Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

Let’s start by getting a clear view.

“Yeriel, Lumia, are you both awake?”

“Yeah. Even though this is my second time in the Labyrinth, I still can’t get used to the nausea.”

“I’m fine, except for a bit of nausea.”

“Good. It seems like you’re both fine, so let’s light the torch first.”

Flick.

I lit the torch with a flint.

The light chased away the darkness and illuminated the surroundings.

‘This is completely different from the third floor.’

If the third floor was made up of forests, plains, and hills,

The first floor had a dark and heavy atmosphere that anyone would recognize as the Labyrinth.

“Lumia, let’s check the curse you placed.”

“Okay. Just a moment.”

Lumia closed her eyes and concentrated, then opened her hand.

A black arrow appeared on her palm, pointing in one direction.

Even as she moved her hand, the wavering arrow continued to point in the same direction.

Fortunately, it seemed to be working normally, just like in the inn.

“Yeriel, can you hold the torch for a moment?”

I handed the torch to Yeriel and took out a map bundle and a compass from my bag.

Let’s see, the first floor map… This is it.

The first floor is divided into the northern and southern zones, and according to the compass, we seemed to be near the north.

Exactly where we landed… It was difficult to confirm because I wasn’t used to reading maps.

“Hmm.”

I knew that the escape portals were located at the ends of each direction.

Since our goal wasn’t to escape, it would be best to move in the direction indicated by the curse.

The arrow, pointing firmly to the south.

‘If we had landed closer, we could have caught the monster and gone straight to the north portal. Why did we have to land on the opposite side?’

[Chaos sticks out its tongue in annoyance.]

“Let’s move in the direction of the curse. Lumia, it might be difficult, but please keep the curse active. I’m counting on you.”

“Okay. This kind of curse only consumes a lot of mana when it’s first cast, but maintaining it isn’t that difficult. Don’t worry.”

“Yeriel, if any projectiles come flying, I’ll dodge them. Always prioritize your safety.”

Yeriel looked slightly worried at my words, but then said,

“Okay. But be careful, right?”

Anyway, if it’s an attack that I can’t dodge or block, a protection barrier won’t help, I think.

I nodded at Yeriel’s concern and started walking slowly, holding the torch.

Thud, thud.

After walking for about ten minutes, Lumia suddenly came up to me and tapped me.

“Ahren, I can hear strange footstep.”

I couldn’t hear anything.

Could it be because of Lumia’s trait, the Myo Tribe’s sense?

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[Myo Tribe’s Sense (C)] [P]

Lumia, born as a member of the Myo Tribe, received a greater bonus to her senses instead of inheriting the tribe’s external characteristics.

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Enhanced sense of ki.

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Slight bonus to the five senses.

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Moderate bonus to balance.

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“Based on the intermittent sound, it doesn’t seem to be adventurers. Just a moment.”

Lumia stopped walking and concentrated, her ears perked up.

“This heavy footstep… considering we’re on the first floor, it can only be a Woodman.”

Woodman.

A wooden puppet monster found on the first floor of the Labyrinth, with a body the size of an average human male.

They were a somewhat avoided monster by low-level adventurers.

True to their name, they were made entirely of hard wood, unlike the Ratmen and Goblins on the first floor, which made them vulnerable to weapon attributes.

‘I don’t really care, though.’

My strength in the Hard Body state was D.

With this, I could easily catch them without needing a favorable weapon.

“Let’s not wait for them to come to us. If we’re going to encounter them, it’s better to strike first. By the way, Lumia, you’re amazing!”

“Hmm. Did I do well?”

In fact, after accepting Lumia into the party and before entering the Labyrinth, I had posted on the party matching board looking for a scout or rear guard.

Just like when I was looking for a curse mage or black mage by visiting magic shops and asking at the reception desks.

But every day, when I asked the receptionist if there was any news…

If we took into account the curse, we would have to give her a larger share of the spoils, and she would join the party.

I heard things like, “I heard he’s the disciple of the Blood Witch. If he get rid of that girl, I’ll join the party and go to any floor.”

There were only people spouting bullshit, so I gave up.

We decided to enter as a three-person party, but without a scout, we couldn’t do reconnaissance or detection.

The map-reading skills I learned superficially during the training were still unfamiliar, so I was actually worried.

But Lumia could do this level of detection even without black magic.

Of course, it might not be as good as a professional scout, but still…

“Thanks to you, I can relax. Let’s go slowly.”

I praised Lumia and started walking again.

“Whoa.”

Thud, thud.

Soon, I could see the monsters approaching with my own eyes.

“They’re coming. Can you see them over there?”

“Huh? Where? I can only see darkness in the distance.”

…Ah, Chaos Eye.

“There’s a group of Woodmen approaching from the front.”

Ugh. Seeing their faces, which looked like wooden dolls with oddly attached eyes, nose, and mouth, made me feel repulsed.

Is this what they call the uncanny valley?

Anyway, first strike wins.

[Hard Body Activation]

[All physical stats increase by one level.]

“Since this is our first battle, I’ll fight alone to gauge the strength of the first-floor monsters.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

Tap.

I ambushed them before they reached us.

When fighting Woodmen, it’s best to break their heads or pierce the protruding core in their bodies, right?

First, one of them.

Crack!

“Ugh.”

I vertically struck its head, causing it to fall to the ground and become immobile.

Hoo. Huh.

The two behind it rushed towards us with their wooden puppet-like, eerie movements.

Wow. Can their joints bend like that? This one’s wrist is completely twisted!

But no matter how bizarre their attacks were, they couldn’t hit me as their trajectories were visible.

Crack!

I dodged and struck.

Crack!

I pierced the core to disable it.

“Uuu.”

The remaining three also attacked with their limbs, twisting and turning, but their attacks were predictable, and their ability scores were much lower than mine, making them easy to deal with.

“Good job! It seems like your experience on the third floor has made you a formidable fighter.”

Yeriel laughed, saying that she only needed to create a protection barrier for now.

“I felt it when I saw you fight at the guild, but you’re indeed strong.”

Lumia gave me a thumbs up.

After fighting the Woodmen, I concluded that they were easier to handle than the first-floor monsters.

The other adventurer parties on our way to catch Isaac were more dangerous.

By the way, just like cutting off the ears of Goblins, do we need to collect specific parts from Woodmen for appraisal?

In the case of Woodmen, the core in their body, like the one I pierced, is what we need to collect.

We all removed the core from their bodies and put them in my bag.

“Good. The first battle went well. Let’s keep going.”

.

.

.

“There’s a group of adventurers coming from the front. They’re about 200 meters away.”

Lumia whispered.

Hmm, adventurers.

There’s no need to take a different path to avoid them.

During the training, we were told to always be cautious of other adventurers, but not to be overly hostile or afraid of them.

There are probably many parties on the first floor, and if we have to take a different path every time we encounter one, we won’t be able to explore the Labyrinth.

“Since we’re a small party, they might underestimate us and try to attack. Stay alert.”

I said this and started walking slowly towards them.

Thud, thud.

Clack.

“Stop.”

The leader of the party stopped their group.

A mixed-gender party of four?

As he scanned us, I said,

“Since we’re going in different directions, let’s just go our separate ways.”

As he nodded and opened his mouth, the wolf beastman behind him, who seemed to be a thief, pointed at Lumia.

“Fucking hell. Isn’t that an Arar? Wow… She’s already broken up two parties and brought in another man. Luke, let’s just go. There’s no point in getting involved.”

“Crib, shut up.”

“What? Did I say something wrong? Why are you so serious?”

If they don’t want to get involved, they should just leave. Why are they making such a fuss?

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[Crib]

[Strength: F+] [Agility: E] [Endurance: F+]
[Stamina: E-] [Mana: F+] [Luck: E+]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Beginner Dagger Technique
Beginner Disassembly
Sensitive Smell

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His ability scores are low, so he’s all talk. There’s no need to check his traits.

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[Luke]

[Strength: E+] [Agility: E] [Endurance: E+]
[Stamina: E+] [Mana: E-] [Luck: E]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Caution
Beginner Sword Defense

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[Caution (D)] [P]

He is always cautious and thinks things through. He always makes the best choice calmly, and recklessness is not tolerated.

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When faced with danger, he makes the best judgment faster than others.

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When a party member acts against his judgment, he becomes angry.

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Moderate reduction in damage from mental attacks.

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His ability scores are higher than the one in front. This is almost on par with Derek, isn’t it?

The rest… since the thief is acting like this, the other two behind him are probably the same.

What a waste of a leader.

Anyway, since we’re not in the city but in the Labyrinth, I can’t just let them get away without doing nothing after he insulted Lumia.

Even if a battle breaks out here, we can kill them all.

First, I need to strike with lightning to intimidate them.

Click.

As I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword, Luke suddenly smacked Crib’s mouth.

Smack!

“Ouch! What the…”

“I!”

Luke glared at Crib.

“I told you to shut up. Have you already forgotten that you picked a fight on the second floor because of your loose tongue?”

“I… I was too hasty.”

Luke looked at us and said,

“I’m sorry. We could have just passed by, but this guy is a beastman, so he might have reacted more strongly. Apologize.”

Hmm.

“Ahren, as long as you’re here, I don’t care what they say. There might be more obstacles ahead, so let’s not waste our energy.”

Since she said she’s fine with it, I felt embarrassed to keep getting angry and removed my hand from the hilt.

However, I didn’t want to just leave, so I clenched my fist and glared at the wolf beastman.

“Damn.”

He looked down.

I thought this was enough and nodded to Luke, then walked past them and continued walking.

I have a feeling we’ll meet them again…