Chapter 139: The Labyrinth of Time (2)
Shirone realized the situation. The rules were more restrictive and dangerous than expected. Unifying the opinions of many was far more difficult than anticipated.
Though it was unclear what lay in Kergos, if there was something worth risking lives for, internal strife was also a possibility.
“What? It was that simple? How about this? We deal with those four brats and enter ourselves. I didn’t realize we had such an easy option.”
The leader turned to Shirone, his mouth twisted in a grin, expecting to see fear. However, Shirone found the whole situation pitiable.
Now that the rules were clear, cooperation, even if undesirable, was the correct path forward. A leader who allowed emotions to lead from the start could not only destroy the group but also endanger the lives of his comrades.
‘This person is not fit to be a leader. The others seem to manage somehow, at least.’
As expected, his comrades intervened. Achieving success meant guaranteed passage, so considering sacrifice was a matter for later.
“Let’s get started already. How long are we going to stay here?”
“Tch! Consider yourself lucky, kid.”
The man with the white tattoos headed towards the side of the altar. Then, from a spot where he could see all eight spheres, he crossed his arms.
“My explanation ends here. Come forward one by one and prove your abilities.”
Shirone’s group and the band of mercenaries exchanged glances, calculating who should start for the best advantage.
The leader drew his steel sword and pointed it at Shirone.
“Hey, you guys go first. Not that we expect much, but give it your best shot so we can get a feel for it. Then maybe, just maybe, we’ll take you to Kergos.”
“No thanks. Why should you decide unilaterally?”
“What’s the problem? I really can’t stand you! Want me to end you right here and now?”
“You’re always causing disputes. From now on, we need to unify our opinions. If even one person disagrees, we can’t leave, didn’t you hear? There might be limitations on those who attempt, and traps like Anti-Magic could be triggered. Since it’s a first for all of us, we need to carefully decide the order.”
“You, you insolent brat…!”
The leader was on the verge of losing his composure. It was infuriating not just because Shirone was talking back, but also because he couldn’t argue against it.
However, the female mage thought differently. There might not be any particular restrictions, but considering all possible variables was wise without knowing the future.
“The kid is right. Let’s decide the order. How should we do it?”
Shirone looked at the labyrinth’s temporal sphere on the altar. Having experienced the phenomenon of ‘spot’, he had a rough idea of the current situation.
“Those spheres can probably absorb an almost infinite amount of energy. It would be standard to put high-powered mages later and start with warriors.”
“Does it have to be something so violent? Why do you conclude that?”
“It’s the best talent a descendant of warriors can prove. Plus, looking at the altar, it’s designed for conducting something towards a set target. Therefore, it’s rational to assume it’s a device made for impact.”
“I’m convinced. Then, let’s decide the order. Shall we start with the swordsman?”
The mage looked at the leader, but he shook his head, seemingly upset.
“No, I’ll go later. Why should I listen to that brat’s nonsense? It’s just a simple game. Just go out and smash it.”
“Sigh, what do we do then? Our leader says this.”
“Fine, we’ll send a swordsman from our side.”
Shirone looked at the swordsman on his team. Both Rian and Tess were swordsmen. But without looking, it was clear who would go.
The first attempt would yield a lot of information, making it a significant and risky role, so Rian wouldn’t send Tess first.
“I’ll go first. Though it might end on my turn. Hahaha!”
“Always with your baseless confidence. Anyway, be careful. Don’t let your guard down.”
Encouraged by Tess, Rian stood in the center of the altar and looked around.
It felt different from the outside. The eight spheres seemed to be staring at him.
“Hey! Hurry up! Are you scared already?”
Rian didn’t hear the leader. He had figured out what to do since Shirone picked him.
‘I’m the vanguard. I need to gather all the information I can on my turn. Right, Shirone?’
Rian walked towards the northern sphere. It wasn’t as transparent as from afar. It seemed to contain a misty haze.
“Hmm, there’s no limit to attempts, right?”
Rian, facing the sphere, tapped it with his knuckles. With no reaction, he increased his force gradually.
At some point, the mist inside the sphere disappeared, revealing the number 1.
“Ah? It’s a number?”
Shirone recalled the explanation from the man with white tattoos.
“Ah, so the divine language meant numbers. Rian, just in case, step back.”
Rian nonchalantly stepped back a few paces. After a moment, the sphere emitted a red light, illuminating the area.
It meant failure.
Everyone wondered what would happen next, but that was all. After observing for another three seconds, nothing particularly threatening occurred.
“Ah, so a white light for success, right?”
Understanding the rules, Rian returned to the center and finally drew his sword.
The mercenaries were surprised by the actual size of the sword, hidden by Rian’s large frame. If it was all steel, it would be too heavy to lift without a schema.
“Rian! Smash it with all your might!”
Relieved by the lack of danger to the participant, Tess waved his arms in encouragement. It was a significant achievement just to know that participants weren’t harmed.
“Don’t worry. I’ll smash it in one go.”
Rian gripped his sword with both hands and lowered his posture. It was somewhat embarrassing, but his heart was pounding.
But what better situation to start with the sword handed down by his grandfather? And with a full-hearted two-handed swing, no less.
“Alright! Here I go!”
Rian charged at full speed and swung his sword down. Instead of the expected loud crash, a low boom resonated.
The labyrinth’s temporal sphere remained unshaken, with no reaction. It was impossible without absorbing all the force.
“Ugh!”
Rian maintained his stance, the energy being drained from his body. But he was more curious about the number that would appear on the sphere. Would it be a pass or fail?
The sphere cleared to show the number 241. It seemed like a decent effort compared to the initial strike of 1.
But, unfortunately, the sphere emitted a red light.
“Ah, that’s too bad! Shirone, can I try one more time?”
Rian was fired up. Initially, he thought just exploring would suffice, but after receiving a fail, he felt as if he was being mocked.
“Are you okay? Your legs seem shaky.”
“Ah, this? It sucked all the power out. It’s not physically straining, so it’s not dangerous. I’ll recover in a bit.”
Shirone nodded, understanding the new information.
“Ah, I see. So there’s a handicap, but it’s not severe. Hmm.”
“Still, it’s really frustrating. If I could only use a schema, I might have passed.”
At Rian’s comment, one of the mercenaries’ warriors burst out laughing.
“Puhahaha! You can’t even open a schema and you’ve been blabbing all this time? This is ridiculous. Move aside, I’ll show you how it’s done.”
As the warrior stepped forward, Rian reluctantly left the altar, still muttering about wanting another try.
“Lucky if the brat scored 241, right? Maybe I’ll aim for around 2,000.”
The warrior rolled up his sleeves and spun his flail around. He also had a hand axe at his waist, but seeing Rian’s attempt, the flail seemed more suitable for delivering an impact.
The warrior took a deep breath, bulking up his muscles. His fibers didn’t thicken much, but the overall expansion made him look significantly larger.
“Tess, is that guy…?”
“Yeah. He’s a schema user. Seems like he’s built for strength enhancement. Typical choice for a warrior, but still.”
“Uwaaaaa! Here I goooo!”
With a thunderous roar, the warrior charged, spinning his flail rapidly.
Though it wasn’t a two-handed weapon, the added rotational force could produce comparable destructive power.
The warrior slammed the flail down with the fury of avenging a sworn enemy.
A low boom echoed as the action came to a halt. The sphere absorbed all the energy, leaving no backlash.
“Phew! Phew! Done! Nailed it!”
Panting heavily, the warrior stepped back, expecting his performance to have impressed the onlookers.
The number 248 appeared.
“What, what? That’s impossible! Only 248? Just 7 points higher than that brat? Is this thing broken?”
Tess approached the altar with a ready stance.
“Enough, get down from there! The red light’s already on!”
“No, I can’t accept this! Just one more time, just one more!”
“Alright, come down! You can recover your strength and try again later if you want!”
The warrior grudgingly turned away, his face twisted in frustration. It was incomprehensible to him.
He had never been outmatched in strength since he was young. And now, with his strength enhancement build, to only score 248?
“Wait a minute.”
The warrior looked back at Rian incredulously. Didn’t that brat say he couldn’t use a schema?
“And you scored 241? Are you kidding? Did you lie about not being able to use a schema?”
“Why would I lie about something like that? If you’ve failed, just quietly wait for the next turn.”
Rian wasn’t interested in babbling after his failure. What mattered now was how far his friend, Tess, could go.
Tess stood at the altar’s center, drawing her sword. A chill ran through the air as the blade emerged. Her elegant movements drew everyone’s attention.
“Hmm, what do you think? Will they call it ‘The Gentle Sword’?”
“Not necessarily. It absorbs all the force, so even if you use a direct hit, I doubt the sword will bend.”
“Should I give it my all then?”
“Do you want to use my sword? It’s heavy, but you can handle it with a schema, right?”
Tess flicked the blade with her finger, producing a sharp twang. The vibration of her fine sword was swift, like a hummingbird’s wings.
“No, I want to try with my own swordsmanship. Honestly, this is quite interesting.”
Tess walked to the altar’s edge, facing the sphere diagonally. She then accelerated her focus through her schema. Although the sphere had no weak point, the speed generated by compressing her body’s motion turned into pure force.
With a silent rush, Tess charged. Her technique, which scored full marks in balance Tessts, was evident as she nearly paralleled the ground.
Reaching her target, she seemed to ripple, then her sword, buoyed as if by flight, arced upwards.
A perfect thrust at the sphere made it seem as if a flash of light exploded from the sword’s tip.
Tess’s swordsmanship, centered on thrusts, reached its peak speed at the ‘end of the sword,’ unlike regular sword techniques that maximize acceleration mid-stroke.
This characteristic, magnified through her schema, created a dazzling illusion to the eye.
