Chapter 132 Infinite Loop [ 3 ]

-Luna Hazard's point of view.

They persisted in waiting for the others; however, more than two hours had passed and no one appeared.

They knew they could not go with Asher and enter the fog, as it provoked mental attacks.

Although for Luna those attacks were too weak to affect her, the same was true for Gloriana. But they had a cadet who had scored 0/100 on the mentality assessment, and they knew that his mental weakness made him vulnerable; they could easily lose him.

They didn't know exactly what the consequences would be. However, two hours ago, they had figured out what would happen.

"He will have a new personality."

A cheerful personality.

Although Luna saw this new side of Asher as sympathetic, she found it interesting, as that personality came across as friendly and caring.

Despite that, they could not afford to lose the original Asher, for if they did, it would be as if they had never met him, and their relationships would suffer.

"If he changes his personality, he won't be the same as before."

Luna understood perfectly well that they couldn't afford to lose Asher so easily. Not when they had him right in front of them.

One move in the fog and they would lose him completely. However, they couldn't go through it. If they carried Asher, they would lose him and he would take on a new personality.

"Haa..."

Luna sighed as she looked at Asher. In a way, she didn't want to meet a new Asher, but....

"I must admit, I liked his words earlier."

If he was the original Asher, he wouldn't have said those words.

"You two are beautiful."

Those were the words Asher said as his personality changed for a few seconds. It was something he would have liked to hear from the real Asher, but that was impossible.

Hearing such words from the Asher who was emotionless and lonely was unthinkable. Deep down, Luna wished to hear those words again, but she restrained herself.

"I shouldn't have let his true personality be lost and changed to a new one."

Luna looked at Gloriana, then whispered in her ear as Asher stood away from them both.

"One of us should keep an eye on Asher while the other goes into the mist."

They couldn't waste any more time. If they did, they wouldn't be sure if the others would find themselves fighting the Dungeon boss. Therefore, one of the two had to move.

"Well, then..."

"Alright, you take care of Asher and keep him from entering the fog."

"..."

Luna left Gloriana without allowing her to speak, looked at Asher and then turned to him.

"You and Gloriana will stay here while I cross the fog, Asher."

"Why are you going alone?"

"Because you can't cross the fog."

"It's... fine."

"But if anything happens, I'll come right away. The safety of the two of you is my priority before my own."

"..."

"Haa..."

Luna sighed and relaxed her expression.

"You're so silly and protective, you know that?"

There was no response, but Luna moved and stepped into the fog. She left the others behind and after a few minutes she was in the middle of the fog, wandering through the thick forest around her.

The fog grew thicker, causing visibility to decrease.

Soon, Luna looked around.

"That... was there before."

She noticed that something had suddenly changed. Despite this, she kept walking.

The fog was getting thicker as he went on, but the surroundings began to repeat themselves. It wasn't a radical change, however, he realized that everything was the same after a few steps.

"A loop."

He knew when he recognized the same landscape he had already passed. He knew this was an infinite loop, one that was difficult to escape from, but not impossible. Before, escape was thought to be impossible. However, some time later, someone managed to get out using various methods.

What was once impossible had now become achievable.

Luna, who had read about the loops, began to think of ideas and methods to get out. First, destroy everything. Secondly, search for what triggered it. And lastly, she knew that the fog was the cause of this infinite loop, that it had appeared out of nowhere.

The fog was getting denser and thicker as it went on.

However, Luna tried all three possible methods.

***

-Scene change.

-Asher Frostblade's point of view.

Luna was gone and left the two alone.

However, Asher didn't mind.

It was either because he knew he would be fine and didn't need her help, or because she knew something would happen to him if he went into the mist.

But it was both.

From one moment to the next, Asher had seen everything go blank as he entered the fog.

It was for a few seconds; however, everything had gone white and empty.

In that blank space he couldn't move or do anything, or even think straight. It was as if he was trapped somewhere different while someone else took his body and used it.

It was hard to describe, however, it was something like not being able to use his body.

"Haa..."

He sighed heavily as he rubbed his forehead, revealing his entire face completely.

It was hard to have this mentally exhausted condition.

No matter how hard he searched for a solution, it was impossible for him to find one.

Because he had never experienced anything like this, and so there was no information on how to recover from his mental exhaustion. It was definitely difficult.

Difficult to get out of this state, so much so that he was about to give up and just wait to lose all rationality.

One false step and he would return to that blank space from which he couldn't get out or move. Asher, who experienced it, felt fear.

Fear of losing himself again and that a new personality would emerge, replacing him.

Asher looked at Gloriana and they both exchanged glances.

She had said nothing.

Not a single word, while her gaze was stern and lingering on him, as if she was waiting to see if there was any change in Asher.

Asher ignored her, though, because he knew she was watching him. If anything in him suddenly changed, she would act immediately.

While it was a relief, it was also hard to adjust.

"It's kind of awkward that she's watching me all the time."

Asher thought as he looked away, trying to avoid Gloriana's gaze.

For some reason, he couldn't look at Gloriana for very long.

It was as if his mind was preventing him from doing so.

However, he heeded and tried not to look at Gloriana, even though he knew she wouldn't look away, no matter how hard he tried to avoid her.

"Haa..."

He sighed as he stared into the fog.

"If I go in, I'll lose my rationality."

"But how do I get rid of the fog?"

There had to be a way to get rid of that fog.

But how would he do it?

Looking closely at the mist in front of him, it was indeed pure mana. At first, Asher had been surprised.

Because such was the amount of mana in the fog that it was even scary.

However, if the fog is like an ability, it is possible to get rid of it with some method.

The problem...

"I've never seen a fog with mana before, let alone made from an ability."

Perhaps it was possible to remove the fog; the problem was how to get rid of it without coming into contact and avoiding it.

There had to be a solution.

Asher thought.

How do you remove a mist composed of pure mana with so much density?

There was only one way Asher knew of.

"Mana distortion."

It was a recent skill taught by Oriana in a class.

However, Asher was unable to attend that class because he had been passed out for two days because of the mentality assessment.

That made him unable to learn the skill.

And although he heard rumors that that spell was easier to use in the fourth circle, it was also impossible for someone in the first and second circle to learn.

Still, Asher was confident.

"If I had been there, I would have learned it."

Because it was easy for him to learn anything; it was just a matter of watching it for a few seconds, analyzing the pattern of creating and using the skill.

Every skill had a magical pattern.

Asher, somehow, could see lines of mana, as if they were putting the spell together.

Because of that, it was very easy for him to learn the skills.

The mana lines in the spells... a method that creates the spell itself. With the mana lines, each spell takes shape.

And though he had never read a book about it, Asher gave it a name.

Mana line.

Because it looked like a line using mana to weave the ability.

It's like if you made a scarf using knitters without a sewing machine.

Then she looked at Gloriana.

She had definitely seen the class.

However, he knew she hadn't learned the skill.

The only way Asher would succeed in learning it was by watching her, not through simple explanations that might not possibly be one hundred percent accurate.

If he explained it right, then it would take half an hour to learn it.

"You seem to be in trouble," Elizabeth spoke in Asher's ear.

It was because she noticed that Asher was more pensive than usual.

"Do you know how to dispel the fog?"

"I'd do it by just wagging a finger."

"..."

"Because you're too strong, but don't you have an easier way?"

"With a skill, of course."

I knew perfectly well, however, I didn't have the skill to use it.

"I know what you're thinking, but I can't help you."

"It's because of the contract, isn't it?"

Elizabeth nodded.

The contract has a rule not to teach the contractor anything, not to reveal information, and not to interfere, even if he's about to die.

No matter what, the rules of the contract were absolute.

"I wouldn't get any help anyway."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"Eh, nothing important, just go about your business."

"..."

"You... insolent brat, I should help you in another way and correct that attitude of yours."

"..."

Asher stopped listening to Elizabeth as he tried to find another way to dispel the fog.

It was possible, however, it was also difficult to do.

"Haa..."

Then he gave up.

There was no other way.

Just learn the skill, but right now it was impossible.

***

-Scene change.

-Gloriana Mengral's point of view.

Although she kept one eye on Asher, Gloriana began to tire.

A total of eight hours had passed since they entered.

However, outside the Dungeon it had actually only been less than eight minutes.

If you stand outside and wait a few minutes, you will see wounded cadets coming out of the Dungeon.

At first you may wonder how this happened.

However, knowing that time in a Dungeon is different, you will understand immediately.

Gloriana had been inside the Dungeon for a long time, and the sky didn't even change; it still had its twilight hue of various colors.

The sun pointed in the same place and the air moved in the same direction.

Nothing here was moving.

It was as if the day itself had frozen, not following its normal course.

"Haa..."

Tired, she kept her eyes on Asher.

She was fatigued, but if Asher entered or tried to go into the fog, she would have to stop him immediately.

She knew Asher would look for a solution to eliminate the fog.

"I know him very well and I know he is looking for a way to eliminate the fog."

For that, you must be close to the fog.

Use mana and try to dispel it.

However, there is only one way Gloriana currently knows.

"Using the skill my sister taught."

The problem was that she couldn't learn that skill.

Try as she might, it was impossible to achieve, although it wasn't entirely impossible.

In retrospect, it is easy to learn the skill once you reach the third circle.

You learn it as if it were second nature.

"But I couldn't pull it off."

Such a good skill was impossible to learn at this time.

Of course, there are skills that are limited to the power of mages.

While others are only possible for a ninth circle, and some can't even be learned if you're not of that level.

It's a kind of limitation for the weaker ones.

"Eh..."

It was then.

Asher stared at Gloriana.

A smile appeared on his face as she watched him without blinking.

"What's wrong?"

She wondered, but soon that smile disappeared, and Asher turned to look away.

"It's impossible... He didn't go into the fog, so he couldn't have changed his personality, could he?"

She wasn't sure.

She moved closer to ask, but....

"No."

She refrained and stopped walking.

Because if she did and saw that she hadn't changed at all, it would be embarrassing.

But what if it hadn't?

For safety's sake, he asked.

"Asher."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

He sighed in relief and then returned to his place, still watching Asher unblinkingly....