Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

Descending the damp stone steps, I set foot into the underground sewer district.

With no proper light source, aside from the faint glow seeping in from the entrance, the thick darkness was nearly absolute.

Thanks to the chaos attribute enhancing my night vision, I could vaguely make out the interior even in this environment.

A passage far wider than expected, and an even more unpleasant, damp atmosphere.

That was the first thought that crossed my mind the moment I stepped into the underground.

“I’m lighting a torch, so don’t be startled.”

Fwoosh.

Carlson, the scout, lit a torch, illuminating the surroundings.

At the center of the sewer, a trench filled with murky wastewater flowed steadily, while on both sides, damp and slippery walkways stretched endlessly.

“Ugh.”

Having keen eyesight could be a curse too.

Flesh, trash, and other waste.

Unidentifiable sludge floated atop the turbid water, as if the darkness of the underground had melted into it.

Ugh, who needs a labyrinth when this itself feels like a dungeon?

It was hard to believe so many adventurers came in and out of this place just for a few silver coins.

A fleeting thought passed through my mind—making a living was truly a struggle.

Drip. Drop.

Somewhere, the sound of water droplets falling echoed.

The air clung to my skin, unpleasantly sticky.

A musty, nauseating stench seeped through the fabric covering my nose.

The smell of sewage, mixed with mold, made my stomach churn involuntarily.

‘I never want to come here again. Even with a mask, it’s unbearable.’

Damn it. Maybe if I could wear a helmet over my mask, it’d be slightly better.

It was frustrating that even a golden crown couldn’t block out the stench.

“Khh… No matter how I think about it, it’s bizarre.”

Jackson furrowed his brows and suddenly muttered something cryptic.

“Jackson! What’s so bizarre? If it’s interesting, share it with us!”

“I just don’t get how some people roam around here barefaced. Drifters, junkies… I’ve seen plenty without so much as a cloth over their faces.”

“Aren’t they all people we should be killing on sight anyway? I heard most of them are escaped criminals!”

“Yeah. They lurk all over the underground, ambushing patrolling adventurers and guards like vermin.”

Jackson criticized those hiding in the sewers, calling them outcasts unable to adapt to the city, some of whom likely moved back and forth between District 8 and the underground as if it were their own home.

Alina let out a hearty laugh in agreement, but only for a moment.

“Alina, shh. Your voice is too loud; it’s echoing everywhere. Lower it a bit.”

“Oh… Got it. I’ll be careful.”

“No need to apologize.”

At Theodora’s warning, Alina answered dejectedly.

She looked like a sulking big dog—kind of cute.

Compared to the other barbarians I’d met, like Victor and Berdorf, Alina seemed far more lively and naïve.

Carlson, still uninterested, glanced at the map and spoke.

“Are we done? Can we move now?”

“Carlson, you won’t have trouble reading the map, right?”

“Of course. My rank may not be high, but I’m not an incompetent scout.”

At his nonchalant remark, Theodora nodded.

“I trust you. We’ll be counting on you for the next few days.”

“Ahem, just follow me, and there won’t be any problems.”

His carefree attitude didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that he’d survived in labyrinths for years.

Maybe he was someone who got things done despite his grumbling.

…Or maybe he was just lucky.

“By now, the parties that left before us have probably found their way. Let’s go.”

“Let’s hurry up and get out of here!”

Recalling the way he had picked fights back at the guild, I still wasn’t entirely convinced. Even so, I followed my comrades forward.

.

.

.

Three hours had passed since we started cautiously navigating the sewer, staying on high alert as if we were exploring a labyrinth.

Strangely enough, we hadn’t encountered a single person or monster—not even a shadow.

Boredom was getting to Jackson, and he finally spoke up.

“Usually, we’d have run into at least one or two monsters by now… This is weird.”

“It’s not that strange. Did you forget who scouted the sewer before us?”

At Theodora’s words, Jackson clapped his hands in realization.

“Oh, right. The paladins must have cleared out all the monsters.”

But soon, he shook his head in disagreement.

“No, even so, it’s too quiet. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“What’s the problem? Isn’t it good that we haven’t encountered anything? Stop thinking ominous thoughts and just keep walking!”

Forgetting the warning to lower her voice, Alina returned to her usual energy and gave Jackson a firm pat on the back.

“Ugh! Ack!”

“Sigh… Forget it.”

Seeing their exchange, Theodora seemed to give up on correcting them.

“Honestly, having two mid-tier adventurers in the party does make it feel like the sense of danger has disappeared. Don’t you think?”

“Well… yeah, I suppose so. There doesn’t seem to be much that could go wrong.”

Theodora let out a sigh and muttered,

“But, since I’m the temporary party leader, I can’t afford to let my guard down no matter the situation. Just keep that in mind.”

“Of course, we get it. But don’t stress too much about being the leader. I’ll stay extra alert for both Alina and Jackson.”

“Heh, that would be a big help. I’m really glad you joined us at the last minute.”

As the tension in Theodora’s demeanor subtly eased—

“Hmm? Stop!”

Carlson, who had been leading the group while checking the map, swung his arm to signal a halt.

“A group of monsters is charging this way. There are eight of them!”

“Alright, leave the first fight to me!”

Jackson, his fists glowing with blue mana, began bouncing lightly on his feet.

“Uwahaha! I’m in too!”

Alina, unwilling to let Jackson hog the action, gripped the two axes strapped to her back, her eyes gleaming.

Boom!

As the two of them dashed forward, I naturally ended up in the rear, guarding Theodora, the party’s mage.

‘Works for me. No need to move around unnecessarily. Might as well take this chance to see what they’re capable of.’

Grr! Grrr!

The sound of barking echoed as the monsters appeared.

Their appearance was rather unusual.

Typically, kobolds are known as the lowest-tier monsters, with dog- or wolf-like faces, standing upright and wielding crude weapons.

But the ones before us were at least 1.5 times larger than usual, sprinting nimbly on all fours as if completely consumed by their instincts…

Most notably, their thick gray fur and long, rat-like tails swaying as they ran left a strong impression.

‘Are these the hybrid-type monsters Riel mentioned?’

“Shit, what the hell?! I’ve never seen monsters like this before!”

“Who cares? Let’s just kill them and move on!”

Come to think of it, only a select few knew about hybrid-type monsters.

Jackson hesitated for a moment upon seeing the mutants.

Alina, however, wasted no time, swinging her twin axes in a powerful arc.

“Take this!”

Whoosh!

The axe blade, coated in red mana, tore through the gray fur, exposing bright crimson flesh beneath.

Undeterred by the fountain of blood, she swung again and shouted,

“Their hides are tough! These aren’t just third-floor fodder!”

The kobolds shrieked in agony as they were struck down.

“Kyank! Kyaaang!”

With the sound of chopping wood, limbs were severed and scattered.

One. Two. Three.

“Tch, of all things, a mutant? That was embarrassing.”

As more than half the enemies were cut down in an instant, Jackson snapped out of it and clicked his tongue before joining in.

“Alright, you bastards! Time to make up for that!”

Closing the distance with light footwork, he threw his punch.

Boom! BOOM!

“Kaarrghh!”

Like a storm, his fists rained down.

While Alina’s axes brutally tore through flesh,

Jackson’s strikes delivered precise, devastating blows, each impact echoing like a bursting drum.

Squelch—!

Unable to withstand the internal damage, a kobold spat blood from its seven orifices and collapsed.

It was practically a one-sided slaughter.

“Uwahahaha!”

Swish, swish.

Alina, laughing like a berserker, and Jackson, slipping between their ranks like an infighter, quickly brought the battle to a close.

“Hey! Forget about my little slip-up earlier, okay?”

“Now this is more like it! A kobold that looks like a rat-man… fascinating!”

Looks like I picked the right party to join.

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.

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Somewhere in the underground sewer district.

Amid a severed-off space, surrounded by piles of corpses,

A bloodied adventurer knelt, desperately begging for his life.

Standing silently before him was a figure clad in a black robe adorned with the emblem of a screaming man and a scythe-wielding skeleton.

The hooded figure slowly raised an arm.

The pale hand that emerged from the sleeve was so gaunt it could be mistaken for a twig, with black, decaying patches spreading across the skin.

“I-I told you everything I know! Please, spare my life—”

Bwoosh!!!

“—Kuhhhrgh.”

A beam of black light shot from the staff’s tip, snuffing out the last breath of life.

“Foolish wretch. Did you really think you could insult the great Blyborn and walk away unscathed?”

Shhhhh.

A chilling mist seeped from the corpse, emitting a ghostly wail as it flowed into something behind the figure.

“Foolish mortal… become a sacrifice for the vessel.”

A massive, jet-black object.

It trembled as if it possessed life.

Thump— Thump—

A deep, rhythmic pulse, like a heartbeat, echoed through the ground.

Black energy surged like waves, spilling out in all directions.