Labyrinth System

Everything in this world, ever since the beginning of the "Era of Genesis" around ten thousand years ago, revolved around the mighty existence of the Labyrinth of Numbers; a double-edged sword that provided prosperous gains at the expense of risking one's life.

The trial of awakening was not easily accessible for anyone who desired it because it required the "Crystal of Heavens" to initiate, which could only be utilized when the individual reached seven years old, mirroring the Seven Deities and Seven Labyrinth of Wonders.

The "Crystal of Heavens" was a crystalline miniature orb first discovered within the First Labyrinth of Wonders — Labyrinth of Origin — which erected from the heart of the vast Pre–Endaira Empire during the Era of Genesis, perceived to be a blessing from the divine.

Once swallowed, the subject would undergo deep slumber as one's soul would be transported to the labyrinth-conjured place of the test. This was known as the "Calling."

For the ancient ancestors of the seven races, those considered to be the First-Generation Explorers, the "Calling" was the trial from the Seven Deities to prove a person's worth in inheriting mystical powers from the heavens.

On the other hand, these heaven-sent megastructures continued to expel a serene element collectively known as "Mana", which continuously hovered throughout the world even in the current era.

Even without taking the trial, the physique of ordinary people underwent a significant change, making the average lifespan of a human double, from seventy to a hundred and forty.

Some perceived this as an act of love from the Seven Deities. Some viewed this as an outburst of divine blessing to get closer to their Creator. Many accounts from the ancient past challenged the mysterious existence called the "labyrinths" — deemed to be the sovereign creations of the Seven Deities — that sprouted from the earth, touching the boundless skies.

On a different note, taking and passing the "Calling" far outweighed the benefits of just being exposed to the natural Mana, which caused the creation of a social hierarchy according to labyrinth-based accomplishments.

After passing the trial of awakening, the chosen would be granted the Labyrinth System, generally known as the "Blessing of the Labyrinths."

Zero Ariad, son of the previous Count, but now of Marquis, scanned the appraisal from the Labyrinth System.

[You have awakened the Blessing of the Labyrinths!]

[Appraising the individual's trial...]

[Warning! Error found!]

[Initiating several measures to identify...]

Before the Labyrinth System could continue to mumble nonsensical measures to locate the anomaly, Zero Ariad extended his right hand toward the hazy blue screen. Clasping his hand, which emanated a subtle golden hue for a moment, the screen shattered as though it were a tangible fragile mirror.

A second or two later, the Labyrinth System continued showing the result of his appraisal as though nothing suspicious was initially detected.

[You have awakened the Blessing of the Labyrinth!]

[Appraising the individual's trial...]

[A man lost in a starless world traversed the ruined land of abandoned hope, only to question his existence.

He ran and ran, only to face his shadow.

During his darkest moment, the lone light found him.

Her existence outshone the dark world as She became his sole guide through the darkness.

He learned. She learned. Two worlds intertwined...]

[The individual's trial of awakening has been concluded!]

[Appraisal result: Blasphemy of Glory!]

[It was Her who shines, but you are Her lantern.]

[The desire of your heart has been taken into consideration.]

[You have become an Explorer belonging to the Magic Category!]

[You have received the Class Specialization under the Magic Category: Summoner!]

[The Title: [First Step] has been obtained.]

[May you find the right path.]

According to the Labyrinth Records — the massive compilation of information documented by the ancient ancestors of the seven races during the Era of Genesis — there were "five" constant Labyrinth Class Categories: [1] Explorer Category, [2] Magic Category, [3] Containment Category, [4] Alchemical Category, and [5] Scholar Category.

Every Labyrinth Class Category branched approximately "three" Class Specializations, making an overall of fifteen specializations:

To begin with, under the Explorer Category, there belonged the Pathfinder, Guardian, and Collector.

In addition, within Magic Category listed the Enchanter, Summoner, and Sorcerer.

Meanwhile, the sub-branches of the Containment Category were identified as Confiner, Conjurer, and Keysmith.

Furthermore, the Alchemical Category possessed the Extractor, Elixir Specialist, and Transmuter.

And lastly, all under the Scholar Category were the Archaeologist, Cryptographer, and Artisan.

Because of an undeniable yet somewhat arguable fact that everything circled the veiled existence of the Labyrinth of Numbers, every Class Specialization possessed its unique purpose that helped the entire civilization's development, whether be it from exploring, discovering, looting, studying, inventing, and recording — all of which the reason for the current civilized world.

***

After reading everything, through a mental command, Zero Ariad inspected his Status Window, also known as the "Explorer Status Window" in the sense of being an Explorer of the labyrinths rather than being an individual under the Explorer Category.

————————————

[Explorer Status Window]

Name: Zero Ariad

Age: 17 (10,000+)

Class Category: [Magic]

Class Specialization: [Summoner]

Class Specialization Ability: [Summoning Circle LVL. 0.1]

Attribute: [?]

Affinity: [Spirit]

Labyrinths Explored: [?]

Title: [First Step]

Mana Attunement: [1]

————————————

"This will be fine for now."

Zero Ariad muttered, recalling the indication of the Attributes, Affinity, Labyrinths Explored, Title, and most importantly, Mana Attunement.

Attribute — it could be ambiguously described to be the shape of one's ability as it served to be the correspondence and basis for the Explorer's Class Specialization Ability. Simply put, it's similar to a resonating "passive skill" that could be utilized according to one's will.

The best case for the above-mentioned Explorer Status Window terminology was an Explorer under the Magic Category possessing the Class Specialization: Sorcerer. Every Sorcerer was granted the initial ability called "Mana Blast," but it was in the natural form of Mana without any Attribute-based alteration. However, if the Sorcerer was blessed with the Attribute: Ice, the Mana Blast could be turned into Ice Blast.

Based on several records from the ancient past, the First Generation Explorers speculated that this freedom to switch on or switch off the Explorer's Attribute at will was to have a chance to perform a surprise attack or counter against the opposing side.

As it was written:

— "...the reality of labyrinth exploration isn't all about Explorers fighting the labyrinth monsters, but also Explorers against other Explorers." — Excerpt from the Labyrinth Records.

On the other hand, similar to the Labyrinth Class Category, there were only "five" Affinities in existence as recorded in the Labyrinth Records: [Elemental], [Earth], [Life], [Death], and [Spirit].

If the Attribute was perceived to be one's capability to reshape what's lingering in the atmosphere, then an Affinity was similar to a stigma etched into one's body and soul, which couldn't be controlled according to one's will. Fortunately, every Affinity was proved to be only beneficial to an Explorer.

To begin with, [Elemental] Affinity granted an Explorer high resistance against elements; [Earth] Affinity for high resistance against the aftereffects of touching "artifacts" or "relics; [Life] Affinity would prove beneficial against the threat of "Divine Multiplier" carved in labyrinth monsters.

What's more, [Death] Affinity would help resist curses in any shapes or form; and lastly, [Spirit] Affinity would strengthen the Explorer's mind against malicious spirits and become more sensitive towards Spirit Creatures.

On a different note, a Title was synonymous with an Explorer's accomplishment based on the recognition of the Seven Labyrinth of Wonders. Every Explorer, those who had just finished the "Calling", was granted their first Title: [First Step], giving them an ample amount of Mana Attunement necessary enough to enter the lowest floors of a low-numbered labyrinth.

Labyrinth Explored, on the other hand, was an Explorer record acknowledged by the mysterious, somewhat sentient power of the labyrinths. Moreover, Labyrinths Explored corresponded to Mana Attunement.

The former served as the current era's significant determinant of a person's social status. However, an Explorer wouldn't just be able to explore, finish, and climb to the higher floors of a high-numbered labyrinth at will.

After all, the latter, Mana Attunement was synonymous with Labyrinth Qualification. The higher the value it shows, the more qualified an Explorer could be to take on the higher floors. If someone dared to challenge an unsuitable floor, one's body and soul would be crushed into death and oblivion.

As it was written:

— "...think of Mana Attunement as the most crucial part of being an Explorer. It's similar to the cruel pressure under the ocean, where the sunlight couldn't reach. Like anything submersible without proper qualifications or preparation was similar to asking for death."

***

Zero Ariad finished managing his Explorer Status Window as he began to reminisce about the events before waking up, recalling the light to whom he owed everything.

— "Zero, the concept of time doesn't pass in this place. However, that's only if..."

— "Zero, I have been watching as you requested. Something happens within your family..."

— "Zero, I've been with you for ten thousand years, and will always be with you from this moment on. We will support your choice with everything we can..."

— "Zero, when you come back, you'll wake up as though you're having a dream. Well, that's the only way to bypass Their eyes, who might have been busy gazing somewhere else."

Selectively remembering several moments within those thousands of years, Zero Ariad engraved in his heart and mind the purpose of his existence, which he found after questioning it once during his first day in that wasteland of darkness. But through the stroke of fate, such a place turned meaningful, more so than his present abode.

Even though his 'humanity' hadn't completely disappeared after spending that amount of time in that forgotten plane, Zero Ariad thought that he needed to adjust only if necessary.

'Ten years for them, but a thousand times more for me.'

After pondering for a moment, he reached for the air, where the space distorted. It was the "Explorer's Planar Pocket" — a highly beneficial accessory that was provided for every individual with Blessing of the Labyrinths, allowing the Explorer to store inanimate objects within.

A moment later, an object found itself in his right hand. It was a palm-size ancient-looking key carved with glyphs of what was lost, mildly emanating a golden hue of tranquility.

[Glorious Key of Broken Door]

Description:

An artifact that reacts to the mysterious door that was destroyed during the forgotten war.

Category: [Artifact]

Rarity: [?]

Function: ?

Status: Somewhat useless.

He was not surprised to see several blanks and the seemingly absurd state of the artifact. After all, a key was useless without the door's existence. However, based on its description, which could also be taken as its alternative function, the Glorious Key of Broken Door would react to where it's supposed to be.

'I need to find them.' Zero Ariad thought. Even though he already had an idea where the fragments of the door were located, with the help of what shone in his darkest moment, what he needed was the qualification to infiltrate the places where they were being held or hidden.

'But there's one that can be already procured far from the eyes of others.'

His first goal was set in stone. But what he needed to accomplish first at this moment was family affairs, since it would be a bombshell if the news that someone who underwent the trial of awakening and had been in slumber for ten years had suddenly woken up.

Standing up from his bed, Zero Ariad, with his bare foot, sauntered towards the full-body mirror, seeing his reflection with serenity in his brown eyes.

He adorned a white loose top and a pair of dim black pajamas, like the sun and moon overlapping each other. After some time, without waiting for Olivia to come back, who waited for his mother as he ordered her to do, Zero Ariad left his room at his own will for the first time in ten years.

***

Villa of Ariad, South Thread City, South Ariad Marquisate.

Zero Ariad, meandering in the spacious hallway of the villa, a safehouse far from the prying eyes of the nobles, who might have forgotten about this man by now, surveyed the area through high-end windows.

What his brown eyes caught was the sight of a wide, single road, walled by towering trees of the rainforest, exuding a fresh chilling air. From afar, arrays of houses and crowds were giving life to the city.

He continued with his strides, finally reaching the end of the hallway and arriving at a cramped circular hall, where a few maids, unaware of his presence, were busy preparing a set of meals. They seemed aware already of their Young Master's circumstances through Olivia's mouth.

Olivia, on the other hand, was waiting for his mother to come back. She was standing in front of the door, aligning herself in the beautifully paved stone path.

Excitement was evident in her demeanor as a thought, more like a desire, surged within her mind.

'Mother... Please, wake up! Young Master's waiting for you.'

Clomp—

Several moments later, the sound of a horse silver-coated carriage could be heard from a distance.

Seeing its arrival, Olivia was overwhelmed with emotions.