Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

As expected, we had to get off the carriage near the square due to the crowd.

‘The portal is open, but why are they making such a fuss? Isn’t this how it usually is?’

As I was about to walk away from the departing carriage, Veronica spoke up.

“It’s strange. It seems like the other adventurers are moving in an orderly manner, which is rarely the case before the portal opens.”

As she said, I looked around and noticed some unusual things.

At a glance, most adventurers, except for some with high-level equipment, seemed to be keeping their voices down and looking at someone for guidance.

Among them, the low-level adventurers with faded iron swords and shabby armor had stiff bodies.

Usually, the portal would flicker and emit light, and only then would the guards start controlling the crowd. But now, everyone was already in order…?

“Ah! I think I know the reason. Look over there.”

Yeriel stretched out her arm and gestured towards something in the distance.

Hmm. That’s…

“Ah, I see. The Light Church has sent people.”

I recognized the distinctive appearance of the robed priests who could be easily found in the cathedral and the heavy paladin armor worn by Gregory.

With such clear features, I could guess the situation.

Recently, the city had been turned upside down because of the evil god, and I often saw soldiers running around on patrol.

Now, it seemed like the church had decided to take matters into their own hands and help maintain order in the square where the labyrinth entrance portal opens once a month.

‘How are they going to do it? Did they bring something to detect the evil god’s power, or do they have a special trait?’

“Let’s just get in line first. There’s no point in standing here.”

I led my party members to the end of the long line.

“Aish. I liked it when people were shouting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere. This time, it’s too stiff.”

“Yeah.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with Yeriel and Lumia as they whispered to each other.

Among the crowd were groups of elves, dwarves, and other races, as well as adventurers from foreign lands and the East.

The thrill I felt when I first saw this diverse human landscape still lingered deep in my heart.

But now, it’s just… Anyway, those evil god bastards are of no help.

‘Damn it. Those evil god bastards.’

As I cursed them in my mind, the portal began to open.

From a distance, a group of paladins started walking towards us.

Thud, thud.

Led by a captain carrying a large white cross on his back, the paladins scanned each adventurer one by one.

They glanced at us as if we were stones, but even the high-level adventurers seemed to be holding back their frustration…

Whether it was because of their noble cause or the solemn atmosphere they exuded, no adventurer dared to openly rebel.

When the paladins reached the middle of the line, something happened.

Whoosh!

‘What, what’s going on?!’

A blindingly holy light burst forth from the cross carried by the captain.

“Shit! This wasn’t mentioned before!!!”

Is he on the evil god’s side?

I immediately focused on him.

───

[Dumerne]

[Strength: E+] [Agility: E+] [Endurance: D-] [Stamina: D-] [Magic Power: E+] [Luck: E]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Basic Swordsmanship
Poisonous Blade
Low-level Brand
Wriggling Evil
One Language

───

Could he be the ‘slave’ mentioned in the arrangements left by Sophia, the past transmigrator?

───

[Wriggling Evil] [P]

The power of the evil god, Plague Atur, was forcibly injected into his heart, along with terrible pain.

His blood and scattered flesh are acidic, melting whatever they touch.

──The body fluids are permanently converted into weak acidic poison.

──It is possible to concentrate magic power in one part of the body and use ‘Plague Explosion’. When used, the flesh explodes, causing damage and randomly inflicting a disease status effect on the opponent.

──When the user reaches the point of death, all their magic power and the power of the heart are mixed, automatically triggering a ‘Great Plague Explosion’ over a wide area.

──Those caught in the ‘Great Plague Explosion’ acquire random high-level disease status effects and negative traits.

───

…Crazy.

“I, I can’t die like this! Shit!!!”

Boom!

The evil god’s slave tried to push past the adventurers around him and escape.

“If I settle down in the city and enter the labyrinth, you promised to remove the brand!!!”

But aside from a few, none of the paladins or adventurers were stupid enough to let him go.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

“Stop, evil one!”

[Kagolok uses ‘Grasping Hand’.]

[Eindinar uses ‘Great Nature’s Bind’.]

[⋯⋯.]

[⋯⋯.]

“Kheuk. Keuk. Ugh!!!”

The atmosphere distorted, and Dumerne’s legs twisted as vines sprouted from the ground and bound him.

Crunch.

There was also a bear summon that seemed to be over 3 meters tall, crushing him.

Countless traits and techniques were on display, such as iron blocks and ice spears flying towards his wrists, pinning them to the ground.

Even though they were restraint techniques, the dozens of attacks unleashed by the adventurers around him at the same time were too much for Dumerne, who was already on the verge of death.

…The problem was the trait in his heart.

“I, I don’t want to die like this… Keuk. Keuk.”

[Wriggling Evil, embedded in Dumerne’s heart, reacts to the life-threatening attack.]

[The user reaches the point of death, triggering ‘Great Plague Explosion’.]

“⋯Hye-jin-ah.”

He must have felt that there was no escaping death, so he calmly spoke a name.

Gulp.

“Something’s not right. Everyone, get away!!!”

“Mo, move away!”

Dumerne’s heart area turned black and wriggled, and his entire body swelled up in an instant.

Bang!

At that moment, a white defensive barrier appeared before everyone’s eyes. Or rather, it would be more accurate to call it a barrier.

[Orion uses ‘Holy Barrier Glammidium’.]

“It’s nothing, everyone, please calm down.”

As Dumerne’s body burst, the captain stretched out his hands and activated his trait.

A precise light barrier in the shape of a regular hexagon sealed the scattered blood and flesh, preventing them from escaping outside.

‘Ugh. I feel nauseous.’

Perhaps because it was a barrier made of light, the gruesome scene inside was not hidden at all.

Grotesque black blood and chunks of flesh stuck to the walls of the barrier, making me feel sick to my stomach.

“Uweeeek.”

“Uwe.”

Some adventurers with weak stomachs were already vomiting or spitting on the ground.

[Advanced Purification]

Regardless, the captain used another sacred art to erase the traces of the explosion and vomit.

Then he shouted loudly.

“The servants of the evil god! Whether they are forced to come here as Transmigrator or outside fanatics, not a single one of them will be allowed to leave the city alive!!!”

Boom!

He continued, stomping his feet and causing the ground to shake.

“Rest assured. The Light Church will always be by your side! Our first paladin squad will do our best to eradicate the evil god’s apostles, believers, and even their roots, so please explore the labyrinth to the best of your abilities!!!”

Damn. It’s like a politician’s campaign speech.

Unlike my reaction, a significant number of the thousands of adventurers gathered in the square cheered and responded enthusiastically.

“That’s right! We’re here to explore and adventure in the labyrinth, and we don’t need to worry about things like the evil god!”

“That’s right. Isn’t that why we have a powerful group like the paladin squad to deal with the evil ones who try to infiltrate the city?”

“Waaaah!”

Amid the loud applause and cheers for the captain, I tried to force a smile.

‘Hye-jin-ah… He was just another Transmigrator, a modern person dragged here against his will, yearning for his sister or lover. Just like me.’

The only difference between him and me was luck and which god took notice of us.

What if I didn’t have the 2 billion won and continued to live an ordinary life?

What if the god who took an interest in me was not Ceres, but Tehlloom or Atur, the evil god?

I know it’s pointless to make such assumptions, but seeing the transmigrator explode before my eyes, used by the evil god, made my spine shiver.

[Chaos says that he’s just a victim of the disgusting evil gods. Let’s think positively.]

[Chaos encourages you to stay focused as the party leader, as you haven’t even entered the labyrinth yet.]

Hearing those words, I snapped out of it.

‘If I waver like this, my party members, who trust and follow me, will also be affected.’

That’s right. No matter who calls out for their parents or lovers, their heartbreaking stories are none of my business.

Whoever it is, if they stand in my way with the label of a Transmigrator, I have no choice but to take action.

I’ve already killed Isaac in the name of revenge.

Crunch!!

I clenched my teeth hard.

I could taste the metallic flavor on my tongue, but I didn’t care.

“Ahren, are you okay⋯?”

“Pee.”

“Haha! What’s there to be okay about? Wow, the paladin squad is no joke.”

I laughed and waved my hand, reassuring them.

“Waaaaah!!!”

In the meantime, another Transmigrator on the evil god’s side was identified and tried to escape, but of course, he would go through the same process as before.

“It seems like they’ve really prepared this time, opening a path somewhere in the city. How many did they send in?”

“That’s right. Tsk. I wonder how the world will turn out.”

I overheard a party in front of me sharing their concerns, and before I knew it, the signs of the portal opening began to appear.

Whoosh.

The portal, which had been swirling and shimmering with black light, began to emit light.

“Don’t push, everyone! Just wait your turn! It’ll be over soon!”

The guards’ control and the long line quickly shortened.

“Stop! Take out your pass and wait for a moment.”

Wait?

I handed my pass to the guard, and a priest came over and used a sacred art.

[Purification]

I was puzzled by the light shining on my body, but the guard returned my pass and said,

“If you concentrate your divine power for a short time, those with evil intentions will react nine times out of ten.”

So, they’re thoroughly filtering out the evil ones, both inside and out?

Well, I don’t know how long this large-scale security measure will last, but for now, I can rest assured.

“Pass! Enter!”

This guard was firm in his stance.

We made physical contact with each other, holding hands or grabbing arms, and stepped into the portal.

‘Remember, this time, we can’t stop at just the 4th floor.’

With a firm determination, I entered the portal.

Whoosh─

.

.

.

I swung my sword lightly.

Swish!

The monsters were swept away by my sword and area magic.

Even the sturdy front-line adventurers were not in danger.

…Isn’t this too easy?