Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

“The Darkness Lurking at the Bottom?”

Conrad, pressing his fingers against his brow, lowered his head and slowly worked through his thoughts.

‘The bottom. Darkness… Could it be the Evil God of the Abyss? Or perhaps a sign of a major incident brewing in the lower levels of the labyrinth?’

Tap. Tap.

“Hmm.”

Conrad continued tapping his index finger against the desk as he pieced things together.

‘If not that… does it simply refer to the underground of the city?’

Snap.

Snapping his fingers, Conrad spoke in a voice tinged with partial certainty.

“Come to think of it, rumors have been circulating that the recently reinstated leader of the 2nd Holy Knights is spearheading a thorough search of the sewer district.”

—⋯.

“They seem to be planning something big. Is this what you’re referring to?”

From the communication device, an elderly voice responded.

—I cannot answer that. Conrad, you know well the principles of astrology. No matter what you ask, you will not receive the answer you seek.

“You’re as unhelpful as ever. You stir things up with your cryptic words, yet refuse to give a real answer.”

—Hahaha, I always feel bad about that. But have you ever suffered for heeding my warnings?

“Which is exactly why it’s so frustrating.”

The man on the other end of the line was none other than the Master of the Mystic School, a grand mage of the 8th rank, an equal to Conrad himself.

The Sage of the Stars—Adrius Levigion.

Beyond his specialty in mystic magic, he possessed the uncanny ability to read fate through the flow of the heavens, hearing the whispers of the stars to forewarn of fortune or misfortune.

A mystic of extraordinary powers… but—

‘The problem is that if I make any move outside of the measures he suggests, fate distorts, and the situation worsens.’

His abilities had conditions too unpredictable, restrictions too severe to be controlled by mere willpower.

Had Adrius been able to wield his abilities freely, beyond his mystic magic, then even the great catastrophe in District 5—where the apostle of the Evil God ran rampant—could have been prevented before it even began.

Conrad let out a silent sigh and said,

“Understood. I’ll contact you as soon as I confirm things on my end.”

—Keep this in mind. It must be today.

“As if I would ignore the words of a trusted ally. Be patient. I’ll handle it as quickly as possible.”

—Hahaha, my apologies for the sudden call. I’ll be waiting with a gift for that one.

Click.

“A gift? What kind of bizarre act is he planning now?”

Pushing the communicator aside, Conrad pulled out another magical tool.

“A talent for the Mystic School… that kid? …Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested the evaluation ritual.”

A thought briefly crossed his mind—had he unwittingly stirred up trouble?

Recently, amidst rapidly shifting events, he had come to realize that within the one he once only saw as detestable, Scarlett, there remained traces of his late wife.

No matter how much he tried to forget, the confusion in his mind never ceased.

So, during their face-to-face meeting, though he had been somewhat satisfied, he still wanted a more thorough assessment of the man connected to his daughter.

Thus, he suggested the evaluation ritual—a method usually reserved solely for official Tower entrants.

Moreover, he had granted a special privilege: the results would remain confidential.

Not even foreign royalty or imperial heirs could demand an evaluation if they were outsiders.

It was a highly irregular decision, a near abuse of power for a Tower Master.

But now, had that bold move come back to haunt him?

‘No. If this is tied to Adrius’ astrology, then it was bound to happen anyway. At least now I can prepare.’

“Tch. As if I didn’t have enough problems to deal with already… Now there’s one more.”

Conrad manipulated the magical panel in his hand, using his exclusive authority to access the Tower’s central records.

“Lumia’s evaluation records… Here they are.”

His eyebrows twitched as he muttered,

“Three talents, two aptitudes? A remarkably exceptional individual.”

Yet for Conrad, the evaluation of a single Tower entrant mattered far less than Adrius’ request.

“I had planned to leave them alone until their school selection was finalized, but with so many places I need to visit, I have no choice.”

He infused mana into his secretary’s direct communication line.

“It’s me. Escort the adventurer Ahren, Lumia’s companion, to the Mystic School’s office immediately.”

—Understood. Should the other two remain where they are?

“Yes. Just bring Ahren. Let the others continue exploring different schools. A talented individual deserves appropriate treatment.”

Rustle.

Flipping through the documents in his hands, Conrad spoke.

“Now, get moving.”

—Yes, sir!

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Having reached the 20th floor, we followed Lehial to the office of the Master of the Exploration School.

Unlike Gardan’s office—marked by a massive, earth-toned door engraved with the symbol of the Earth School—this door was adorned with bones and hides of unknown creatures, evoking the image of a dungeon or monster lair.

Knock knock.

Lehial, acting as our representative, knocked twice and spoke.

“We are the companions of Lumia, a prospective Tower entrant.”

The moment his words ended, the door was pulled open from the inside.

“You’ve arrived sooner than expected. Come in.”

The Master of the Exploration School was a middle-aged man wearing a black eyepatch.

Just as I was about to step inside, a voice interrupted—

“Hah… Huff… Please, wait a moment!”

A staff member, panting as he climbed the stairs, grabbed my arm.

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“Ahren, you have to return quickly, okay?”

“Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it quickly. Lehial, make sure Lumia isn’t underestimated… got it?”

“Of course. No need to worry.”

Leaving Lumia, Lehial, and the Exploration School Master behind, I followed the staff member who had hurriedly stopped me.

Apparently, Conrad had personally summoned me, and I was escorted with utmost formality all the way to the 65th floor.

‘Could the evaluation records have been leaked? Otherwise, why would they call me…’

I wasn’t sure what was happening yet.

But since the entire Tower was under Conrad’s influence, and being summoned by another School Master wasn’t exactly unreasonable, I decided to comply for now.

“The Mystic School’s office is on the 66th floor. Unlike other levels, it has no elevators or facilities, and unusually, no one except the Master is allowed to stay there.”

“So you mean…”

“Yes. That means no warp gates or administrative staff either. It has always been that way.”

“Why? It’s not even the top floor, so why isolate it?”

“That… I’m afraid I don’t know. My apologies.”

After ascending the stairs from the 65th floor, I arrived at the 66th-floor office.

The door was engraved with an elegant depiction of a shooting star and constellations composed of small, delicate stars.

Knock knock.

“I was told you called for me. I was guided here by your staff.”

—Come in.

A wise, perceptive voice echoed from within.

—Oh, and brace yourself before entering. I’ve prepared a little gift for you.

A gift?

Surely a man of his stature wouldn’t go out of his way just to startle me for fun.

“Haa…”

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.

[Chaos is flustered.]

And then—

I was met with a shocking sight.

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As soon as I stepped inside, I was hit by a bone-chilling cold that made me shiver.

The scene before me was hardly what one would expect from a mage tower’s office.

Aside from patches of brown vegetation, the land was entirely covered in pristine white snow.

I quickly looked around, but there were no signs of people—or even animals.

It seemed I had been transported to a desolate snow-covered mountain.

“Damn it. What the hell is this?”

Shouting for someone didn’t seem like the right move.

Running a hand through my hair in frustration, I trudged forward through the deep snow.

At least, that was my intention.

“…Hah, what the… wow.”

Either I had chosen the wrong direction, or my sense of distance was off—because in less than five minutes, I found myself at the edge of a cliff.

And when I looked down, an awe-inspiring view finally came into focus.

An endless, snow-covered expanse so white that it shimmered with a faint blue hue.

In the distance, jagged mountain peaks and uniquely shaped rock formations jutted into the sky, all covered in an untouched layer of pure white.

But that wasn’t the only breathtaking sight.

[Chaos remarks that it is truly beautiful.]

As I tilted my head up to check the sky, a stunning nightscape unfolded before my eyes.

The heavens were a canvas painted in deep indigo and vibrant azure, seamlessly blending with streaks of luminous violet.

A mystical, dreamlike Milky Way flowed across the sky, surrounded by a sea of stars sparkling like countless precious gems.

“…Huh?”

Before I knew it, a tear slid down my cheek and landed on the snow.

A single droplet, leaving the faintest mark before vanishing into the white expanse.

I clutched my chest, startled by the sudden rush of emotion.

‘What’s happening to me?’

It was as if my very soul had been stirred, overwhelmed by a sensation I had never experienced before.

And then—

“You’re more sentimental than you appear.”

A voice.

An old man with long white hair and a flowing beard stood behind me, his presence exuding a detached, almost otherworldly aura.

With a single step, he closed the distance between us like a ghost.

Then he spoke.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Adrius Levigion, Master of the Arcane Order. May I ask for your name?”

This was the man who had summoned me?

“…Ahren. My name is Ahren.”

Suppressing my confusion, I asked,

“This doesn’t look anything like an office. Where exactly are we?”

Adrius pulled back his hood, revealing his aged but sharp features, and answered,

“The vast and beautiful landscape before us… is, in truth, nothing more than an illusion.”

“…An illusion?”

“Yes. I recreated one of the labyrinth rifts I explored in my youth using my own unique magic. Doesn’t it fill you with awe just looking at it?”

I silently nodded, gazing beyond the horizon at the snow-covered mountains before looking back up at the starry sky.

He called it a rift.

The Permafrost Expanse.

A sight so unforgettable, even after decades had passed.

Adrius stroked his long beard and chuckled.

“How do you like my gift? It’s been a while since I exerted myself like this. Unfortunately, it won’t last long.”

“It’s… incredible. Truly.”

I bowed in gratitude, then carefully chose my words to get to the point.

“…So why did you summon me? I can’t think of any connection between us.”

Instead of answering directly, Adrius gestured toward the sky and spoke cryptically.

“Before I am a Grand Mage or a Master of the Order, I am a mystic who listens to the whispers of the stars and reads the currents of fate.”

“…?”

Was this some sort of riddle?

Thankfully, he elaborated.

“The divination revealed your talent, and that message reached the Arcane Order… and eventually, me.”

“What do you mean by ‘reached you’?”

“My astrology has limitations—I cannot see everything. But when a celestial event creates a connection between myself and another, I can receive a definite answer from the stars.”

That sounded complicated.

So I kept asking questions.

“What kind of answer are you talking about?”

“It could be an omen of personal trials and hardships. Or perhaps a fortune—or calamity—that will befall someone close to them, their organization, or even their entire city.”

So if Adrius were to randomly connect with a passerby, he might receive a vision of their future—

Maybe that person would be stabbed tomorrow.

Or maybe they’d pick up a gold coin from the ground.

Or their guild would be destroyed in an attack.

Or a meteor would fall on their city.

It was finally starting to make sense.

“So… what did you learn about me? What was the answer?”

Adrius fixed his gaze on me, his eyes gleaming as he spoke in a solemn tone.

“Darkness lurking below will rise to consume all. The abandoned shall gather, forming a mountain, and from its peak, the Knight of Death shall emerge… Only the Holy Radiance shall stand against the black tide.”

“….”

I mulled over the words.

“…Does this kind of thing happen often?”

“No. Such clear revelations are rare, and the conditions for these connections are unpredictable.”

He admitted that he only received a handful of readings each month—and even then, many were trivial.

“If I could choose whose fate to read, I would be no mere astrologer, but a god or a transcendent being.”

Fair enough. At that point, it would be less astrology and more divine prophecy.

“Damn, the spell’s weakening. Even I can’t maintain something of this scale indefinitely.”

Since he had essentially created an entire world of illusion, we had to leave before the magic collapsed.

Adrius grabbed my hand.

I felt something hard pressed into my palm.

“…What’s this?”

“It has no name. If anything, you could call it a Star Fragment.”

A Star Fragment?

What was I supposed to do with this?

“Just remember—until this month ends, do not, under any circumstances, let it leave your person.”

Crack. Crack.

The illusion was beginning to fracture, breaking apart like shattered glass.

As we escaped, Adrius’ voice whispered in my ear.

“For now, don’t come looking for me. Let’s see if this changes your fate—or that of your city.”

Wait—!

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I was back.

Holding the fragment tightly in my hand, I found myself on the 66th floor, my heart still echoing with the remnants of that overwhelming experience.