Chapter 40: Magical Trap Activated

Chapter 40: Magical Trap Activated

As the trio continued their exploration after defeating the two Iron Golems, nothing eventually could be said to have taken place in the Labyrinth. It felt similar to exploring Ancient Ruins in that no human feet touched its premises in hundreds of years.

Was this how it felt with Chernobyl? 

The cold, oppressive air was heavy with the scent of dust and stone. At least it wasn't radioactive dust, but every now and then, Odin caught glimpses of murals along the walls, faintly illuminated by the flickering light from Elyse's fire magic. 

These murals depicted scenes of ancient battles, powerful mages casting spells that shaped the landscape, and creatures that no longer roamed the world as far as Odin could tell from his basic Satisfy World knowledge. 

He saw those humanoids with sharp pointed ears fighting against giant dragons, even slaying them while the eternal figure of a large tree stood behind them. 

'I just got some goosebumps looking at that tree. Something is up with this Labyrinth.'

'Makes it feel similar to Göbeklitepe. Nah, I think it is similar to the Pyramids and Luxor Temple when I visited Egypt. It has that oomph that gives you the 'wow' factor.'

Usually, even in IRL history, the ancient civilizations, be it the Babylonians, Chinese, Hindu Valley, or those closer to home, such as the Minoans or Romans, had a thing about carving out their history onto stone, leaving out tablets, and building structures that revealed their sophisticated methods for their own time.

Similarly, it felt for those 'Ancient Elves' as Odin began shaping them in his mind.

'For them to kill Dragons, they should have the power to rival Gods. Or, no, the one behind them is their Guardian Deity empowering them to defeat those Dragons.'

'Hmm, thinking about it. I've heard Ellyssaria and Mi-Jung share their findings from their respective Magic Towers.'

'The Elves did have an entity similar to a God, the World Tree, but the history of this world says that it withered away, thus signaling the demise of the Elves.'

'Now, the big question is? How could the God of the Elves lose all of its divinity, ending the rule of the Elves over the whole continent?'

'Interesting. This lore search makes this labyrinth even more intriguing. It might as well mean that maybe there was a War between the Gods that wasn't recorded in history for obvious reasons.'

A shapeless power was coming out from that tree mural, and as he approached and touched the carving, something unexpected was triggered for Odin.

[You have discovered a fragment of the World's True History. For this achievement, you will receive 10 INT points.]

'Whooa, so my assumptions were on the money? I'll see what I can make out of this finding eventually.'

'I'll have to take some recordings.' 

Odin pulled out his enchanted recording crystal and aimed it at the murals to capture a raw image that could be deciphered more quickly than when he used the System's Recording features. He had that one going, too, but the crystal was a professional approach.

With a flick of his hand, he also took several screenshots, storing them for later. "These murals are worth analyzing. I'll send them to my Mage Ladies when we're done here. They're way more familiar with the lore and history of this place."

Elyse also became intrigued because, with Odin's accessories, her intelligence reached high enough to feel the mana ley lines passing along this labyrinth. She glanced at the murals as well, taking in their carvings with a careful approach. 

"Think they'll help with whatever we'll face deeper in?

"Probably," Odin replied while his thoughts wandered toward the loot he gained from the slain Iron Golems, specifically the Key Fragment that mentioned a 'Great Mage.

[Fragment of Braham's Treasure Chest Key]

Rarity: Rare

An ancient fragment of a treasure chest key forged by the Great Magician, Braham. To unlock the legendary chest hidden within the labyrinth, you must gather all three fragments and bind them together into a whole key. 

This key is rumored to guard one of Braham's greatest secrets, but be warned—legend says that those who seek the treasure are often met with peril beyond imagination.

Fragments Required: 3

Current Fragments: 1/3

-

That's when he realized that he had no clue who this 'Great Magician' was the key was referring to. He could put together some puzzle pieces, but it felt worse than when Luna struggled with her first hard challenge when she was a kitty.

'Mi-Jung is offline for now. Mina has a dancing competition today. When I'm off from the interview, I should give her a small surprise since I heard she is enjoying watching Leviathan's Secondary Channel, which is based on RP activities.'

'This leaves me with only Elly, who is currently online.'

That's when he directly contacted one of his trusted mages, the Crystal Queen of Aesir, Ellyssaria.

The air shimmered briefly as the call feature activated, linking Odin to Ellyssaria from a distance.

A soft, crystalline chime echoed in his ears before her calm, almost icy voice answered. "Yes, Mat? What's going on? Do you want to talk about the Golden Ratio with me? If you want, I can invite you to the group chat for Casters."

"Hey, Elly. It's not about the Golden Ratio, but I wish you good luck with whatever plans you have to find the ratio for mages. I'm actually looking forward to you finding out the ratio for the Intelligence build."

"Then? What is it? You're not contacting me to keep you company while Eve is offline?"

"Hah, don't jest around with me, Elly. My mind is always occupied, so I don't even feel the passage of time."

"I called you because I have questions related to some Magic History subjects."

Ellyssaria's voice was playful but intrigued. "Oh, do tell me what magic history could possibly have you stumped. You do not usually dig deep into lore unless it benefits your interests." Her voice had a teasing lilt, but her curiosity was genuine. "This must be interesting."

"Well… I'm in the middle of a labyrinth with two newbies. I told you about them as possible seedlings for Aesir, Elyse and Malfurion. We've been dealing with many Iron Golems, but I stumbled upon something interesting." Odin's tone was casual, but there was a hint of urgency in his words. "I found this key fragment tied to some great magician named Braham. Thought you might know something about him?"

There was a brief pause on the other end as Ellyssaria processed the information. When she spoke again, her voice held a note of curiosity. "Braham, you say? The name sounds familiar. Give me a minute. I'll pull up my codex with all the history I've gathered from the Tower of Dawn."

~Hmm~ Hmm~ She hummed with a delightful tune, and while Odin was slowly exploring the labyrinth, he heard Ellyssaria's voice grab his attention. "If the Braham you found being mentioned on that key is the same as the Braham I know, you're on the money, Mat."

"For short, we're talking about Braham Eshwald, one of the greatest magicians in the history of Satisfy World. He's the one who revolutionized and strengthened the magic system that most of us Users and NPCs employ."

"He was a genius of his time, I think … if we convert him to our player's standards, he has a Legendary Status just like yours, Mat. But also… let's just say he was known for being eccentric. Some records of the Tower even called him a bit of a, if not outright paranoid, from a certain incident that shook the world back then."

"It recalls an incident where the Fire Dragon Trauka was keen-set on killing the Great Magician because he dared to steal the secrets to Dragon Magic."

Odin raised an eyebrow, glancing around the labyrinth's ominous stone walls. "Paranoid much, huh? That explains the traps. I've dismantled more than a few already."

"It's possible," Ellyssaria responded, her voice thoughtful. "Braham was known for creating hidden sanctuaries since the Fire Dragon incident to guard his knowledge and treasures, but I guess it is mainly to preserve his life from a raging behemoth."

"If this labyrinth has anything to do with him, you're likely walking through one of his strongholds. Be careful. Braham's traps were known to be deadly, even for the most experienced adventurers of his time."

"Yeah, I figured as much," Odin replied, glancing at the key fragment in his inventory. "Thanks for the info, Elly. I'll keep you updated if we find anything else." 

"Good luck, Mat. I feel bad that I'm busy with the Naga Palace Raid preparations and couldn't give you a small bus to level 110." Ellyssaria said warmly. "And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. You know that I'll always be there for you."

A faint smile tugged at Odin's lips as he ended the call. "Thanks, Elly. Stay safe."

As the magical connection faded, Elyse, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, smirked. "Crystal Queen of Aesir, huh? I've heard about her. She's the #1 Global Ranked Frost Mage, toppling down Bondre of the Ice Flower Guild."

Odin gave a nonchalant shrug. "She's a close ally. We've done a lot of raids together. I have known her since she was a noob mage 6 months ago."

Elyse's smirk deepened, her amber eyes gleaming with amusement. "Heh, what's your relation with her? Could it be that you're two-timing both the Fire Witch and the Crystal Queen?"

Elyse knew little about Odin's personal life, only what he allowed the audience to see on their screens. What she thought would be something playful to pass the time in their exploration instantly triggered one of his bad memories.

Instead of laughing it off, Odin's expression shifted instantly. His gaze sharpened, and a chilling red glow flickered in his crimson eyes. His entire demeanor turned icy, contrasting his usual composure and approachable calmness.

He remembered the past when he was a miserable, weak guy who couldn't see his future without the person he thought would grow old beside him. All that pain resurfaced, but it was foolish to lash out an innocent girl who only tried to lighten up this dark situation in the Labyrinth.

He stared at Elyse, and she could see his expression. Even his eyes looked at her as if she were an enemy. Even though it was for seconds, it shook her a bit.

"Think what you wish for it. I have nothing to hide from Eve. "

Elyse's grin faltered as she felt the weight of his words and cold expression.

"If it ever comes to the point where I no longer have feelings for Eve," Odin continued, his voice steady but colder than ice, "I'll make sure to break things off with her cleanly—without hurting her, without cheating, and without causing unjust pain to her heart."

He took a step closer, the intensity in his eyes unwavering. "Only lowlifes and the trash of the earth cheat on someone they claim to 'love.' I'm not that kind of man."

Elyse, taken aback by his sudden shift in mood, quickly nodded. "I—I was just joking, Odin. Didn't mean anything by it."

Odin's stare lingered for a moment longer before he finally exhaled, letting the tension in the air dissipate. His features softened slightly, but his voice still had some firmness. "I know you meant well with that silly question. I'm sorry if I spooked you. Next time, I'll just ignore what you said." 

He turned away, resuming his march deeper into the labyrinth. Elyse fell silent, the playful glint in her eyes now replaced by starlight and flickers as she watched his wide back and shadow that grew in her eyes for whatever reason.

She, too, wasn't spared from heartache. Seeing Odin have such principles for his relationships made her jealous of Eve and stirred additional butterflies in her stomach.

Malfurion, who had remained quiet during the exchange, glanced at Elyse, raising an eyebrow. "Guess you picked the wrong moment to push his buttons."

Elyse nodded sheepishly, still feeling the chill from Odin's glare. "Yeah... remind me not to do that again."

Their footsteps echoed down the hallway as they moved deeper into the labyrinth. The walls seemed to close in slightly, the passages becoming narrower, the air colder.

The trio pressed forward through the labyrinth, and as they encountered more of those Golems, the sparks from the start of the journey into this Labyrinth became a thing of the past, as Odin was satisfied with Elyse's performance in clearing out the Goblins.

Moreover, her efficiency was increased by his Epic-rated Accessories, which took care of her mana expenditure.

One by one, the number raised for Golem's slain, not so much luck with Magic Gear loot drops in Elyse's circumstances, but the Magic Stones and Golem's Core were a welcomed acquisition that would help her immensely in her Magic Tower quest lines since the currency there was based on Magic Stones than the gold coins.

Their confidence grew with each encounter as they worked on a sound strategy for defeating the Golems. 

The twisted stone corridors echoed with the rhythmic clanking of the Golems' footsteps, but they had learned to manage those foes by now. Even Odin's damage contribution increased as he started hitting on the weak/vital points of the Golem, resulting in constant critical hits. 

It was miserable damage as it was at only (300~400 dmg) for a crit. When you counted the dozens of flurry of strikes on the monsters, it sometimes came clutch.

Elyse, her mana now replenished thanks to Odin's enchanted accessories, felt unstoppable. The first minutes after trying her 'joke/tease' on Odin, which backfired on her, made her silent, not knowing how to open up to Odin even though she apologized. 

Her mistake was wiped clean in combat since she had to communicate with Odin if she wanted to defeat the monsters.

Each spell she cast was more precise from the practice against the Iron Golems. 

Her fire magic scorched through the Golems' tough iron exterior, exploiting the cracks and weaknesses created by Malfurion's vines and Odin's precise strikes.

"Fireball!" Elyse yelled, hurling a molten orb at the nearest Golem. The blast hit with a loud explosion, molten shards flying as the stone construct staggered under the force of her magic.

-12,480 DMG

[Iron Golem - LV.100](14,300/35,455 HP)

"Nicely done, Elyse!" Odin called, deftly dodging a wide swing from the second Golem. 

His Soulrend Blade flashed as he struck the iron giant's exposed joints. Although his physical damage was minimal, each strike opened up more weak spots for Elyse's fiery onslaught.

Malfurion was also in his element, casting Entangling Roots and Nature's Grasp to keep the lumbering Golems under control. Thick vines erupted from the ground, binding their legs and slowing their movements as they struggled to free themselves.

-1,200 DMG (Thorns)

-3,320 DMG (Entangling Roots)

Iron Golem LV.100 (9,426/35,455 HP)

"Nature's Wrath!" Malfurion chanted, sending a wave of druidic energy that rippled across the ground. Thorns sprouted from the earth, coiling around the Golems' feet, weakening their stability.

-3,013 DMG

-1,898 DMG

-2,744 DMG

"I'm wrapping this one up!" Elyse declared, raising her staff high. Flames swirled around her, merging into a massive fireball. "Flame Burst!" she shouted, unleashing a barrage of smaller fireballs that peppered the Golem's crumbling frame.

The fiery projectiles slammed into the creature's cracked stone armor, their impact sending plumes of ash and smoke billowing into the air.

-6,750 DMG

The first Golem staggered, its glowing core flickering as it crumbled.

[Your party member 'Elyse' has slain the 'Iron Golem (Normal)', gaining the following rewards: 5,500 EXP, Damaged Orichalcum ×3, Iron Ore ×3, Damaged Magic Stone ×4, 51 Silver Coins ]

Meanwhile, Odin had already turned his attention to the second Golem, sidestepping a slow but powerful fist that crashed into the stone floor where he had been standing moments earlier.

His blade slashed across the Golem's side, sparks flying as he chipped away at the enchanted metal. Malfurion's vines coiled tighter around its legs, slowing its movement just enough for Odin to weave in and out of its attack range.

Elyse, undeterred by the relentless pace of battle, was already preparing her next spell. The air around her crackled with energy as she focused, her amber eyes glowing with determination. "Fire Blast!" she cried, hurling a large orb of searing flames directly at the Golem's chest.

-10,225 DMG

The Golem reeled back, molten cracks spreading across its body as it struggled to maintain its form.

Odin seized the opportunity, darting forward with his Swift Charge ability, his blade glowing with dark energy. He thrust his sword into the exposed core of the Golem with a devastating, Piercing Thrust.

[Critical Hit!]

[You have dealt 4,848 damage to the target.]

The combined onslaught was too much. The Golem let out a low, metallic groan before collapsing, its massive body crumbling into ash and iron.

[Your have slain the 'Iron Golem (Normal)', gaining the following rewards: 9,750 EXP, Orichalcum ×1, Black Iron Ore ×2, Magic Stone ×2, Fragment of Braham's Treasure Chest Key, 81 Silver Coins ]

The trio stood victorious, suffering only small losses, while their consumption over their Stamina was kept on the minimum, as Odin taught them some tricks on how to minimize their consumption and be more efficient in their actions.

In around 35-45 minutes, they had felled over 18 Iron Golems in total, each encounter thrusting them deeper into the Labyrinth that you couldn't even make out the way out. 

There wasn't a level-up ding for Odin even after participating in the hunt of an overall of 20 Golems, reaching the boundary between level 92 and 93, but not the same could be said for Elyse and Malfurion who contributed more to the fights.

Elyse who leveled up two times, reaching level 83, so far being on cloud nine from the accumulated confidence gained by being in the spotlight of this successful hunt.

Elyse wiped sweat from her brow, her amber eyes sparkling with excitement. "Twenty Golems down, and not a single one could even come close to stopping us," she said, her tone brimming with confidence. "If I keep this up, I'll be level 100 in no time!"

Odin, who had been more focused on analyzing the fragments of the key they'd collected, barely registered Elyse's yapping. 

[Fragment of Braham's Treasure Chest Key]

Current Fragments: 2/3

He was deep in thought, his mind racing as he turned the glowing fragments of Braham's Treasure Chest Key over in his hand. 

Two out of three fragments, and no sign of the last one yet. Would they be lucky enough to find it before reaching the end of the labyrinth? Or would they face the treasure chest and miss out on its rewards entirely?

'Fuck me, my luck is really shitty when it comes to gacha games. I doubt I can scam the system by using my Red Energy in the shape of an ordinary key?'

'I mean, we're talking about a stingy, paranoid, old, Legendary Archmage? He wouldn't be dumb enough to allow such an exploit?'

Odin, who had been leading the way, was lost in thoughts about the 2 Fragments he collected for the Treasure Chest Key. He thought he would be unlucky to get to the Treasure Chest without completing the key and miss out on some rewards. 

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he barely noticed Elyse approaching him, her voice pulling him back to the present. "Odin? You still with us?"

"Hm?" He blinked and glanced at her. "Yeah. Sorry. What was that you were saying?"

That's when, without thinking much, as he was now distracted by his own thoughts and whatever Elyse wanted to talk about, he stepped onto a suspiciously smooth tile that was miles away, a 'Red Flag'. And then, as if someone pushed a red button, that floor tile immediately began to glow. 

'This one felt strange, almost too smooth?'

'Heh? Wait, too smooth?'

Before he could react, magical runes ignited around his feet, and a series of notifications flashed across his vision.

[The Guardian of the Labyrinth has woken up from a long sleep.]

[The magical traps set up by the Great Magician Braham have been triggered.]

Odin's heart sank as he saw the magical runes beneath his feet flare to life, and a moment later, multiple beams of concentrated energy shot out from the walls, striking him with terrifying force.

'Ahh, fuck! I'm dead.'

[You have suffered 205,100 damage.]

[You have suffered 399,000 damage.]

[You have suffered 174,340 damage.]

Odin's body jolted as the searing pain of the magical onslaught hit him. His health plummeted to 1 from the first magical beam that incinerated his body. Each beam of energy tore through his defenses. 

'Fuck! Oh, shit! This hurts like heck! Wasn't the pain sensor dulled down by 90%? Why does this feel like a 10/10 pain, as if I had my tooth extracted once more.'

'I had the tooth removed and was given antibiotics, spending multiple nights crying myself to sleep with that pain. Now, I'll probably have nightmares tonight.'

Just as his vision blurred and he teetered on the edge of death, the familiar notification saved him once more.

[A legend doesn't die easily. You can resist all attacks for 5 seconds with a minimum of health.]

Odin felt his body going numb from the pain. This was a sure death, but here it was, one of the title effects he forgot about, 'One who Became a Legend' kicking off, saving him from what should have been a certain death. But the trap wasn't finished.

The floor beneath him gave way, and with a loud crack, it crumbled. 

"ODIN!" Elyse yelled, her eyes wide as she saw him disappear into the collapsing floor.

Malfurion sprinted toward the pit's edge, but it was too late. Odin was gone, having fallen into the darkness below.

"Damn it," Elyse complained, her grip tightening on her staff. "What now? We have to go after him, right?"

Malfurion frowned, his eyes scanning the remnants of the magical trap. "We might not have a choice. This place isn't going to let us leave easily."

Odin, while in a free fall into the Abyss, reached into his inventory and chugged one of his Advanced Health Potions, restoring 4,500 HP in a single gulp while his Regeneration Passive was also working hard to fill up the massive gap in his Health Gauge.

As Odin fell into the yawning abyss below, the wind roared in his ears. His stomach lurched as the ground beneath him disappeared entirely, and the labyrinth above faded into shadow. His mind raced, trying to devise a way to soften his fall.

'Think, think!'

Only his crimson eyes were the source of light in the black hole, screening around himself as he glanced at the walls rushing past him. 

They were too far to grab onto, and the velocity at which he was plummeting made it impossible to control his descent. His crimson eyes narrowed as he swiftly opened his inventory, fingers moving with practiced speed. 

He fumbled for an item that could save him, one of Mustard's trinkets.Grabbing hold of a 'Wind Feather' talisman, he quickly activated its effect, reducing his fall speed for a brief moment. 

The feather dissolved into a shimmer of green energy, and Odin felt his descent slow dramatically. 

His body lurched as gravity lightened, giving him enough time to grab a second Advanced Health Potion. 

He chugged that one down mid-air, feeling the refreshing surge of his HP instantly recovering back to the full. 

Just as his fall began to stabilize, the talisman's power faded, and gravity pulled him downward once more. 

Odin hit the ground hard, the stone beneath him cracking slightly from the force. The impact wasn't as deadly as it could've been, thanks to the Wind Feather, but it still left him breathless and aching. 

[You have lost 5,195 health from the fall.]

Odin groaned in pain, rolling over onto his back, his body trembling from the lingering effects of the trap. His health was still dangerously low, but at least he was alive.

"That was... too close. To think I would make such a newbie mistake." he said between labored breaths, pushing himself onto his knees. 

As he stood up, his eyes began to adjust to the low light of the massive underground chamber he had fallen into.

The space was vast, stretching beyond the reach of the dim mana-powered lamps embedded in the walls. Ley lines of raw magical energy pulsed faintly, illuminating the chamber with an eerie blue glow.

Clearly, this wasn't just some forgotten room in a random labyrinth set up by the Devs to entertain the 'Chosen Ones'.

Based on his own knowledge of Fantasy tropes from novels, anime, and TV shows, this one felt like a laboratory. 

Ancient magic runes were etched into the walls, pulsating with power. Shelves filled with ancient tomes and broken alchemical equipment lined the room's perimeter. Scattered on the ground were shattered crystal orbs and fragmented spell circles, remnants of powerful enchantments long since decayed.

The air was thick with the essence of mana, so potent it was almost tangible. Odin could feel it prickling his skin, sending waves of unease through his body. 

"A magic laboratory, huh?" he whispered, his eyes scanning his surroundings with awe, curiosity, and cautiousness. 

It looked abandoned, but the sheer volume of mana suggested otherwise.

And then he saw it.

In the center of the room, looming over everything else, was a hulking magical construct. 

Standing easily over twenty feet tall (6 meters), it was unlike any Iron Golems they had encountered. This creature looked far more advanced—its body was crafted from blackened obsidian and glowing blue crystal. 

Arcane symbols etched into its surface pulsed in time with the ley lines that ran through the chamber.

The construct was shaped like an ancient warrior, with broad, angular shoulders and a helmet-like head. Its arms ended in massive gauntlets, each finger sharp and tapered to a point as if designed to crush or pierce any intruder. Its chest bore a glowing core, a swirling blue and white energy vortex.

The ground beneath Odin's feet trembled as the construct stirred with the intruder's arrival. 

It stepped forward, its footfall sending small tremors through the chamber. 

[Guardian of the Labyrinth B025 - LV.135](Boss) (142,101/142,101 HP)

The Guardian of the Labyrinth had awoken, making the Iron Golems that Odin and his team faced previously look like ants. 

Its gaze locked onto Odin, recognizing him as the intruder who had triggered its awakening.

A notification flashed in Odin's vision.

[The Guardian of the Labyrinth has fully activated.]

'Sovereign Insight'

[You have consumed (5) Red Energy]

[You have penetrated the essence of things!]

[Warning: High-level magical type enemy detected. Estimated difficulty: Extreme.]

Odin cursed under his breath, his hand instinctively tightening around his Soulrend Blade's hilt. 

"Great. Of course, it couldn't be something easy."

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(Author Corner: Honestly. I would want you folks to support the story with your votes. I'm not asking much, just a couple of votes.)