Chapter 8: Labyrinth Libarintos (2)
Jin-hyuk decided to take a peek at her status window.
---
Name: Park Hana
Age: 22
Level: 1
Strength 4 Agility 5 Stamina 5 Magic 10
Stat Points: 0
Coins: 100
upation: None
Unique Ability: Communion
Skill: Lv1 Fast Step Lv1 Weak Healing
---
The feeling ofmunion.
Even if it was their first meeting, the person they met would feel like they have known them for a long time and erase any wariness.
It was an ability that he needed to break peoples guards and copy their abilities.
Furthermore
It will be a great help for taming that guyter.
At first, he thought about using them to get rid of the traps inside thebyrinth, but now he changed his mind.
This skill cannot be missed.
He had to get this skill, so Jin-hyuk confirmed the conditions needed to copy it.
[Copy Condition: Stay with Park Hana for at least 240 hours. However, once 240 hours have passed, there must be no one other than you and Park Hana.]
240 hours.
In other words, they had to be together for ten days to satisfy the condition.
I dont need the other five
There was no need to kill them, though.
I am no bloodthirsty killer.
If they didnt cross the line, he would use them in moderation, and then they could leave in their own way.
But if they crossed the line.
That would be a different story.
Because I am determined to survive in this world as well.
Jin-hyuk, who had read the conditions carefully, then said,
So why did youe to me instead of going to the hunting grounds?
Before I answer that, maybe I can ask you a question?
Ask away.
The ce youre entering now is abyrinth, right?
Yes.
As I thought
Park Hana bit her lips and then said
We want to join in.
We join?
Yes. Wouldnt it be better to go together as a group than alone? There is a saying that sharing the risk is better.
She smiled brightly.
Well, it was good that she had said it first, even as her hand went to the needle on her waist.
That is the sting of the bumblebee from the museums insect room.
Everyone else flinched and moved.
This was fun.
So
So she ns to use it on me inside?
Jin-hyuk pointed to the entrance.
Do whatever you feelfortable with.
Want to enter thebyrinth?
Do it.
Once you entered, you wouldnt be able to leave on your own anyway.
---
[You have entered thebyrinth ''Libarintos'']
[The number of challengers is 7.]
They could feel the moist, sticky air sticking to their skin as they entered thebyrinth.
The smell.
The feeling.
Now he really felt the truth that he was really within the tower.
Jin-hyuk looked at the wall. There were bright lights in ce shining from inside them.
There were hundreds of Luminous Moths within the walls.
They were widely known for providing light for vision in underground dungeons, but
There was an exception here.
Jin-hyuk moved his five fingers at regr intervals.
He slowly folded them and opened his palm again.
As if he was mimicking their wing movement.
Once.
Twice.
And thrice.
And then
A moth sat on Jin-hyuks hand.
The dust quickly covered his hands, making them emit a bright light.
Right, nice to meet you.
A gentle smile appeared on his lips. And it was then.
Ah, I couldnt get your full name.
Park Hana spoke from his side. Jin-hyuk ced the moth back on the wall and said.
Ah, I must have forgotten.
All of them had entered inside, and thebyrinth was closed. There had been no time to properly greet each other.
Now that they were inside, they could now talk leisurely.
I am Park Hana, 22, and have been to the second floor of the Tower of Trials before.
Park Hana introduced herself, and the rest of the people began to speak.
I am Hang Cheol-sik. Only ended up on the first floor a long while back.
Lee Haemin. Only till the first floor.
Jang Mina. Till the 3rd floor
I am Cheon Min-guk. Never yed the game.
Do Kwang-woo. My first time too.
Everyone was speaking words, but
It all sounded strange to Jin-hyuks ears.
Extra person to die in traps!
Backup n to be used as bait for emergencies for running away!
Haha! Every night we will work hard to have delicious meals done!
Like so.
At thest minute, he was sure they would all aim to stab him in the back, so knowing their names wasnt worth it.
Jin-hyuk smiled lightly.
A raiding party with people trying to kill each other.
He didnt think he could get bored here.
Kang Jin-hyuk.
Mr. Jin-hyuk I see. So has Mr.Jin-hyuk been inside thebyrinth before?
As they exchanged their names, Park Hana stuck closer to him.
[Park Hana activated her unique ability ''Communion.'']
In an instant, ticklish energy made his body feel tired.
His mind became at ease.
So this is how it works.
He would have felt friendly towards her if he didnt know about her ability.
Goodpatibility or someone to be trusted.
It was like a good first impression.
Fortunately, I knew about thisbyrinth from before.
Wow. You are more amazing than I thought. It is an honor to be with you.
Park Hana slowly looked at him as she was trying to break down his walls
It might work on those with shallow minds, though.
Jin-hyuk smiled and shook his head.
I know it well. Probably no one knows it as well as I do.
Ah I see.
No, I mean it. A yer who knows the whole cesyout will also fall short in front of me. There are 12ps around, and people who can listen to me once in a while are enough.
Park Hana had a surprised expression.
A blunt answer.
Not a single one of her praise for him was working.
Well then, could you please tell me what kind of monsters are in thebyrinth and what characteristics they have? Would that be possible?
That wont be too difficult.
Lets see
What to do?
First of all, thebyrinth changes its interior at regr intervals.
Uh? What is that supposed to mean?
This ce is also called the Labyrinth of Change. Ah, the time hase.
Jin-hyuk stood still, and at that moment.
<em>Kukuku!</em>
The entirebyrinth began to violently shake. Dust from the ceiling fell as cracks opened on the floors and walls.
Ack!
What is this?
Ackkk!
Panicked screams erupted from the group. The ground was rising up and going down. The boulders inside thebyrinth also moved in every direction.
M-Move! Dont stick close to each other!
Shit! If we fall, we die right away!
Right side! To the right!
<em>Bang!</em>
<em>Bang!</em>
The stones of thebyrinth were moving quickly, fitting together like blocks in Tetris.
<em>Kwaang!</em>
Everyone was moving quickly to avoid getting caught between the rocks.
They scratched their knees, causing blood to flow, but they didnt have time to care about that.
<em>Kukukuk.</em>
The vibrations stopped, and the paths changed entirely from before. If there was a small fortune, it was that the team didnt get split up.
Ugh!
Their hearts were pounding.
Ugh, this is thebyrinth on the first floor!
Nonsense. Wasnt there supposed to be nothing here except for ruins?
As everyone breathed heavily with pale faces, Jin-hyuk simply stood up and brushed the dust from his body.
Have you all experienced abyrinth with changing terrains at least once?
W-who would want to experience such a thing!
Park Hana shouted with a pale face.
Well, fine.
Jin-hyuk shrugged.
Once again, he called over a luminous moth and collected its dust.
The humming from it was a bonus for him.
At his carefree appearance, Park Hana felt the urge to curse.
But she held back as she had more important things to do.
We need to get out right now. Haemin. Can you find an exit?
That the ability got canceled when thebyrinth changed.
Lee Haemin shook her head with a dark face.
Unique ability Compass.
The ability to show the safest route out of a dungeon orbyrinth
Park Hana had confidently entered thebyrinth because of this ability.
But
That ability had now be useless.
Because thebyrinth had been recreated.
And that changed everything.
So you mean you cannot find a way out?
In this ce we are locked up?
---
I did wonder how she could enter thebyrinth that confidently.
Was it because there was a navigation ability?
Jin-hyuk, who overheard their words, swallowed augh.
Guess the newbies didnt know that going into abyrinth wasnt like going to their local supermarket.
Even so, what can we expect from fools? The time for it to appear hase
Jin-hyuk nced at the moth dust on his hand.
When body odor and the dust mixed together, a special substance was secreted, letting out a unique scent.
Ah, it appeared promptly.
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
A faint sound could be heard from afar, though everyone else was panicking, so they couldnt hear it.
But Jin-hyuk felt it.
Something that roamed in this ce was approaching them.
---
Thebyrinth changes? Why the hell didnt you tell me such an important thing in advance?
Park Hana raised her voice.
It hurt his ear a bit.
And
Did I ask you to follow me?
what?
No, you were the ones who said you wanted toe. I never forced you.
They wanted toe.
Thats right, speak up now.
T-that is true
Park Hana stuttered.
She wanted to retort back, but she had nothing to say.
This bastard is saying this only now! I already feel like a beggar being confined to this one ce. If you mess around one more time, Im gonna kill you.
Cheon Min-guk shouted.
Well, he would let Park Hana speak as he needed her, but this guy?
Jin-hyuk scratched his head and stood in front of Cheo Min-guk.
You are free to squeal like a pig, but you better keep your voice down in here.
What?
Ah! You dont understand humannguage? Then. Oink oink oink oink. Oink! Oink oink! Did you get it now? I said to be quiet.
Y-You fucking bastard!
Cheon Min-guk, whose face was flushed red, swung his fist.
It was an attack that flew towards his chin.
<em>Puck!</em>
Jin-hyuk turned his head and avoided the punch. At the same time, he tapped his opponents foot to break his bnce.
UhUh?
Cheon Mun-guk struggled to maintain his bnce and fell forward.
<em>Clench!</em>
And Jin-hyuk trampled on Cheon Mun-guks fist.
As he ced weight on it, the eerie sound of breaking bones could be heard.
Ahhh!
Shhh! Be quiet. Dont you know the saying, Do not shout in abyrinth?
Ughhyou bastard! Why are you breaking my wrist while telling me to be quiet!
Because you didnte to your senses when I said it with my mouth.
What?
Your mouth seems like its tough to keep it closed.
Jin-hyuks expression turned cold.
From above.
To below.
<em>Puak!</em>
His foot dug into Cheon Mun-guk.
Since he had added weight to it, the impact was more noticeable.
Kuak!
His front teeth were all smashed as blood spurted out of his mouth.
Arent you being too much? It was just one swing of a fist.
R-right. Who in the world
Is that cruel?
Park Hana and the rest of the people seemed a bit shocked.
Of course, they were.
Do you all think it was too much to smash someones face after they first attacked you?
There was no such thing ase back stronger.
Why care about others?
I was never a righteous person.
Besides, this wasnt the time to judge humanitys morality or anything else.
Dont worry. I wont kill you.
Actually, there was no need for that.
Jin-hyuk looked into the darkness in the passage.
After hearing thismotion and smelling the blood, its now his turn to appear.
<em>Thud! Thud!</em>
Loud footsteps could be heard.
Unlike before, the sound was clear enough for everyone to hear.