NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Fourteenth Floor - Labyrinth of Shadows
The Fourteenth Floor was nothing like the ones before. As Joo Hyun and Dain emerged from the portal, they found themselves standing in a sprawling labyrinth shrouded in thick darkness. The walls were made of obsidian stone, their jagged edges glinting faintly under a weak, eerie light that seemed to come from nowhere. A cold wind blew through the passages, carrying faint whispers that sent chills down their spines.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Welcome to the Fourteenth Floor: The Labyrinth of Shadows.
Objective: Find and defeat the Shadow King to unlock the portal to the Fifteenth Floor.
Warning: The labyrinth is imbued with darkness that drains stamina and mana over time.
Note: Use the light wisely, for it is your only ally here.
Joo Hyun instinctively reached for his sword, gripping it tightly as he glanced at Dain. "Stay close. This place isn't going to be forgiving."
Dain nodded, her usually calm demeanor tinged with nervousness. "No kidding. I can barely see a thing."
Joo Hyun turned to the faint glow radiating from his body—the blessing of Amaterasu. The light wasn't strong, but it was enough to push back the immediate darkness, creating a small safe zone around them.
"Let's move," he said, stepping forward cautiously.
---
The Labyrinth's First Trial
It didn't take long for the labyrinth to reveal its dangers. As they ventured deeper into the maze, the shadows around them began to shift and stir. At first, they thought it was just their eyes playing tricks on them, but then the whispers grew louder, forming unintelligible words that seemed to dig into their minds.
Dain froze, her hand gripping Joo Hyun's arm. "Do you hear that?"
"Yeah," Joo Hyun replied, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest. He tightened his grip on his sword and activated the blessing of Athena, sharpening his focus. "Stay alert. They're not just shadows."
As if in response to his words, the darkness ahead of them coalesced into humanoid shapes. Dozens of shadowy figures emerged, their glowing red eyes piercing through the gloom. They moved silently, their forms flickering like dying flames, but the malice in their presence was undeniable.
---
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Shadow Fiends detected. Number: 25.
Warning: Shadow Fiends cannot be harmed by physical attacks alone. Use light-based skills to defeat them.
Joo Hyun didn't hesitate. Drawing on Amaterasu's Sunlight, he raised his hand, summoning a brilliant orb of light. The warm, golden glow expanded outward, forcing the Shadow Fiends to recoil with hissing shrieks.
"Dain, stay behind me!" he shouted, stepping forward as the orb grew brighter.
The first wave of fiends lunged at him, their claws aimed at his chest. Joo Hyun sidestepped gracefully, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade, infused with Amaterasu's light, sliced through the creatures, reducing them to wisps of smoke.
Dain watched in awe as Joo Hyun moved like a force of nature. His attacks were precise and fluid, each strike leaving no room for retaliation.
Within minutes, the fiends were gone, their forms dissolved into the surrounding darkness.
"Are you okay?" Joo Hyun asked, turning to Dain.
She nodded, though her grip on her weapon hadn't loosened. "Yeah. Thanks to you."
Joo Hyun smiled faintly. "Let's keep moving. We can't afford to waste time."
---
The Labyrinth's Deception
The deeper they went, the more the labyrinth played tricks on them. Passages looped back on themselves, landmarks appeared and disappeared, and faint illusions of people they knew flickered at the edges of their vision.
At one point, they found themselves back at what appeared to be the entrance, though neither of them could recall retracing their steps.
"This place is messing with us," Dain muttered, frustration evident in her tone.
Joo Hyun frowned, his mind racing. He activated Athena's Wisdom, seeking clarity in the chaos. Slowly, the illusions around them began to unravel, revealing faint trails of light hidden in the walls.
"Follow me," he said, stepping toward one of the trails.
Dain hesitated but nodded, trusting his judgment.
As they followed the light, the labyrinth began to shift again, the walls groaning as new paths opened before them. The air grew heavier, and the whispers intensified, but Joo Hyun's resolve didn't waver.
---
The Shadow King's Lair
After what felt like hours, they reached the
heart of the labyrinth—a massive chamber dominated by a swirling vortex of darkness. At its center stood the Shadow King, a towering figure cloaked in black armor. His glowing eyes locked onto Joo Hyun and Dain, and the air grew colder as his presence filled the room.
"You have come far," the Shadow King rumbled, his voice like grinding stone. "But your light will not save you here."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Boss Encounter: Shadow King
Abilities: Darkness Manifestation, Soul Drain, Regeneration.
Weakness: Light-based attacks.
---
Joo Hyun stepped forward, his sword glowing with Amaterasu's power. "We'll see about that."
The Shadow King raised a massive blade forged from the shadows themselves, and the battle began.
The Clash of Light and Darkness
The Shadow King was unlike any enemy Joo Hyun had faced before. His attacks were swift and relentless, his blade moving with a speed that belied his massive size. Each swing sent shockwaves through the chamber, forcing Joo Hyun to dodge with precision.
But Joo Hyun wasn't alone.
"Cover me!" Dain shouted, summoning a barrier of mana to block one of the Shadow King's strikes.
"On it!" Joo Hyun replied, channeling Amaterasu's light into a powerful beam that struck the Shadow King square in the chest. The dark armor cracked, and the Shadow King roared in pain, the vortex around him shrinking slightly.
"Keep the pressure on!" Dain called out, launching a flurry of mana bolts that chipped away at the Shadow King's defenses.
Joo Hyun nodded, his focus unshaken. He activated Anubis's Keeper of Souls, summoning spectral allies that swarmed the Shadow King, harrying him from all sides.
The battle raged on, the chamber shaking with the force of their clash. Joo Hyun's light grew brighter with every strike, pushing back the darkness until, finally, the Shadow King faltered.
With a final, powerful swing, Joo Hyun drove his sword into the Shadow King's chest, the blade piercing through the dark armor and releasing a burst of golden light. The Shadow King let out a final, anguished roar before disintegrating into nothingness.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
You have defeated the Shadow King.
The portal to the Fifteenth Floor is now open.
---
As the vortex faded and the chamber grew still, Joo Hyun lowered his sword, breathing heavily. He turned to Dain, who was leaning against the wall, clearly exhausted but alive.
"You did good," he said, offering her a small smile.
She grinned back weakly. "You're not so bad yourself."
The portal to the Fifteenth Floor shimmered into existence, its light promising new challenges and opportunities. Together, Joo Hyun and Dain stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next.