Denizens of the Labyrinth

They walked through the gate and Jazmel felt the dent in his pocket from the toll. But Baek told him that gold was easily gained in gates, so he did not think too much of it.

Stepping through the gate they came out at the base of two large rocks. At first, to Jazmel; they looked like a mountain that had been split in two. But on closer inspection, he could tell that they were not together. The whole city had been built around and from the two separate rocks, multiple buildings had been carved and etched out of the rocks on either side and a wide road ran through the centre of the rock and between both sets of buildings. The gate opened into another city this time, a dusty terrain from the sand dunes that seemed to be endlessly around them.

Before Jazmel could continue, everyone around him began to get notifications. Even Baek received one.

The system flashed open before him.

SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!

…

THE HUNDREDTH FLOOR HAS BEEN CONQUERED!!

THE LABYRINTH WILL UPDATE, NEW GATES WILL ERECT.

FOR THE TIME BEING MOVEMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED!

UPDATING!

TO COMEMORATE THIS EVENT TRAITS WILL BE OFFERED TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PASSED THE TENTH FLOOR!

SEEKERS, RANKERS, AND MASTERS ALL!!!

ON COMPLETION OF THE HUNDREDTH FLOOR MONARCH RANK HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!

…

ALL GATES WILL BE LOCKED FOR 24 HOURS WHILE THE LABYRINTH ROTATES!

…

NEW GATES SHALL OPEN!

PATH UNFOUNDED AND UNBOUND TO BE DISCOVERED!

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

Everyone looked at each other and then at Baek. He nodded and then led them as he walked from the gate. Heading into the city.

They soon found an inn and entering, Baek took a white gold coin from his own purse and flicked it at the inn keep.

“I will rent out the whole inn.” He uttered not even looking at the man, the inn keep obliged and hurried his other patrons out while Baek and the others got comfortable. The inn keep shut the doors and barred them before fleeing into the back.

“I know you saw the system notifications and I want you all to keep your focus on your own path. Too many seekers have sought the end of the road and forgotten all the steps needed to head towards it.” He explained and everyone agreed that it made sense.

“Are you not at least interested to see who completed it?” Jazmel asked him and Baek nodded.

“I am and I will find out, but that does not change what happens. If anything, we need to be even more focused and vigilant now.” He told them and the worry on his face made Jazmel vigilant.

“If there are new gates opening, and a whole new rank for seekers. People are going to be filled with ambition to level up.” Patton figured out and everyone realised immediately what that meant.

“We might be sitting in a place that will become bloody.” Katie said and her words were rough but mirrored everyone else’s.

“We need to prepare for the gate opening. We resupply, we stay together, and we focus on our goals.” Baek told them and everyone nodded in unison. Whilst he asked this, he pulled out three different origami swans and sending Mana into them all, they flitted from his hands into different directions.

“What levels are you now?” he asked.

“47.” Katie said with a smile.

“37.” Sadé said, a little shy.

“37.” Patton said.

“39.” Bannerman growled.

“38.” Jazmel said and the others all looked at him.

“Finding Tango was my main plot, I got ten levels for that.” He explained and everyone nodded in congratulations.

“I think we are forgetting something?” Patton said and everyone looked at him.

“What the hell is a trait?” Katie smacked the table playfully and this time, Baek nodded.

“We should all look up our trait options, the system rarely gives something out for all of us. But I think it might be a great advantage. Do not forget, you have all passed the tenth floor. you should all be able to pick a class now.”

“All of you, pick a class and pick a trait. Remember these things usually stick with you permanently, so make sure you think about the choice you make. Your skills will build around these for the future.” Baek tutored them and Jazmel was already excited to have a look.

“You are all near your next Seeker tier tribulations. We should prepare for those. Stay here, I will go out and see if there is any good stores or auctions. When I am back, we will go out together and buy what we need. Once the gates open, we are leaving immediately.” He rose up, calling for the inn keep.

“Prepare rooms for six.” The inn keep bowed once and when he rose up. Baek had been given him another white gold coin. The others went off to find rooms and Jazmel sat at the bar of the inn alone with Sadé. She was looking at her system and so he did the same.

DING!

CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THE TENTH FLOOR.

…

NOW PICK A CLASS!

PLEASE CHOOSE;

RONIN

MANA SWORDSMAN

SWORD SCION

These sounded interesting but he knew nothing of them, he focused on them, and the system offered little information.

Ronin, you specialise in duels and katana’s few can face you and even fewer are your match. You hone yourself with honour and sheath your strength with dignity!

That sounded mildly interesting.

Mana swordsman, you wield Mana atop your blade, and it sharpens your every move. Mana damage added to every blade or sword technique.

That one sounded interesting, he wondered how that would change things for him.

Sword Scion, not all who earn the right to bear a sword are born for it. You are one of the few who were born with the right. A scion is related to the sword, awaken your connection!

He looked at that class for a long while. He read back through the others. But that one seemed to sing to him the most. There was no point deliberating about it. He focused on it and the system chimed in.

DING!

DO YOU CHOOSE SWORD SCION?

…

ACCEPTED!

CLASS CHOSEN!!

…

TRAIT HAS STILL NOT BEEN ACCEPTED, PLEASE ACCEPT!

The system was not giving him any options, he had to accept whichever trait he was given by the system.

THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF TRAITS

ACTIVE TRAITS

PASSIVE TRAITS

BORN TRAITS

This seemed interesting, Jazmel focused on them again and additional information popped up.

Active traits consume Mana and have to be activated by the seeker.

That did not seem like a good option, he hoped he would not gain one of those.

Passive traits exist as part of the seekers character. This will run alongside the skills of the seeker and embolden them for their journey within the labyrinth.

This one sounded good, but he wondered what the final option would be.

Born traits are from blood and lineage, they amplify skills already created.

For the first time and randomly. This made Jazmel think of the Kaminari boy from the seeker trials. He had used thunder effortlessly; he probably was already gifted something like this and was getting stronger with it. Jazmel sighed and then focused on the system again.

DING!

DO YOU ACCEPT YOUR TRAIT?

PASSIVE TRAIT GIVEN!

…

HALL OF SWORDS TRAIT INCORPORATED!

Hall of swords, the journey to the sword mountain has opened its way to you. For every sword you collect and add to the mountain, further insight is gained! The way of the sword calls you friend!!

That sounded amazing! He just had to buy and use swords; he would grow stronger from collecting them?! the system was immense, and he knew this was too big of a boon to not acknowledge. The system chimed and his mind instantly gained insight as his trait saturated into his body. It was an odd feeling, a little unnerving but he let it happen and the trait washed over his body.

DING

…

AFFINITY WITNESSED!

…

This was new, Jazmel thought.

…

HALL OF SWORDS AND SWORD SENSE HAVE AFFINITY.

WILL YOU MERGE?

He accepted.

HALL OF SWORDS AND SWORD SENSE MERGING

…

MERGED!

CONGRATULATIONS NEW TRAIT CREATED!

+2 INT

+3 PER

He smiled at that then read his new trait.

BORN TRAIT CREATED!

HEART OF THE SWORD

He focused on the information and glee bubbled in his stomach.

Heart of the sword; you have picked up the sword and the path has opened for you. For every sword you meet, it will temper your spirit. The way of the sword will lead you to the sword mountain and you will bathe in its insight. When a sword is in your hand, your mind sharpens. You have become like the blade, there is affinity in the sword! delve in!

He was astounded. This was truly too good to be true, he wanted to speak about it, and he waved his screen away just as Sadé finished her own.

“You look like you got a good trait!” she said, and he nodded.

“Me too!” she grinned.

“Tell me.” He said and she nodded.

“I have a secret, but you cannot tell anyone.” He promised and then she closed in on him and whispered.

“I was given the option of two traits because I am half elven. Something to do with blood of two worlds.” he listened to her, but he had to admit he was a little envious.

“I will have to message my family about this!” she thought aloud.

“Go on!” he begged, and she smiled, settling in to continue.

“I picked a passive trait called night of the kitsune. For every big level up I do, it will add a tail for me. It also explained that each tail counts as +500 Mana. So, write now I have just under 2000 Mana, including the three tails.” She was giddy and he could not help but smile at her.

“Once I gain my fifth tail, each tail will be +1000 Mana. How cool is that!” she clapped, that was a lot of Mana Jazmel thought to himself, but he was sure she would figure it out.

“What was your other option?” he quizzed, quite curious.

“Oh, this one is an active trait, but I will barely use it and it works for me because of my tails. It is called thunder fiend, I had to sunder my thunder strike skill. But now I am immune to thunder, and also for any thunder skills I gain moving forward, it will cost me half the Mana to use.” She explained and he whistled.

“Those are truly blessings.” He admitted and she nodded, incredibly happy.

“What about you?” she asked, and he told her about his born trait and her jaw dropped he closed her mouth for her, and she laughed a little. Letting her hair cover her clearly blushing face.

“So…” she said finally, and he looked at her.

“We kissed.” She said and he smiled at her.

“We did.” She looked down and her hair cascaded around her face, something he found that he loved to see happen. He used his hand to raise her chin, softly.

“Hey, I liked it. I would like to do it again, but a lot seems to be going on.” He said while supporting her face with his hand still.

“I know, but I ran away!” she blurted and then they laughed, she leant into him and rested the top of her head on his chest.

“So, we aim for Monarch and not master right?” he said, and she looked up, her hair buffing him like dandelion seeds.

“You are crazy you know that right?” she tells him and Jazmel nods.

“I just want to see how far we can go and if we keep going like we have been. Then I do not see why we should not aim for the top.” He countered and she wiped a single tear before hugging him deeply.

“I don’t care what we do, I just want to do it with you.” She bid him and he hugged her back, very ok with that.

Someone cleared their throat and Sadé made to bolt, but he did not let her. This time he held her in his chest and looking over her head. He saw Baek was back, and he looked happy.

“Young master. I have news.” He told them both. The others came down too and Jazmel did let Sadé go before they all made it down.

“I know who completed the hundredth floor.” Baek told them all.

“Who?” Katie asked.

“Xian Fei.” Baek told them and Katie whistled.

“Other Masters have prepared to rush to the floor to try their hand again, everyone is moving or planning to move once the labyrinth rights itself.” he explained, and Jazmel nodded.

“The pack never concerns itself with the way other packs live.” Bannerman offered and everyone smiled at his response.

“Speaking of the pack. Did you all choose your class and trait?” Patton asked and Jazmel thanked him in his head for being the tactician of the group.

Everyone murmured that they did and Baek looked around waiting for them to tell theirs.

“As I already have a class, I picked a trait and the trait I chose was passive. It is called Dream of the Heron.” Baek said.

“My class is Beast friend, and my trait is a born trait, Wolf kind.” Bannerman told them.

“I chose a class called, Iron maiden.” Katie said and Jazmel smiled at the irony.

“Also, I gained a passive trait it is Mana chains.” She continued.

“My situation is a little different.” Patton begun.

“My class is Mana swordsman, and my trait is an active one. Mana blade, so they sort of cancel each other out.” Patton explained, he looked a little defeated, but Baek tried to soothe him.

“I cannot speak on traits as it is a new thing. but your class is much more than just the title, so consider it from all angles before you see it as a waste.” Baek said and Patton nodded, suddenly everyone was a little happier.

“My class is sword scion, and my born trait is heart of the sword.” Jazmel explained and they all looked at him.

“Those sound fun.” Katie trilled and everyone laughed.

“Everyone in the pack has to carry their weight. Those who are strongest have more responsibility.” Bannerman clarified.

“Honestly, puppy. That might be the best thing I have ever heard you say.” Katie said and rubbed Bannerman’s shoulder affectionately, mockingly but there was a little love there still.

“Also, we are in Sacretares, the desert auction will begin in an hour. I have rented us a private booth; we will attend, and you will buy what you need for your tier tribulations. With the labyrinth changing itself, we might follow a path I do not know anymore. We need to prepare ourselves for anything. Which is worrying.” Baek was clearly worried.

“Let us just attend this auction, shopping is always a feel-good option.” Katie said and standing up, she began to head out the door. Everyone else followed her and Baek rose to lead them towards the auction.

“Inn keep, we are still renting the inn! Nobody but us are allowed here!” Baek told him and the inn keeper thanked him and promised to keep the inn closed to others.