59 - Brown Rock Labyrinth

"Ok, I'm ready to go." Michael said as he finished securing his sword to his belt, he was wearing his newly acquired Armor.

Last night their rewards were delivered to the hotel room, and luckily for Michael his equipment were of the dark attribute.

So they complimented him quite well, allowing for his strength to increase by a small level.

Michael stood in front the the minor checking himself out in his dark blue Armor happily, striking a heroic pose every now and then, as he daydreamed.

It was at this moment he was tapped on the back of his head on his helmet bringing him out of his daydreaming.

"Come on, we don't have time for you to be narcissistic, so let's get going." Victor shook his head before heading for the door.

Like Michael, Victor was also wearing his new equipment, only unfortunately for him it didn't match his class but it still was better than his Fire Mage gear.

"Ow, why did you hit me?" Michael complained as he faked a pained face.

But Victor didn't even give him the time of day as he left the room, seeing this Michael stopped acting and hurriedly caught up with the leaving Victor.

"So Bro, Brother, my main man, what are we doing today?" Michael wrapped his arm around Victor with a slightly nervous smile.

In response Victor actually gave him a helpless look, which caused Michael to know he stuffed up.

"Sigh, like I've said before we're going to to enter the Earth Labyrinth or as it's better know The Brown Rock Labyrinth." Victor really didn't know anymore if Michael truly was pretending to be dumb anymore.

As recently it feels like Michael is becoming dumber and dumber, and Victor knows for a fact that Michael is infact very intelligent.

He truly didn't know why Michael acted like this, he knew that when no one was around Michael trained till he literally collapse from exhaustion.

"I don't know why you do it Michael.." Victor stopped walking and turned to Michael with a rare serious frown on his face.

Michael as soon as he heard Victor say his name and saw his face, he froze as genuine suprise appeared in his eyes.

".... Nor do I think I'll truly understand... But you are my best friend, my brother... And I might not know everything but I do know you are one of the smartest and most hardworking people I've ever known...." Victor looked straight into Michael's eyes, and his own emotionless eye's showed a rare hint of emotion.

"... And I know when you put your mind to something nothing can stop you in your pursuit of your goal... Now I know for a fact that this period of time will lay the foundation for use and determine the highest we can reach.." Victor placed both his palms on Michael's shoulders.

"And I know you have more than enough potential to reach the top, so please Brother don't let anything hold you back from reaching the very top..." Victor's words hit home as Michael's eyes widened for a moment before turning serious.

"I... Fine.. you got it boss." Michael's entire demeanor changed in an instant, if before he was a good ball now he was a seasoned veteran who just left a battlefield.

"Don't worry I'm taking this seriously... It's just... Sigh, I know it looks like I'm not taking anything seriously but don't worry I've always taken this seriously even if it doesn't seem like it..." Michael let out a deep breath as his whole body relaxed leaving it previously stiff state.

"So don't worry Boss! There's nothing we can't do when we work together, we've just got to give it our all! Plus we both can't be serious all the time, or how will we have any fun!" Michael's demeanor went back too his previous cheerful self as he once again wrapped his arm around Victor pulling him close before dragging him away.

Michael started to talk about all the future fun and adventures they would take together.

Victor's face changed as a large smile spread on his face, as he felt a little helpless.

"Plus what's the point in living if you don't make the most of it and have fun!" Michael with a cheeky smile raised his left arm high as he spoke in a loud voice.

"What's the point without fun, huh? Well I do guess your right." Victor's smile grew as he too wrapped his arm around his closet friend and brother, as for the first time in a long time everything seemed not so grey and cold.

"So this is it huh?" Michael got off the carriage as he looked up with his hand shielding his eye's from the sun.

"Yes, that's our destination The Brown Rock Labyrinth." Victor followed after he paid for the ride.

In front of them was a tall black tower made of black rock, it stood at the approximate highet of 30 floors.

On the outside of the tower a bunch of carvings of monsters stood out to anyone seeing them, almost drawing those who look in.

At the very top of the tower was a huge brown earth magic crystal that glowed slightly.

On the ground level there was a large building built around the towers base, this area was full of stores and administration areas.

And around this area was a large open paved area with large undercover areas were people had set up stalls selling their wares.

Heading to the large main entrance designed after a old ancient greek architecture, with huge pale white standing proudly as they held up the large titled roof.

There was a constant flow of people coming and going, as this was one of the four entries to the Labyrinth, one on each side.

Inside the layout was quite simple as it was needed, with white marble floors most of the interior was marble.

There almost wasn't a space on the large tall walls that didn't have art, weather that be carvings, murals or paintings.

Most of the art had at least one or depiction of a monster, weather that be small or large, weak and powerful.

This art mainly depicted stories of all sorts of people, but they mainly were the stories of adventures fighting or slaying monsters.

But not all we're of triumphs or the brave, as some were of horrors to remind everyone of the danger out there.

But it truly was an inspiring sight to anyone who saw it, so you could imagine what it's like for young 16 year olds who are taking their first step inside and seeing these sights of which many were of people they were told stories of as young kids.

Is more than to get their blood pumping, especially when the thought of one day they too could have their own stories immortalized with these heroes.

But even with these incredible sights it didn't hinder them both in their mission today as they walked through the huge lobby to the far opposite end, where people were entering and exiting the Labyrinth.

This building actually had a branch of the Adventures Guild here, so that you could accept Quests here without having to basically travel across the whole city.

Luckily for them both Victor had already accepted a bunch of Quests the other day, as for accepting them online well you only had access to that if you were at least C rank adventurer.

In total Victor had accepted a total of five quests, the maximum they both could accept at one time for their rank.

Three of them were monster hunt quests, the last two were both material collection quests.

All five could be completed on the first five floors, but unfortunately they wouldn't be able to get to the fifth floor with their strength as every floor you advance the strength by at least five levels in this Labyrinth.

So on the first floor the monster were between level 1 to 5, second 5 to 10 and so on.

And depending upon the the Labyrinth there would be a boss on every certain floor, for example Brown Rock Labyrinth had a boss of every fifth floor that you needed to beat before you could advance.

Of course after you had beaten the boss you could get a something called a Labyrinth Floor Token.

They were dropped by bosses and could only be used once by the person who obtained it.

But it allowed the user to teleport from the first floor to the same floor they obtained it.

Likewise you could purchase the service to teleport to certain safe areas from the guild but not only did it require a rank of C or above but you had to have reached that floor before.

But none of this mattered to them at this current moment, zas they made their way over to the Labyrinth's entrance.

In front of them was a huge arched gateway with two huge bronze coloured metal doors left opened.

As they had already been checked by security on the way in they didn't need to go through any more checks.

So they both followed the crowd walking through the huge gateway, the large hallway slowly change from made made to jagged rock.

As they finally officially entered the Labyrinth, looking at the large cave walls Victor pulled out his map.

He had brought a physical copy as it is quite common for technology to fail or stop working, even magic tech.

Victor checked the map that was full of hundreds of different lines each signifying a passage, and this was only the first floor map.

"Whistle, Damn that's a lot of lines." As Michael checked his equipment he looked over at the map.

"Yep, and that's why we can't lose it. Now after we've checked our gear once last time we'll get started." Victor nodded in agreement before he started checking his gear.

Making sure everything was in order, Victor's staff appeared in his hand, raising his staff Victor lightly tapped on the ground....

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Marry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

I wish you all to have a great Day, weather you celebrate this day or another. From the bottom of my heart I truly wish for you to have a amazing day!! (no matter what day you see this!)

I wish you to have a truly great day!!!

And I hope to see you Watchers from beyond next year!!