The Haunted Labyrinth was indeed worthy of being called “haunted.”
The deeper I went, the more the dungeon revealed its true nature. At one point, the stone wall to my left suddenly trembled, hairline cracks spreading across its surface before a dark red liquid began to gush out. It flowed sluggishly, thick and viscous, pooling on the floor like freshly spilled blood. When I probed it with Mana Sense, the liquid evaporated into smoke, leaving behind nothing but dry stone. This almost caused me to doubt what I’d just seen was an illusion, if not for the fact that both Ember and Solana reacted as well, clearly having witnessed it too.
Further in, the corridors widened into display halls lined with about a dozen ancient knight armors. Rusted steel helms, dented breastplates, and warped gauntlets stood upright against the walls while holding a variety of old weapons from swords to maces, each posed as if guarding the passage. They looked like relics—decorations left behind by some long-dead civilization. I moved past them cautiously, keeping a close watch on my surroundings.
At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I took three more steps, and a faint scraping sound echoed behind me. When I turned around, one of the armors had moved. It now stood directly behind me, its empty visor hovering just inches from my face, as though this had always been its original place.
I jumped back instinctively, drawing my sword in a flash and leveling it at the armor. Despite that, it didn’t twitch even a fraction. It simply froze in place, once more resembling a lifeless suit of metal. Still, I knew better that this thing was alive, especially when I used Inspect Eye on it.
[Living Armor – Lv.110]
A cursed construct bound to the Haunted Labyrinth, animated by resentment and fragmented souls of the deceased. It remains completely inert while being directly observed, but the moment it escapes one’s gaze, it moves with unnatural speed and precision. Destroying it requires either overwhelming force or severing the curse anchoring it to the dungeon. If attacked, it will retaliate and attract other monsters.
It seemed that the monster’s details didn’t appear unless an observation skill was used, likely because it was actively masking its presence. I decided to test something and deliberately shifted my gaze away. The moment I did, the armor lunged. Its rusted blade whistled toward my neck, but I parried just in time, sparks bursting as steel clashed against steel. Pressing the advantage, I overpowered it and activated Lethal Thrust, hurling the construct backward before it crashed into the stone floor and shattered into lifeless pieces.
You have hunted [Living Armor – Lv.110].
You have gained 170 EXP.
Without warning, more suits began to stir along the walls. One after another, they began awakening. Now that one of their kind had been destroyed, they no longer bothered with stealth and charged straight at me with their weapons raised high.
Just then, Solana’s halo flared brightly, forcing several of them to recoil as holy light washed over the corridor. Meanwhile, Ember melted into the shadows, slipping behind one of the armors and tearing into its joints with infernal claws.
You have hunted [Living Armor – Lv.110].
You have gained 170 EXP.
You have hunted [Living Armor – Lv.110].
You have gained 170 EXP.
You have hunted [Living Armor – Lv.110].
You have gained 170 EXP.
You have hunted [Living Armor – Lv.110].
You have gained 170 EXP.
Lethal Thrust has leveled up.
…
With our combined efforts, we quickly brought down all the walking suits of armor, leaving nothing behind but scattered scrap. I gathered any parts that still seemed to be in relatively good condition before continuing on deeper.
Still, when the dungeon claimed to have an ever-changing layout, it wasn’t exaggerating. Even though I memorized landmarks and left subtle marks on the walls by carving them with my sword, I somehow ended up moving in circles. At times, the corridors curved at unnatural angles; at others, they narrowed abruptly before opening into small chambers littered with broken stone coffins and collapsed pillars.
What made the place even more unsettling was that it wasn’t populated solely by the spirits of the dead. Specters also drifted through the labyrinth. They were classified as monsters, and Solana’s holy light didn’t scare them away. Worse still, physical attacks passed straight through their forms, forcing me to rely on magic to deal any real damage.
You have hunted [Haunted Specter – Lv.113].
You have gained 173 EXP.
You have hunted [Haunted Specter – Lv.109].
You have gained 169 EXP.
Your [Basic Neutral Magic Lv.10] has evolved to [Intermediate Neutral Magic Lv.1].
You have hunted [Haunted Specter – Lv.112].
You have gained 172 EXP.
…
My Basic Neutral Magic evolving into Intermediate Neutral Magic was a welcome development. It had been quite a while since the last time it advanced, after all.
Aside from that, an ear-piercing screech echoed from deep within the labyrinth. I didn’t dare move even a step closer to its source, as it could very well have come from a banshee, and I didn’t have an effective counter against one yet. Solana and Ember might have been its natural counters, but they were still a bit too low-leveled for comfort, and my purpose here was merely to do some scouting.
With that in mind, I decided to call it a day and make my way back to the portal platform. Even then, I couldn’t find it quickly. The labyrinth twisted and shifted without warning, and it probably took me three hours or so before I finally spotted my starting point again. I had thought that, with both Solana and Ember at my side, this place would be manageable, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Still, there was at least one silver lining. By the time I was about to leave the Haunted Labyrinth, both my tamed divine and demonic beasts had reached their current level caps.
Ember Lv. 60/60
Solana Lv. 60/60
Now that I was standing right before the portal platform, I was finally in a safe and secluded spot. It seemed that other divine warriors deliberately avoided this dungeon, be that because it was too high-leveled, or because it had earned a reputation for being exceptionally dangerous and frightening. Either way, that suited me just fine.
After all, these two System notifications had appeared in quick succession when they reached their level caps:
Ember has reached the level cap.
Species Evolution for [Infernal Bakeneko Kit] is now available.
Proceed with Evolution?
[Yes/No]
Solana has reached the level cap.
Species Evolution for [Cherub Lamb Hatchling] is now available.
Proceed with Evolution?
[Yes/No]
Almost the moment I confirmed “Yes,” a subtle tremor rippled through the air. The marks on my arms grew warm, then hot, and both Ember and Solana both stiffened at the same time.
“Oh, it starts immediately?” I muttered.
Ember was the first to react. His body lifted slightly off the ground as shadows surged outward like living smoke. The crimson-black flames around him intensified, curling and coiling across his form as his once-small frame stretched. His ears sharpened, claws lengthened, and a dense infernal aura radiated from him. When the energy finally settled, he landed lightly on the stone floor, eyes glowing brighter and sharper than before.
Solana followed soon after. Gentle golden light poured from her halo, expanding until it bathed the corridor in a soothing warmth. Her woolly form shone, feathers replacing fleece along her wings as they grew broader and more defined. The halo above her head enlarged slightly, becoming clearer and more solid, faintly inscribed with delicate patterns. When the radiance receded, she hovered calmly in the air, serene and radiant, as if untouched by the dungeon’s darkness.
[Infernal Bakeneko Kit] has evolved into [Young Infernal Bakeneko].
[Cherub Lamb Hatchling] has evolved into [Young Cherub Dove].
Ember Lv. 61/200
HP: 100%
MP: 376/376
Rank: Gimmel [3]
Master: Maximillian Anderson
Species: Young Infernal Bakeneko
Status: Normal
Strength: 175 | Dexterity: 225 | Stamina: 178
Mind: 185 | Magic Power: 230 | Luck: 175
Skill(s): [Ember Claw Lv.6], [Ember Flicker Lv.7], [Infernal Presence Lv.1], [Infernal Purr Lv.6], [Infernal Shadowstep Lv.1], [Minor Shapeshift Lv.5], [Night Mirage Lv.5], [Soul Feast Lv.1]
Solana Lv. 61/200
HP: 100%
MP: 387/387
Rank: Gimmel [3]
Master: Maximillian Anderson
Species: Young Cherub Dove
Status: Normal
Strength: 172| Dexterity: 201 | Stamina: 198
Mind: 177 | Magic Power: 235 | Luck: 185
Skill(s): [Blessing Coo Lv.7], [Celestial Descent Lv.1], [Cherub’s Calm Lv.5], [Holy Wing Shield Lv.6], [Judgment Wing Lv.1], [Radiant Spark Lv.5], [Soothing Halo Lv.7], [Witness of Faith Lv.1]
Seeing their new and improved stats and skills, a smile crept onto my face. Their evolutions had come at the perfect time and would be invaluable in the upcoming Battle of Divine Will.
As I thought of that, I reached out and patted their heads. Normally, Ember would flick his tail in quiet satisfaction, while Solana would let out a soft, contented coo at the gesture. But to my surprise—
“Hey, Master, you patted her first, nya.”
I froze my hands. “Uh… what?”
Ember hopped up and landed on my shoulder, glancing sideways at Solana with narrowed eyes. “You definitely lingered longer on her head just now, nya. That’s favoritism.”
Solana fluttered lightly in the air before tilting her head, answering calmly, “Coo… Master’s hand was simply closer to me first. That is all, coo.”
“That’s exactly what a favorite would say, nya!” Ember snapped. “I’ve been with Master longer, fought more enemies, and eaten far more dangerous things. Clearly, I’m more reliable, nya.”
Solana spread her wings wider as if voicing her displeasure. “Longer by only a few minutes, coo. And reliability alone is not everything. Master needs comfort, protection, healing, and divine grace. I believe I fulfill those roles better, coo.”
“Hah! Divine grace doesn’t help if Master gets stabbed, nya!”
“And reckless charging doesn’t help if Master collapses from exhaustion, coo.”
Ember straightened, shadowy flames appearing around his paws. “What, are you looking for a fight, nya?”
Solana’s halo shone a touch brighter as she met his glare without backing down. “I’m not afraid, coo!”
Then the two of them suddenly turned toward me at the same time.
“Master, tell her,” Ember demanded, “that I’m your favorite, nya.”
Solana folded her wings politely, eyes shining. “Master, I do not need to be your favorite… but if you must choose, please be honest, coo.”
I stared at the two of them, one a puffed-up demonic cat, the other a hovering cherub dove, both looking at me with terrifying sincerity.
“Wait, wait, wait. Why are you two even capable of talking now?” I asked, raising a hand.
I mean, I knew that special beings like them would eventually gain the ability to speak once their intelligence reached a certain threshold. Still, having it happen this suddenly—and so naturally—left me completely flabbergasted.
They blinked at me in unison, as if the answer should have been obvious.
“It’s from evolution, nya,” Ember said smugly, puffing out his chest.
“Communication is important for divine servants, coo,” Solana added serenely.
I rubbed my temples. This dungeon was haunted, all right—but apparently not nearly as haunted as my future.