Chapter Summaries

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise reached a lively town on the Begaritt Continent, where they ate grilled food and learned that Asla Kingdom currency was not accepted. Cui Ciyou paid with a Magic Crystal and received the local square coins as change.

• Cui Ciyou reflected on the Begaritt custom of leaving the dead to return to nature as he and Elinalise rode toward town.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise entered a brightly lit town where locals gathered around bonfires to eat and socialize.
• Elinalise said she was hungry, and Cui Ciyou agreed to buy food from a vendor beside a bonfire.
• Cui Ciyou offered the vendor an Asla Kingdom gold coin, but the vendor rejected it because he did not recognize the currency.
• Cui Ciyou paid for their meal with a Magic Crystal, and the vendor gave him local square coins as change.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise ate a local stir-fried sand millet dish at a roadside stall in Begaritt, where diners brought their own utensils or ate with their hands. After dinner, they bought cactus-fruit drinks and relaxed while looking out over the circular town.

• Cui Ciyou discovered that the stall served food without utensils, while nearby travelers ate with their hands or used tools they had brought.
• Cui Ciyou created a silver spoon and a pair of chopsticks with magic, then gave Elinalise the spoon.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise tasted the stir-fried sand millet and praised it compared with the food they had eaten on the Demon Continent.
• Cui Ciyou bought two sweet-and-sour cactus-fruit drinks, and he and Elinalise reclined on a carpet while gazing at the town.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise camped outside Kalaf Town and planned how to prepare for their desert journey. When Elinalise’s curse flared, Cui Ciyou suppressed it and resolved to find the Hydra for its scales.

• Cui Ciyou learned from a stallholder that travelers in Kalaf Town slept outdoors and chose a secluded campsite with Elinalise.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise planned to buy lasting rations, exchange money for Begaritt coins, and replace their Horned Dragon Horses with camels.
• Elinalise’s curse suddenly flared, leaving her feverish and trembling as black magic patterns spread across her skin.
• Cui Ciyou used Magic Nullification to erase the rampaging magic power and ease Elinalise’s suffering.
• Cui Ciyou decided to find the Hydra and take its scales to make a magic item that could suppress Elinalise’s curse.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise explored Kalaf Town’s busy marketplace and prepared for their journey across the Begaritt Continent. After selling monster materials, Cui Ciyou traded their Horned Dragon Horses for four Two-Humped Red Camels and stocked up on provisions.

• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise visited the marketplace, where Cui Ciyou admired the finely crafted glass bottles sold by a merchant.
• Cui Ciyou sold carapace and venomous stingers from powerful monsters to an appraiser for New Sasa coins.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise went to the livestock market to replace their horses with mounts suited to the desert.
• Cui Ciyou exchanged the two Horned Dragon Horses for four Two-Humped Red Camels and enough jerky for several months of travel.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise gathered directions to the Labyrinth City of Rapan and learned about two possible routes. Prioritizing speed, Cui Ciyou chose to cross the Uqiu Desert, confident his mental power would keep them from getting lost.

• Cui Ciyou learned that Rapan was about a month's walk southwest of Karaf and calculated that camels could shorten the trip to seven or eight days.
• A veteran mercenary described a safer route via Encoz that risked attacks by the Sand Scorpion Bandits, whose leader was said to be a Sword Saint.
• The mercenary also explained a shorter but dangerous route through the Uqiu Desert, using landmarks, oases, and the Kara Mountains to navigate.
• Cui Ciyou learned that useful maps were unavailable because the Begaritt Continent had no unified authority to chart it.
• Cui Ciyou chose the desert route, reassured Elinalise that they would not get lost, and mounted his camel to depart Karaf.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise encountered the Sand Wolf party and learned how female warriors on the Begaritt Continent dealt with succubi. After Cui Ciyou effortlessly captured a succubus, Lina offered to “detoxify” him, leaving him unsure how to respond.

• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise met the Sand Wolf party, whose members questioned their ability to survive in the desert.
• A succubus appeared and released her pheromones, but Cui Ciyou nullified their effect and captured her before she could attack.
• Lina thanked Cui Ciyou and explained that female warriors protected their parties from succubi and helped affected men recover.
• Lina described the Begaritt system in which female warriors raised children in shared villages and continued adventuring without marriage.
• Lina offered to sleep with Cui Ciyou to expel the succubus toxin, leaving him flustered as Elinalise watched.

Cui Ciyou and his companion reached Rapan, a city built beneath the enormous ribs of Behemoth, and he reflected on how the legendary monster’s death had created its labyrinths. He left the city’s history behind and turned toward the urgent task ahead.

• Cui Ciyou declined Lina’s offer to cure the poison, and he and the Sand Wolf parted ways.
• After several more days of travel, Cui Ciyou and his companion arrived at Rapan.
• Cui Ciyou saw that Rapan’s walls and central pillars were Behemoth’s immense bones.
• Cui Ciyou recalled how Behemoth’s corpse had drawn monsters whose nests later became labyrinths.
• Cui Ciyou considered the different worlds created by the deaths of Behemoths and Sand Whales, then urged his companion onward.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise reached Rapan and visited the Adventurers' Guild to learn the location and risks of the Teleportation Labyrinth. They left with a map and a warning about the labyrinth’s deadly history, ready to make their final preparations and attempt a rescue.

• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise found an inn in Rapan, settled their camels and luggage, and headed to the Adventurers' Guild.
• Cui Ciyou observed Rapan's merchants and battle-hardened adventurers as the pair crossed the city.
• At the guild, Cui Ciyou asked the receptionist for information about the Teleportation Labyrinth, drawing wary attention from nearby adventurers.
• The receptionist said the S-Rank labyrinth lay about a day's journey north and warned that no party had ever conquered it.
• The receptionist gave Cui Ciyou a map and publicly available precautions, and he left with Elinalise to prepare for the rescue.

Cui Ciyou prepared to enter the Displacement Labyrinth and rescue Roxy, choosing careful planning over rushing in. After gathering supplies and resting, he weighed his chances against North God Kalman the Third and accepted that he could not summon Rujierd because the Displacement Incident had destroyed the route to Roa City.

• Cui Ciyou suppressed his anger and told Elinalise they would prepare thoroughly before entering the labyrinth to rescue Roxy.
• Cui Ciyou explained that labyrinths replenished their monsters as stronger creatures filled the territory left by defeated bosses.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise bought long-lasting food, lighting, magic crystals, medicines, climbing gear, and weapon-maintenance supplies.
• Cui Ciyou considered whether he could defeat North God Kalman the Third and thought Rujierd would improve his chances.
• Cui Ciyou remembered that the Displacement Incident had destroyed the ancient teleportation ruins that could have brought Rujierd to Roa City, so he resolved to rely on himself and sleep before the coming ordeal.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise entered the Teleportation Labyrinth, where Cui Ciyou used his knowledge of its monsters, floors, and teleportation circles to guide their advance. They reached the first floor’s teleportation circle after he effortlessly killed several waves of Tarantula Deathlords.

• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise left their camels outside the labyrinth entrance and entered the dim cave without using illumination magic.
• Cui Ciyou reviewed the labyrinth’s known monsters and layout, including the hidden seventh floor and its guardian, the Hydra.
• Cui Ciyou told Elinalise to stay beside him as they explored the first floor’s narrow passages.
• Cui Ciyou sensed an ambush and swiftly killed several Tarantula Deathlords before Elinalise could draw her sword.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise reached a circular chamber containing a glowing teleportation magic circle.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise crossed the Displacement Labyrinth’s first floor and descended to the second, where Cui Ciyou began searching for Roxy despite the labyrinth disrupting his mental perception. On the second floor, he found stronger monsters and concluded that Roxy was likely nearby.

• Cui Ciyou noticed the labyrinth’s fragile walls and decided to avoid powerful attacks that could cause a collapse or consume the air.
• Cui Ciyou led Elinalise along the guidebook’s shortest route to the first floor’s exit and chose the darker of two nearly identical teleportation circles.
• Cui Ciyou estimated that Roxy was probably on the third or fourth floor, then tried to locate her with his mental power but was overwhelmed by interference from monsters and teleportation circles.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise arrived on the second floor, where Iron Crawlers and Tarantula Deathlords attacked together.
• Cui Ciyou split an Iron Crawler with his sword and pierced the Tarantula Deathlord behind it with invisible sword energy, then noted that the monsters’ increasing ranks meant Roxy was close.

Cui Ciyou and Elinalise fought their way through the third to sixth floors of the Displacement Labyrinth while searching for Roxy. Near the end of the sixth floor, Cui Ciyou sensed Roxy’s cry for help and raced toward her.

• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise defeated the Mad Skeleton and its monster servants on the third floor.
• Cui Ciyou searched the fourth floor for Roxy but found no trace of her.
• Cui Ciyou and Elinalise crossed the fifth floor, where Armored Warriors had replaced the spiders and crawlers.
• Cui Ciyou killed an Eat Devil that ambushed Elinalise on the sixth floor.
• Cui Ciyou heard Roxy call for help through his Mental Power Perception and sprinted toward her.

Roxy was cornered by Eat Devils on the sixth floor of the Displacement Labyrinth and called for Ciyou to save her. Cui Ciyou arrived and rescued her, and the chapter ended with them embracing after nearly four years apart.

• Wounded and nearly out of magic, Roxy was surrounded by Eat Devils with her escape route blocked.
• As an Eat Devil prepared to strike, Roxy called out for Ciyou to save her.
• Cui Ciyou used Blue Stream Blade to slice apart the Eat Devils.
• Cui Ciyou caught Roxy as she nearly collapsed and held her tightly.
• Roxy clutched Cui Ciyou and wept with relief as they reunited.

Cui Ciyou reunited with Roxy after finding her trapped on the labyrinth’s sixth floor, and learned how badly her month-long ordeal had worn her down. Seeing the ring on her finger, he asked her to marry him once they returned.

• Cui Ciyou embraced Roxy after rescuing her, until Elinalise interrupted their reunion.
• Cui Ciyou examined the Eat Devil corpses and realized Roxy’s stronger magic may have led her deeper into the labyrinth and into greater danger.
• Roxy explained that the smell bothering her came from herself after spending a month trapped in the labyrinth, and Cui Ciyou understood how much she had suffered.
• Cui Ciyou noticed the ring on Roxy’s finger and asked her to marry him when they got back.

Cui Ciyou proposed to Roxy Migurdia in the Labyrinth, and she accepted before he turned to caring for her injuries and planning their next move. He intended to continue toward the seventh floor to slay the Hydra and obtain scales that could suppress Elinalise’s curse.

• Cui Ciyou proposed marriage to Roxy Migurdia, and she tearfully accepted.
• Elinalise congratulated them and reminded them they were surrounded by S-Rank monster corpses; Cui Ciyou then remembered two other women he still planned to marry.
• Roxy sensed Cui Ciyou’s hesitation and said, “I understand,” without explaining further.
• Cui Ciyou treated Roxy’s wounds, gave her Magic Crystals, food, and water, and covered her with his coat.
• Cui Ciyou told Elinalise he planned to continue to the seventh floor and slay the Hydra for scales to make an item that could suppress her curse.

Cui Ciyou, Roxy, and Elinalise searched the Labyrinth’s sixth floor and discovered the hidden staircase to the seventh. At its bottom, they found a two-way teleportation circle glowing an ominous deep crimson.

• Roxy recovered enough magic power with the help of Magic Crystals, and the three began searching the sixth floor room by room.
• Cui Ciyou sensed a hollow space beneath a flagstone, and Elinalise confirmed it by listening and tapping the stone.
• Cui Ciyou shattered the flagstone with his sword energy, revealing an ancient spiral staircase.
• When Elinalise’s fireball went out in the stale air, Cui Ciyou used wind magic to ventilate the stairwell until the fire could burn.
• The three descended hundreds of steps and reached a large chamber containing a stable, two-way teleportation circle that glowed deep crimson.

Cui Ciyou, Roxy, and Elinalise found the Hydra in an ancient palace, and Cui Ciyou killed it by severing all nine heads at once. The Hydra's headless body collapsed, leaving the palace silent.

• Cui Ciyou, Roxy, and Elinalise teleported into a vast ancient hall and saw the Hydra resting at its far end.
• Cui Ciyou recalled the Hydra's magic-nullifying scales, powerful regeneration, and the method used to kill it in the original story.
• Cui Ciyou told Roxy and Elinalise to draw the Hydra's attention while he prepared to attack from the shadows.
• Roxy and Elinalise struck the Hydra, provoking it to gather magic from its nine heads.
• Cui Ciyou used Magic Nullification to stop the Hydra's spells, then enhanced his body and cut off all nine heads in one strike.

After defeating the Hydra, Cui Ciyou collected its valuable remains and discovered two ancient magic scrolls hidden in the temple. As the group prepared to leave with their loot, he worried about the Human God's prediction that he would fight North God III, but believed he could hold his own.

• Cui Ciyou extracted the Hydra's nine magic cores, dragon scales, and blood.
• Cui Ciyou found a hidden chamber containing scrolls for ancient teleportation magic and Person-Finding Magic.
• Cui Ciyou realized the Displacement Labyrinth had been built as a trial to protect the scrolls.
• Cui Ciyou cut the giant magic crystal into pieces, and he and Elinalise packed the loot into their backpacks.
• Cui Ciyou left the temple with Elinalise and Roxy, wondering where and why he would fight North God III.
• Cui Ciyou concluded that he would not necessarily lose to North God III as he was now.

After returning to Rapan from the Displacement Labyrinth, Cui Ciyou and his companions cleaned up and settled back into the inn. As he soaked in a magically heated bath, Cui Ciyou imagined the home he wanted to build for his loved ones.

• Cui Ciyou, Roxy, and Alice returned to Rapan after a two-day journey, and the innkeeper was astonished to see them alive and unharmed.
• Cui Ciyou returned to his room and prepared to ask for hot water, but Roxy objected to spending money on a bath.
• Cui Ciyou and his companions compromised with the innkeeper, and Roxy used Hot Water Creation to heat the water herself.
• Cui Ciyou relaxed in the bath and imagined renovating their future home with a modern bathroom, a laboratory for Roxy, a training ground, a garden, and a comfortable study.

Cui Ciyou, Roxy, and Elinalise shared drinks in a Rapan tavern, where Elinalise teased the pair about sleeping together and their coming marriage. Roxy considered whether to take the initiative with Cui Ciyou, deciding she might finally fight for what she wanted.

• Cui Ciyou declined rock wheat liquor while Elinalise and Roxy drank, and he explained his resolve to quit drinking.
• As the tavern grew rowdy, Elinalise suggested that Cui Ciyou and Roxy sleep together and joked that it would help them get used to married life.
• Roxy blushed at Elinalise's suggestion and remembered Cui Ciyou's marriage promise, along with his complicated expression afterward.
• Roxy thought about the other women who loved Cui Ciyou and wondered if being with him would put her one step ahead of them.
• Roxy looked at Cui Ciyou and decided that perhaps it was time to fight for once.