rai, try channeling a little mana into this."
"What is it?"
"Fufu, one of my inventions! I call it the Light Rod! Just like the name says, it uses mana to make the magic stone glow. —Oh, but don't overdo it, okay? If it's too bright, it'll make your eyes sting."
I did as she asked and channeled a small amount of mana. Immediately, the magic stone flared to life.
The dim, oppressive darkness of the labyrinth was instantly replaced by a brilliance that rivaled the sun.
The white light from the tip flooded the area, centering on the rod. The weak, flickering glow of the moss was obliterated in an instant. Every detail—the wet rock walls, the stalactites hanging from the ceiling, even the fine gravel at our feet—was rendered in sharp detail.
"This is incredible..."
"Yes... It's far brighter than a torch, or even a magic stone lamp," Lene added, her voice full of wonder as she looked around.
With this, we could judge the footing at a glance and significantly reduce the risk of missing monsters hidden in the shadows. It would be invaluable for spotting traps and treasure chests as well.
As a piece of exploration gear, it was undeniably top-tier.
(I don't remember an item this convenient being in the original game...)
I gave a silent, wry smile.
In the labyrinth exploration of 'CHOICE//MAZE,' the standard was either a torch or a faint magic stone lamp. Your vision was always murky, forcing you to proceed with extreme caution.
As I was thinking back on my knowledge of the original game, a series of wet, skittering footsteps echoed from deeper within the passage.
I looked toward the sound and spotted several shadows lurking behind the rocks.
There were lizard-type monsters the size of large dogs and spider-type monsters clinging to the ceiling.
There were even a few weak slimes, but most of them were currently thrashing about, shaking their heads as if blinded by the sudden radiance.
"Lord Rai, what are they...?"
"...They were probably planning an ambush," I replied to a bewildered Lene with a wry grin.
From what I could see, these were mostly monsters that specialized in attacking from the shadows. I had run into them constantly in the game; back when I first started playing, their jumpscares from the dark had made me let out more than a few pathetic screams.
Now, those same creatures were making a mockery of themselves.
The lizard-type monsters that had emerged from the rocks were shaking their heads and squinting their glinting yellow eyes. The slimes on the floor were contorting as if trying to crawl away from the light. Even the spider-type monsters on the ceiling were flailing their legs, losing their grip and nearly falling.
They had completely lost the element of surprise.
"Lene. Can you handle this?"
"Y-Yes...! Leave it to me!"
Startled out of her daze, Lene regained her composure and manifested her Greatsword.
"...Haaah!"
With a powerful kick off the floor, she charged straight into the cluster of monsters.
She blurred through the illuminated passage, closing the distance in a heartbeat. With her momentum, she swung her Greatsword down, mercilessly crushing the head of a confused lizard-type monster.
The impact shattered the floor and sent the surrounding monsters flying.
"Lene!"
"Yes!"
At my signal, Lene leaped back.
The moment the path was clear, I unleashed a wind attack magic. Blades of wind shot from my palm, mercilessly carving through the monsters' necks, torsos, and limbs.
It was over in seconds.
The shadows that had been writhing in the passage were gone.
The only things left were the blood and fluids staining the damp rock walls and the quiet, rhythmic dripping of groundwater.
"...Clear," Lene announced as she landed, maintaining her guard.
I held the Light Rod high and peered into the darkness ahead, but I couldn't sense any more movement.
"Yeah. Area secured."
Lene let out a soft sigh and lowered her Greatsword.
In the brightly lit passage, nothing stirred. The monsters that had intended to ambush us had been wiped out without being able to mount a single counterattack.
"...Whoa."
I heard a voice of pure admiration from behind me.
Rio was looking at us with wide eyes. Then, as she looked at the defeated monsters, her face broke into a radiant beam.
"You two are amazing!"
"...No, this was thanks to your invention, Rio."
Rio blinked in surprise for a moment, and then her face lit up with pure joy.
"Wait, really!? Ehehehe... I-I see! I'm so glad it helped!"
She rubbed her nose with a finger, trying to act modest, but she couldn't hide the massive grin on her face. Seeing her work prove its worth clearly meant the world to her.
"It's true. Without that light, we would likely be fending off an ambush right now," Lene added, dismissing her Greatsword with a nod.
"Securing vision is a massive advantage. We can see the terrain, spot traps, and react to hidden monsters before they strike."
"Right? Right!? Man, my inventions really are the best!"
Rio puffed out her chest with pride. It was hard to believe her expression had been clouded just minutes ago; she was now in exceptionally high spirits.
"At this rate, the rest of the exploration should be a breeze."
"You bet! Leave it to me, Rai! The Light Rod is still full of energy! As long as your mana holds out, it won't go dark, so don't you worry!"
I nodded at Rio as she boasted about her magic tool's performance, and I channeled a bit more mana into the rod.
The white light steadied and cut deep into the narrow passage ahead.
The labyrinth itself was as eerie as ever.
But with the light pushing back the shadows and my companions walking beside me, I felt strangely at ease.
"Alright! Let's keep this momentum going!"
Rio took the lead, her voice light and energetic as she began to walk.
Following her lead, we stepped deeper into the heart of the labyrinth.