The portal brought them to another floor that they just had to assume was the next step or stage of their journey.
Jazmel was curious about the portals, why would a spirit tree need to use gates for people to move around. But he wasn’t sure, he didn’t truly understand the movements of the labyrinth at all, and the randomised journeying seemed to be a luck of the draw sort of situation.
“When you fought, it looked so graceful. It was as if you were dancing or in a dance. I had never seen anyone move that well.” Jazmel told Baek who smiled gratefully at him.
“Elegance within battle is a hard approach, but I urge everyone to try their hand at it. The more grace you hold within your blade the less excess Mana you use.” Baek explained to him and Jazmel fell quiet thinking about what he had just heard.
The gate had brought them out to a space that was all rock and ore. It was a division of caves and Jazmel could hear their steps as they echoed through the expanse.
“How are you able to see in the dark so well?” Jazmel asked Baek after they advanced further into the caves and while he could see, Baek moved just as agile as him.
“I use my Mana to bounce around and cover where my feet touch. It’s like sonar, I send a tiny pulse out that covered everything out in front and I can see whatever my Mana touches.” He explained and Jazmel looked at him with wonder, he just stared at him.
“You are amazing Baek.” Jazmel complimented him and the old man smiled, lowering his head and gaze.
“You will be able to do all of these things, you just haven’t had the time. I have been inside the labyrinth for almost twice the amount of time you have lived and already, so soon. You and I walk the same paths as a master. You are the one who is amazing young master.” Baek expressed to him and now Jazmel felt embarrassed.
The caves were winding and curled and curved like strands of hair, Jazmel couldn’t quite say they were lost. But as the way continued to open before them, he had no other option to move forward.
“Let’s pick up the speed a bit.” He said and darting into a sprint, he and Baek moved through the caves like a wind.
But still nothing and after a solid hour of an all-out sprint, they hadn't covered much ground or found any true purchase in the caves.
“Let me try something.” Baek offered and Jazmel beckoned for him to go forward. Baek pulled from his ring, a handful of beads and as he watched, he saw him impress his Mana into them. the beads elevated from his hands and each individual one of them suddenly became a little white spirit that looked completely like a heron. The bead was the body, and the rest was formed completely of Mana.
“Find me the way out of here.” Baek said and the beads shot off, in all directions Jazmel simply stared at him and Baek explained.
“Bead spirits, they can be asked to do menial tasks. But I doubt that they will do it properly.” Baek explained. Jazmel waited and watched as Baek seemed to be mentally connected to all of them and was following their trails with his mind, his eyes were closed and to Jazmel it looked as if he was meditating.
“Found them, come quick!” Baek said and he disappeared, floating across the ground like a skimming stone as he sprinted through the caves. Jazmel could only follow him as he had no idea where he was going and so he just followed him, doing his best to keep up with Baek, who was quite clearly faster than he.
A full-on sprint and when they were nearing, Jazmel could hear the sounds of battle. They had run for almost an hour. But when they reached the cave the spirit beads returned to Baek’s hand.
A battle was ongoing, a few seekers were fighting what looked like golems made of rock and turtles with stone shells.
DING!
TIER IV ROCK THRUMNAL! Bitter spirits locked with rock form, they live off of the ores and rocks they eat, but they will also try their luck on unsuspecting seekers!
TIER III STONE TURTLE! Creatures of caves and mountains, they are able to swim through rock and stone and their shells harden from the ores they feast on. Very hardy creatures but their tough leather and shells are worth their weight in value.
…
Jazmel didn’t think of it, he dived in and rushing towards the first creature. It was rock Thrumnal, and it swivelled trying turn on him. It was interesting to see them, it was a jagged piece of rock, which had two legs and two arms, it walked on all fours like an ape.
Sundering Raven!
He hadn't been sure his blade would be able to cut through rock. But his sword smashed and then sliced, cutting through the forelimb of the Thrumnal, it cried out. Its cry sounding like a rockslide, Jazmel leapt up and tried to cleave it in half.
Heron’s Edge!
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Baek fluttered past, cleaving through the second forelimb and the Thrumnal fell onto its body. Crying out in rage and agony.
Sundering Raven!
Jazmel stabbed into the head and forced his skill to erupt inside. The Thrumnal died rocks flying everywhere.
DING!
TIER IV LESSER ROCK THRUMNAL KILLED!
TIER IV LESSER ROCK THRUMNAL CORE GAINED!
EXP ACCRUED!
…
But he couldn’t even rest, he dodged to the side and turned as a group of stone turtles swam through the ground towards him. the closest to him, began to spew stones at him and he had to parry the few he could stop them from hitting him.
Shadowing Wraith!
Leaping through the dark of the shadows he landed behind the group as they were leaving the cave floor to dive again. he struck, three times and killed three out of the group. The others dispersed and hid themselves in the floor on their dives.
DING!
3X TIER III STONE TURTLES KILLED
2X TIER III STONE TURTLE LEATHER GAINED
4X TIER III STONE TURTLE ORES GAINED
1X TIER III STONE TURTLE BEAST CORE GAINED!
EXP SLIGHTLY ACCRUED
…
Jazmel watched to see if they were to return, his eyes allowing him to follow their Mana held in their cores as they moved. But they delved deeper into the caves and left them, not wanting to die like the others.
“Well look who it is!” he heard, turning to the voice he saw the man from so long ago. The man who carried a halberd.
“Who thought such a scrawny boy would make it all the way here!” he came over and patted Jazmel heartily on the shoulder and gripped his arm with earnest.
“Oh not so scrawny at all!” he cheered, genuinely happy to see Jazmel. And he wasn’t alone, for he had the fairy with him. the beautiful woman who he had thought a fairy, she saw him and winking at him. she smiled and waved daintily.
“Hello handsome.” She waved, she had been in the middle of the fighting, her bangles glittered on her wrists and Jazmel could see she now carried a sword, a falchion that she had strapped across her back. Her hair had been tied back into a long braid down her back, but what he noticed was the triangle mark on her forehead. It was like an imprint but rather more like a tattoo, the only reason he had noticed it, was due to how it shined to his vision. It looked like a shining beacon, and it was filled to the very brim with Mana.
“What are you doing here?” the man with the halberd, who Jazmel didn’t know the name of asked.
“We are tasked with finding the roots of the tree.” Jazmel said, not giving away everything.
“Ahhh, the rot?” the man guessed looking at Jazmel and then noticing Baek for the first time, who stood off to the side and maintained his posture, his sword was still drawn but he carried it low and close to his body.
“We are to deal with the rot too, would you like to band together?” halberd offered and Jazmel looked at him with confusion.
“I was under the impression you hated me.” He asked honest and curious to see how he would respond.
“In truth, at that point. I hated everything but no single one. I did not show you my best side at that point and I would apologise before you if you would accept my apology.” He offered, graciously bowing at the waist before Jazmel.
The pretty fairy like woman came over and when he had stopped bowing, she linked her arm with his and held his hand. A sign of their close relationship.
“Handsome one, his heart has softened over the many months we haven’t seen each other. I promise you he has changed.” She said, her beauty almost enthralling him.
“You have become a master tier, so young?” she noticed, studying him, though he towered over her, the man with the halberd was still taller and sturdier than him.
“I have been through many things in the labyrinth.” Jazmel offered and he flashed a smile, before turning back to face the man.
“I am Jazmel, leader of the black wing faction and this is Baek, one of the retainers of my faction.” He offered his hand, and the man shook it, heartily.
“I am Gadlin Devereaux, and this is Chae Namgoong.” Gadlin who he had previously known as halberd introduced him and his partner to them both. Baek made a small noise, and they looked at him.
“Southern facing Jade?” he said and the fairy, that Jazmel now knew was called Chae smiled and inclined her heard kindly at Baek.
“You know Korean names?” she asked.
“My name is Baek Sae.” He introduced himself, Baek rarely used his fall name, but he inclined his head politely before the woman who smiled gently at the respect being shown.
“Young man, I do not know how you gained such an admirable retainer. But he does you justice with his kindness.” She expressed and Jazmel smiled with gratitude.
The ground trembled and Jazmel looked down to see if he could perceive any signs of Mana. but before he could even respond. The wall to their left fell away as a giant Thrumnal crashed through.
DING!
TIER V GREATER ROCK THRUMNAL APPEARS!
DEFEAT IT AND ADVANCE!
…
Yin Feather blade!
Cool fire flared along her sword edge and Chae rushed forward, suddenly leading the fight. She moved much like Baek, skimming across the ground and clashing with the greater Thrumnal. It was made of sturdier rock; it was almost iron the way her sword sparked off of its thickened coat.
Night of the White Moon!
Baek raised the pale white orb on his hand and with his other hand; still holding his sword. he swung and batted the pale orb of his condensed Mana at the creature. The strike was tremendous and when the condensed orb hit the creature it expanded and tore a gaping hole through it right shoulder. Its right forelimb fell away and as it wavered trying to stay upright. It roared mournfully.
Great Rumbling Dragon!
Jazmel’s fearsome Mana dragon reared up and roared silently as it swam through the air and crashed into the creature.
Raging furl
Gadlin rushed forward and swinging his strong halberd he sent scything cyclones against the greater Thrumnal. It bayed in pain, Jazmel didn’t realise just how much strength there was between the four. But as they were all master tier, the creature could hardly survive against them alone.
Winged Harmony!
Jaded sword!
Chae rushed forward, flying on spectral butterfly wings. She swung her sword, a fierce green Mana projecting from the blade. with one swing her sword cleaved through the Thrumnal and the wall it had come through, collapsing it in on itself.
DING!
TIER V GREATER ROCK THRUMNAL HAS BEEN KILLED!
EXP ACCRUED!
He gained a great deal of exp, but not enough for a full level up. But he was close, that was the difference between slaying a tier V on his own and in a group of other master tier.
“You fight well young one, I mean Jazmel. You have grown strong.” Gadlin the halberd stated.
“Come let us move on.” Baek said and where the greater Thrumnal had fell, a gate had formed from its corpse.
