Denizens of the Labyrinth

Bannerman was quiet, standing off to the side looking at his system screen while the others consumed their exp chests.

Jazmel consumed the extra two from both Baek and Charme. Amounting to five extra levels, he was confounded with system energy as his levels rose.

Sadé hadn't told him about it before, but her skills had transformed after she had become a master tier. No longer was she imbued with thunder and fire; no her core abilities were storm now. So in turn her skills had changed and were now 'storm' orientated. He would see enough of them during their travels.

Bannerman had earned a skill token, which had ended up being called 'rending eclipse' something about imbuing shadow into his claws.

Also finally, Katie had gained a new skill. A chain mirage ability which doubled her chains making it seem like she had more than others. This allowed her to hide her chain strikes in amongst doubles. It was a really powerful skill for her.

"Every single person here is now a master tier. So the labyrinth is only going to get harder. You need to make sure you are all taking the initiative to grow stronger. Things are going to change for us, the faction have us to expect us to be strong. We need to make sure we always prepare for the worst. I don't know what to expect, I don't want you all to get comfortable. Don't get comfortable, not for one second. Monarch's walk amongst us, the Primordial are hidden within the depths of the labyrinth. It makes sense that the labyrinth will begin to throw things at us." He warned, Jazmel was apprehensive. It wasn't that he thought he wasn't strong or that his faction wasn't strong. No, he knew how they had all fought. Tooth and nail to get here.

What he was worried about was the response, the consequence of labyrinth. He had, had a fair run in the labyrinth. But he was also holding his breath, he was waiting to see how the labyrinth was going to respond and so far. It was quiet, it had been.

"As you will it." Charme uttered, inclining her head respectfully. She was a mystery to Jazmel, even now. she was a true warrior and a tyrant of course. She took her status as a retainer seriously; it was almost as if she was still recovering from her time as a slave. Jazmel hadn't asked her about it, she hadn't discussed it. But he had wanted to know about it, but he would wait for her to open up.

"Of course young master." Baek uttered, Jazmel nodded. Baek was focused, quiet and a retainer from the very beginning. Jazmel was master tier now, Baek no longer had to stand at the front like a shield. Now they could fight side by side, like they had done beneath the roots of the spirit tree.

The others were ready to move now, ready to move forward.

The group hesitated only briefly, catching their breaths, and steadying themselves. Jazmel glanced at Sadé, her eyes still glowing faintly with residual energy, and then at Charme and Baek, their expressions calm yet alert. Bannerman's white fur bristled as he sniffed the air, his lupine instincts sensing the shift in atmosphere.

Together, they ascended the luminous stairs, each step drawing them closer to what lay beyond. As they crossed the threshold of the labyrinth's darkened corridor, an overwhelming light washed over them, forcing Jazmel to shield his eyes momentarily.

When his vision adjusted, the scene before him left him utterly speechless.

They stood at the edge of an expansive plain that stretched farther than the eye could see, bathed in a soft, golden light that seemed to emanate from the very air. The sky above was a gradient of pastel hues—soft blues merging into pale oranges and pinks—broken only by the occasional, lazily drifting cloud. A gentle breeze swept across the land, carrying with it the scent of blooming wildflowers and the faint rustle of grass.

The plains were a vibrant mosaic of colour and life. Rolling hills blanketed with golden grass stood alongside fields of bright purple and red blossoms. Towering, ancient trees with silvery leaves dotted the landscape, their trunks glowing faintly as if imbued with some latent magic. Small streams wove their way through the expanse, their crystal-clear waters glinting like liquid diamonds under the sunlight.

In the distance, Jazmel could make out creatures grazing peacefully, their forms a strange yet harmonious blend of the familiar and the fantastical. Some resembled massive, elk-like beasts with antlers that shimmered like moonlight; others appeared to be bird-like creatures with wings that sparkled like stained glass.

Here and there, however, hints of danger lurked. Winged predators circled high above, their cries echoing faintly over the plains. The shadow of a monstrous form shifted through the tall grass far away, a reminder that this domain was not without its perils.

Jazmel's gaze swept over the scene, his heart pounding with a mix of awe and trepidation. "It's… endless," he murmured, almost to himself. The sheer scale of the domain was overwhelming, a vast and open world contained within the labyrinth's confines.

Beside him, Baek and Charme surveyed the land with practiced eyes, their expressions unreadable. Sadé moved closer, her arm brushing against Jazmel's as she, too, took in the expanse.

"This place," Bannerman growled softly, his ears twitching, "it's alive."

Jazmel nodded mutely, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The labyrinth had tested them in countless ways before, but this felt different—bigger, grander, and far more dangerous.

DING!

YOU HAVE ENTERED THE EXPANDING EXPANSE!

THESE PLAINS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND!

YOU MUST PERSERVERE AND TRY TO GET AS FAR AS YOU CAN!

MONSTERS AND CREATURES WILL TRY TO STOP YOU CROSSING THE EXPANSE!

DO NOT BE HELD BACK!

…

This was going to be a long quest.

"Do you have movement skills or something to travel by?" Baek asked, as he began to levitate and infuse his entire body with bright white light Mana.

"No." Katie said but Sadé stepped up, Kazumi expanding in size to a fox hound so large that Sadé's head barely reached her shoulder.

"You can ride with us." She said with a smile. Bannerman planned to sprint beside them, whereas Charme did the same as Baek. Filling her body with Mana, hers a darkened black type. It shrouded her, but rather than floating into the air, she simply enhanced her body and allowed herself to sprint.

Paldane leapt from within his ring.

"Should we fly?" Paldane growled, stretching, and yowling like a cat atop his shoulder.

"You were listening in?" Jazmel asked, surprised.

"I am always listening." Paldane countered.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"So why don't you usually say something?" he reposted.

"Because its very rarely interesting." Paldane quipped. As he said this he leapt from Jazmel's shoulder and blew up. Growing to his true size, the massive dragon that was his companion roared. Introducing himself to the plains.

The black scales warm to touch and as hard as stone. Jazmel climbed up onto his back and began to fly north.

Paldane soared through the skies like a shadow brought to life, his sleek form a masterpiece of draconic grace and power. His scales, blackened blue, shimmered faintly in the light, an almost otherworldly sheen that seemed to drink in the surrounding brilliance. His wings stretched wide and strong, their edges sharp as if forged from tempered steel, while his long, whip-like tail ended in a jagged fin that cut through the air with effortless precision.

Eyes of deep cobalt, glowing faintly, reflected both intelligence and a primal ferocity, locking onto the approaching Jigwi with an unyielding resolve. The curve of his head bore a resemblance to a predator built for speed, with small, angular ridges that flared slightly when he let out a resonant roar that vibrated through the air.

Every motion of Paldane spoke of raw power restrained by instinctive control, his muscular frame rippling beneath his darkened scales. He was a creature of the night, swift and silent, a draconic embodiment of destruction and elegance, prepared to defend his rider from the fiery flock closing in.

The Jigwi descended in a blazing swarm, their fiery forms tearing through the sky like meteors set alight. Their spiritual flames glowed with an intense, otherworldly pinkish hue, their bodies flickering and shifting as if made of living fire. Each bird was a creature of pure rage, their shapes defined by licking flames that burned brighter with every beat of their ethereal wings.

As they neared, the scorching heat of their presence grew unbearable. The very oxygen seemed to ignite, crackling and shimmering in waves around them, the air tasting of ash and embers. Their spiritual breaths flared in bursts of chaotic intensity, spiralling streams of flame that tore through the air like searing whips, forcing Paldane to twist and dive to avoid their fury.

The acrid stench of the Jigwi was overwhelming—an unholy combination of burning sulphur and decaying cinders. It filled Jazmel's lungs with every breath, a bitter tang that spoke of death and ruin. The flock surrounded them in a chaotic dance of flame and fury, their shrieking cries piercing the heavens. Each scream was a wail of tortured spirits, echoing with resentment and a relentless hunger for destruction.

The sky itself seemed to burn under their onslaught, and every flap of their flaming wings sent cascades of embers spiralling downward, a storm of fire that turned the battlefield into a realm of relentless heat and light. They moved as one, a swarm of bitter spirits hellbent on consuming Jazmel and Paldane in their unending inferno.

Flaming evisceration!

Flames to combat the spiritual flames. but he was soon quelled, there were just that many Jigwi's before them.

Aeonic inferno!

Blue and black flames spewed from Paldane's maw. His Mana robust and formed with his own power, he was strong. Easily stronger than all the Jigwi here, Jazmel knew he could have handled them all if he wasn't protecting him also. Paldane had grown that powerful.

As the Jigwi swarmed closer, Jazmel tightened his grip on his blade, the air around him rippling with the sheer force of his presence. With a roar of defiance, he unleashed his skill.

Black Dragon Talon

The blade igniting in a swirling aura of shadowy energy. The strike cut through the air in a wide arc, its blackened edge extending into the form of a spectral dragon's claw. The talon raked through the flock, slicing through the Jigwi with brutal precision. Each sweep disintegrated multiple fiery forms, their spiritual bodies extinguishing with bursts of hissing flame and showers of embers.

As more Jigwi surged toward him, undeterred by the destruction of their kin, Jazmel shifted his stance, his blade erupting into searing crimson flames.

Flaming Evisceration

Surged through the weapon, the heat so intense that the blade itself seemed alive with molten fury. With a ferocious downward slash, a massive wave of fire exploded outward, engulfing the incoming Jigwi. The spiritual flames of the birds clashed against the inferno of Jazmel's attack, but his overwhelming power turned their own fire against them. The Jigwi screeched in agony as their forms were consumed, leaving behind nothing but trails of smoke and fading embers.

Jazmel moved with unmatched precision, each swing of his blade a symphony of destruction.

Black Dragon Talon

Flaming Evisceration

Wove together in devastating harmony, leaving arcs of shadow and fire streaking across the sky. Paldane banked and soared, giving Jazmel the angles he needed to strike. As his blade cleaved through the fiery flock, the once-overwhelming Jigwi began to falter, their ranks thinning as Jazmel carved through them with relentless, masterful skill. The air around him shimmered with the heat of battle, his attacks blazing brighter than the flames of the bitter Jigwi themselves.

DING!

X17 TIER IV JIGWI KILLED!

EXP ACCRUED!

+3 STR

+4 INT

+3 DEX

+3 AGL

He felt solid as the stats rose for him. since undergoing his second tempering, he hadn't pushed his stats. They were teetering out, only growing when he gained them through monster killing. But even then he was suffering beneath that, he was going to try and push harder and earn more.

Paldane tore the Jigwi from the skies. Claws and teeth ripped and slashed, tearing through the flock as they tried to stifle their flight. Paldane was too much for the Jigwi and he wasn't even using skills. Just the sheer power of his brute strength. Jazmel wondered just how strong Paldane was compared to other dragons.

"Fly faster!" Jazmel called over the roar of the wind, the thermal tunnels of the skies!

"Hold on!" Paldane growled and roared before urging his body forward. He flared his wings before flapping them earnestly. They were pumping, great flumes of wind dragged back by the wings of the might dragon propelled them forward.

The race was on.

They had flown like that for hours, almost half a day before Paldane was slagging in the air. His scales were burning from within and sweat was seeping from beneath.

"Slow down!" Jazmel called through the air. But Paldane wouldn't listen.

We need to keep going!

He heard in his mind and that solidified that Paldane was so tired he couldn't even speak. Jazmel was worried but the powerful Paldane wouldn't be abated. He looked below, from high in the sky. he couldn't make out the tiny features of his friends as they flitted through the lands below. They couldn't fly like himself and so they were literally running. Sprinting across the grounds, stopping here and there to fight and battle the monsters who were trying to thwart their advance.

His keen eyes showed him the flashes and sparks of Mana being used to invigorate skills. Baek and Charme were well ahead. Zooming forward and making short work of any monsters that assaulted them.

Paldane moved like a streak of blackened blue lightning, his wings slicing through the air with an audible whoosh. Every beat of those powerful appendages propelled him forward with astonishing speed, faster than most creatures could even register. The wind roared past Jazmel, tugging at his cloak and hair as the dragon surged through the heavens, his sleek form cutting through the atmosphere with the grace of a predator and the force of a tempest.

From his vantage point, seated atop Paldane, Jazmel marvelled at the dragon's agility. The world beneath them blurred into a tapestry of greens and browns, rivers winding like silver veins and forests reduced to dark blotches on the landscape. The clouds above them seemed almost tangible, parting in great swirls as Paldane pierced through them effortlessly.

"Unreal," Jazmel muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rushing winds. He leaned forward slightly, placing a hand on Paldane's scaled neck. The dragon's muscles shifted beneath him, coiled and taut, every movement a testament to raw, unrelenting power.

Even at such speed, Jazmel noted how Paldane moved with precision—banking smoothly to avoid stray Jigwi flames, his tail acting like a rudder to guide them in complex manoeuvres. Below, the world stretched endlessly, a reminder of how vast the skies—and the lands they traversed—truly were.

From his seat, Jazmel's sharp eyes picked out details others might miss. Flocks of migrating birds veered off course, startled by Paldane's presence. Far in the distance, jagged mountain peaks seemed to reach toward the heavens, their snow-capped summits glinting in the sunlight. Despite the speed at which they travelled, Jazmel could feel the overwhelming scale of it all—the vastness of the skies, the sheer beauty of the open expanse.

"Even from here," he mused aloud, "I can tell the world beneath us holds countless wonders… and threats." His hand tightened slightly on the hilt of his sword, his mind sharpening. Yet for a brief moment, he allowed himself to admire the view, knowing it was a privilege few had ever experienced: the skies as a battlefield, a sanctuary, and an unending realm of possibilities.

Paldane let out a low growl, a sound that seemed to ripple through the air, and surged forward even faster. Jazmel chuckled softly. "Show me, Paldane," he said, his tone both curious and daring. "Show me what the skies truly have to offer."

Paldane engulfed his body in Mana. taking the time to recover his stamina with his own Mana. Jazmel felt it three times over. Firstly through their mental connection. Secondly from being close enough in proximity and thirdly his eyes, keenly focused on Mana. he was able to perceive it all happening before him. Jazmel felt soothed to see his companion invigorated.