"It really is Elinalise! How could you be here?"
Paul's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief and astonishment.
He certainly wouldn't mistake the woman in front of him.
Elinalise – a comrade who fought alongside them and weathered countless crises together.
But to see her again now, deep within this eerie and dangerous labyrinth, is truly unbelievable.
"Now is not the time for pleasantries."
Rudeus interrupted Paul in a deep voice, then turned around and looked at Elinalise.
" Elinalise, don't rush, tell me slowly. What exactly happened here? How are you all doing now?"
"Call..."
Elinalise took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly fluctuating emotions.
"This is a Teleportation Labyrinth."
Her voice still carried a hint of weariness, and even a faint trace of lingering fear.
"We were originally a small team, exploring this place together. But we didn't expect the maze's mechanisms to be far more complex than we imagined. We triggered several traps along the way, forcing the team to split up as a result."
"I haven't seen anyone else since then."
"I've been trapped here for over a month. Every time I'm moved to another dimension, a large number of monsters rush out and I have to fight them."
At this point, Elinalise's expression visibly dimmed.
"During this time, I was constantly searching for an exit and tried many routes. But almost every time I went wrong. What's worse... I later discovered other people's bodies."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"They're all dead."
The air seemed to grow heavy at that moment.
I still haven't found Roxy.
Elinalise paused for a moment, and her voice lowered as well.
So... she may already be...
He didn't finish his sentence.
But everyone present understood what she meant.
Rudeus did not answer immediately.
His brow furrowed slightly.
After listening to Elinalise's account, his first thought wasn't about Roxy's safety, but rather another, more bizarre question.
Why is Elinalise still alive?
This maze is clearly extremely dangerous.
Over the past month, everyone else has died one after another, but Elinalise has survived.
Could it be...?
Is Elinalise an apostle of the Man-God?
"No."
Rudeus quickly dismissed this speculation.
That's far too arbitrary.
Even if Man-God possess the ability to manipulate people's hearts, they cannot control anyone unconditionally.
Moreover, the true form of the Man-God is still sealed, and it can only influence others through words at present, far from being as free as imagined.
To regard Elinalise as an enemy based solely on suspicion without any evidence is undoubtedly the most foolish thing to do.
Don't jump to conclusions.
Rudeus looked at Elinalise, his tone firm.
"At least for now, we don't have any substantial evidence to prove that Roxy is dead, right?"
Elinalise remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
"... right."
"That's enough."
Rudeus's gaze gradually sharpened.
Leave it to me.
"Leave everything here to me."
"I will bring Roxy back."
Lilia, however, showed a worried expression.
"Young Master Rudeus, what do you plan to do? Miss Elinalise just said that this is a Teleportation Labyrinth."
"If you don't understand its rules and principles, venturing into it rashly could be extremely dangerous."
"Believe me."
Rudeus said calmly.
"I will prove with my actions that this place cannot hold me back."
After speaking, he raised his hand and set up a sturdy defensive barrier around everyone.
A faint magical energy rippled outwards, and the barrier firmly enveloped everyone within it.
You all stay here for now.
I'll be right back.
"Wait, Rudeus!"
Eris suddenly stood up.
I want to go with you!
"No."
Rudeus did not turn around.
" Eris, you have a more important task."
"Stay here and protect them."
"But--"
"Believe me."
Those three simple words made Eris's words catch in her throat.
Rudeus then walked straight to the rock wall next to him.
Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, his body was not hindered in the slightest.
The next second--
He disappeared completely into the solid rock wall.
"This..."
Paul was dumbfounded.
"Did you see that? Rudeus just... went through the wall?"
That's called ' Intangibility '.
Eris said helplessly.
" Rudeus asked me to practice with him a few months ago, but I still haven't been able to learn it."
"This is indeed an ability I've never seen before."
Rujierd also looked in the direction Rudeus had disappeared.
"However, since it was Rudeus who used it, there's nothing surprising about it."
Lilia sighed softly.
"Sir, at a time like this, let's trust young Master Rudeus."
"We know nothing about this maze. If we rashly follow it, we will not only be of no help, but we may also become a burden to young master Rudeus."
Paul opened his mouth, but remained silent for a long time.
In a short period of time, his understanding of his son was refreshed time and time again.
How much has that child who once needed my protection grown up?
It can create barriers out of thin air.
It allows one to control the flying sword at will.
It can even pass through rock walls without any hindrance.
Any one of these abilities would be astonishing if possessed by an ordinary magician.
But now, they have all appeared on Rudeus.
Even if he's a divine child, this is just too divine!
However, Lilia was right.
Everything here is unknown.
All they can do now is trust Rudeus.
On the other side.
Rudeus passed through the thick rock walls and entered a spacious underground cave.
He slowly closed his eyes.
The magic of Perception is activated from this moment on.
The magic extended in all directions like invisible tentacles.
Rock strata, passageways, monsters, air currents...
He was Perception of every subtle change.
soon.
Rudeus opened his eyes.
On the other side of this cave lies an even larger cavern.
And there--
A fierce battle is raging.
boom!
The frost exploded.
The blue figure staggered backward.
She was a blue-haired girl.
Holding a staff, her petite body already appeared incredibly exhausted.
It was Roxy.
At this moment, she is facing a tidal wave of monsters all alone.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Dozens of them...
Monsters kept pouring out from the depths of darkness, seemingly without end.
Roxy continued to wave her staff.
Ice Arrow, Ice Lance, Frost Strike...
A series of spells were unleashed, temporarily forcing the attacking monsters back.
However, the predicament that had lasted for more than a month had already pushed her physical strength and magic power to their limits.
Her breathing was rapid, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
The hand holding the staff was trembling slightly.
If no one shows up today...
Perhaps, she really will die here.
Rudeus's gaze suddenly turned icy.
And at that moment—
Roxy struggled to lift her staff once more.
Frost Strike!
However, this time the magic was significantly weaker than before.
The magic power is insufficient, and the power drops sharply.
Two monsters resembling giant spiders withstood the attack, their eight limbs exerting force simultaneously as they opened their gaping maws filled with fangs and lunged at the defenseless Roxy.
Roxy's pupils suddenly contracted.
The staff slipped from his hand.
He collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.
"No..."
She stared in horror at the approaching monster.
"Don't want..."
"Don't come any closer!"
At this critical moment—
A cold voice suddenly boomed through the cave.
"The Ultimate Technique of the Magic Sword Style Style--"
The next moment.
A figure swooped down from mid-air.
A cold glint pierced the darkness.
Rudeus's scythe, carrying a chilling aura, slashed fiercely into the horde of monsters.
"[ Nirvana Frost Scythe ]!"
boom--!
A terrifying cold wave instantly swept through the entire cave.
Centered on Rudeus, frost spread wildly.
The monsters charging at the forefront didn't even have time to scream before their bodies were completely frozen.
Immediately afterwards.
Click--
Click--
The ice layer continues to spread.
One.
Ten.
One hundred.
All the monsters that pounced on Roxy were turned into ice sculptures in just a few breaths.
The entire cave.
A deathly silence fell.
Roxy sat blankly on the ground, staring at the figure blocking her way.
A familiar figure from behind.
A familiar voice.
And that magical aura that she would never mistake.
" Rudeus..."
She murmured to herself.
Rudeus simply and slowly sheathed his scythe.
"Hey, teacher."
I'm late.