The fourteenth day dawned, and William rose earlier than usual, his body now accustomed to the rhythm of survival in the labyrinth.
Hunting werewolves had become almost tedious. What once threatened his life now barely qualified as exercise. The creatures seemed to sense his growing power, keeping their distance and forcing William to track them through increasingly challenging terrain. Their pawprints, once obvious to him, now required genuine skill to follow across rocky terrain and through shallow streams.
[Skill obtained: Beginner Tracking]
[Allows basic identification and following of simple trails]
[Proficiency: 1%]
The system window flickered with the familiar distortion:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Beginner Tracking → Basic Tracking]
[Allows identification and following of trails left by creatures]
[Proficiency: 1%]
His Aether had grown by another 0.04 points after consuming a particularly ancient werewolf three days prior, though the change felt negligible - like adding a drop to an ocean he could barely perceive.
William stood in front of a mirror, adjusting a black coat and pants he had taken from a particularly luxurious looking house. "Time to face the boss," he said to himself, retrieving his jian from where it rested against the wall.
Around 25 kilometers separated William from his destination, a distance that would have once seemed tough. Now, with [Devour] allowing him to replenish his stamina by consuming the occasional forest creature, he maintained a sprint that ate up the kilometers at an astonishing pace.
His body had transcended ordinary human limitations. Even without actively using skills, he moved with a speed that would humble Olympic athletes and possessed strength that rivaled professional powerlifters. The changes weren't merely physical - his mind processed information faster, and his senses were finer and detected more details.
The mountain path steepened as he approached, winding through increasingly barren terrain. As he climbed higher and higher, the air grew noticeably thinner. Still, William barely slowed his pace, his body adapting seamlessly to the changing conditions.
By midday, he stood before the castle itself. The structure was unlike anything he had ever seen in conventional architecture - a massive fortress of gleaming obsidian-like stone that seemed to grow from the mountain rather than having been built upon it. Enormous spires reached toward the heavens, their peaks disappearing into low-hanging clouds. Intricate carvings adorned every surface, depicting ancient battles and creatures William had never seen before. Two massive gargoyles with wings spread wide perched atop the main gate, their stone eyes seeming to follow his movement.
"Now this is what I call a castle," William whispered, his voice swallowed by the oppressive silence surrounding the structure. The castle walls were perfectly smooth and towered at least forty meters high. With the fortress partially embedded into the cliffside, going around was impossible.
He would have to devise another way to climb up, and he had an idea.
He picked up a stone off the ground and hurled it at one of the gargoyles. "Hey, monkey! Come down here!" He yelled. The gargoyle's eyes blazed crimson as it leapt from the castle wall, landing near William with a thunderous crash that shook the mountain path.
His skills activated, increasing his body's strength further. This was exactly what he aimed for as he started sprinting in the opposite direction of the gargoyle.
The cliffside the castle walls were embedded into wasn't flat, but instead rather steep. He would have a much easier time scaling that. With his increased strength, William ran up the steep cliff as far as he could. When his momentum stopped, he swiftly turned around on his heel and leapt off towards the castle's wall, which was now within reach. His fingers barely missed the edge, but William didn't hesitate and pulled out his jian, lodging it between two of the wall's teeth. He quickly pulled himself up, finding himself on the wall of the castle.
"That's one problem taken care of." He said as he looked at the gargoyles who were now both enraged, pointing his sword at them. "You guys are the second problem."
At first glance, William knew the gargoyles were tougher opponents than the werewolves. They were literally made out of stone, tough and strong. William sheathed his jian, opting for his fists.
William first used [Keen Introspection] at the gargoyles.
[An old gargoyle. Tough, but clunky and unintelligent. Does not attack unless disturbed.]
'Well, if I hadn't disturbed it, I would not have been able to get up.'
William's [Vulnerability Analysis] showed that their wings were a particularly vulnerable spot. He had no clue how these things could fly, but their wings were quite fragile.
William lunged first, attacking the closer gargoyle. Instead of punching it and breaking his bones, he kicked it in the chest, sending it tumbling backwards. Unharmed, the two gargoyles shot up in the air and flew towards William like missiles.
William stood near the cliffside, watching as the gargoyles quickly closed the distance. At the last second, he jumped to the side and watched as the two gargoyles smashed into the tough rock like cannonballs. Both of their wings shattered into pieces, and one's head rolled off the cliff. William quickly used [Devour] on the dead one.
A rush of energy surged through his body, replenishing his stamina completely.
[Gained 0.11 Vitality]
With a stroke of luck, William's Vitality stat increased. It was more than the werewolves gave, probably due to the sheer toughness of the gargoyles.
The second one stood up even though some pieces were falling off. It only had one hand, but still tried to lunge at William, but could only waddle like a newborn as William finished it off with a kick to the cracked head.
The cliffs turned inward, so William could slide down the cliff again to reach the true castle entrance. As he did so, the large obsidian doors swung open silently, revealing hallways with incredibly high ceilings.
The interior of the castle was breathtaking. Massive crystal chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, illuminating the polished marble floors with an ethereal light. Elegant tapestries depicting epic battles and mythical beasts covered the walls, their threads shimmering with metallic accents that caught the light. Statues of armored knights lined the corridors, their faces hidden behind intricately carved helmets. Every surface that wasn't adorned with art was covered in intricate gold filigree that seemed to tell stories of its own.
As William continued through the castle, he realized it was also completely empty, just like the village. The number of rooms were immense, and he made sure to thoroughly scour every single one.
After an hour of checking the various rooms in the castle, he found a grand library with shelves stretching from floor to ceiling, containing thousands of ancient tomes. In the center stood a locked chest of polished ebony with gold trim. Although he wasn't an expert, he had dabbled in lock picking back in his past, and after finding a suitable piece of metal to turn into a lockpick he got to work.
The lock mechanism was old, but that only made it simpler. Still, he struggled.
'Hm.. I wish I understood how this damn lock works,' He thought, before getting an idea. He called upon Aether, which concentrated on his palm. He brought it closer to the lock, and he felt it. He could 'see' or 'feel' the inside of the lock somehow. It was indescribable, his mind simply contained the information now.
With this information in his arsenal, it took him no more than 15 more minutes and the chest swung open.
The system window popped up, simply stating [Uncovered hidden piece]
Inside laid a red potion of some sort and a dagger with an ornate sheathe decorated with runes that seemed to shift and change as he looked at them. William quickly used [Keen Introspection].
[Potion of Vitality - increases Vitality by 0.75]
[Runic Dirk - A well crafted dagger, sharp enough to penetrate armor]
"Jackpot." Without hesitation, he pocketed the dagger and drank the potion, immediately feeling refreshed and energetic.
The dagger was quite long, but felt very good in William's hand. The handle fit perfectly in his grip, as if it had been made specifically for him. The blade seemed to shimmer with an inner light that pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat. He attached it to his waist, continuing further.
The giant castle made William feel more unease the longer he trudged through its halls. Situated on the inside of a mountain, there was no sunlight. The light inside came off torches carrying an ethereal white-blue flame which never seemed to go out.
There were various types of rooms. Bedrooms with four-poster beds draped in velvet, a kitchen with gleaming copper pots and pans, a training area with pristine wooden dummies, an armory containing broken or dull swords, and a religious altar carved from a single massive piece of white marble. William traversed them all, searching for more secrets. But there was no life to be found.
The castle was seemingly never ending. No matter how long William walked, there was always a hallway connecting to a further part of the castle. Its scale was simply unknown, immeasurable for one mere person.
William entered into a grand dining hall with a ceiling that seemed to disappear into darkness above. A massive table stretched the length of the room, surrounded by ornately carved chairs with velvet cushions. Fresh food was laid out on the table, food William knew. Roasted chicken, seafood platters, pastries arranged in artistic patterns. Truly a feast worthy of a king - in a completely empty castle.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
William checked for poison using [Keen Introspection], and when it said nothing of the sort, he dug in. His confidence in his skill rose, as it kept giving increasingly accurate and detailed information with the rising proficiency.
Just as he was about to take a bite of some delicious cake, his [Danger Sense] screamed out in his head. His titles and skills activated as he instinctively lowered his head, watching as a claymore passed right where his neck used to be.
William rolled away from the table, drawing his jian in one fluid motion. Where there had been empty space moments before now stood a suit of armor - gleaming black metal with accents of blood red, moving with impossible fluidity for something so heavy. No flesh or being occupied the armor; it moved of its own accord, the helmet turning to track William's movements with an empty visor. In the center of its chest plate glowed a brilliant blue crystal, pulsing with power like a heartbeat.
[Keen Introspection] activated automatically:
[Royal Guardian Armor - Animated construct bound to serve the king and the boss of the first floor of the labyrinth. Possesses exceptional combat training accumulated over centuries. Powered by a focus crystal. Cannot be destroyed by conventional means.]
The armor raised its claymore, pointing it accusingly at William.
"Intruder," a hollow voice echoed from within the empty helmet. "You dare consume what belongs to His Majesty?"
William's [Vulnerability Analysis] frantically scanned the armor but showed little - the joints were slightly weaker than the plates, but the only true vulnerability appeared to be the glowing crystal embedded in its chest.
"Technically, he isn't using it," William quipped, shifting into a defensive stance. "And I was getting hungry after all that walking."
The armor charged with terrifying speed, its movements precise and swift. William parried the first strike, the impact sending vibrations through his arms despite his enhanced strength. He countered with a thrust aimed at where a human's heart would be, but his blade merely scraped against the metal with a shower of sparks.
"Damn!" Cursed William. His jian was much smaller than the claymore, yet the armor's speed neared his own.
William disengaged, circling the dining hall. The armor matched his movements, its claymore held in a perfect guard position.
"You've trained for centuries," William noted, studying its stance. "With the king?"
"I have served many kings," the armor responded, voice echoing metallically. "Each I have trained in the art of war. Each I have protected until their final breath."
"Your name wouldn't happen to be Sun-Tzu, would it?" William joked as he searched for openings.
The armor lunged again, executing a complex series of attacks that William barely managed to defend against. His [Blade Momentum] activated, allowing him to keep pace, but just barely. The armor was simply better - its technique refined by centuries of practice.
William attempted to strike at the crystal, but the armor defended it masterfully, never allowing a clear strike at its core. Each time William's blade came close, the armor would shift its position or deflect with its claymore.
After several minutes of intense combat, William was beginning to tire. His enhanced stamina was impressive, but the armor showed no signs of fatigue. Its movements remained precise and lethal, each swing of the claymore threatening to end William's journey permanently.
"You fight well for a human," the armor acknowledged during a brief respite as they circled each other. "But you cannot win. I have defeated champions far more experienced than you."
William's mind raced, analyzing his options. The crystal was clearly the key, but reaching it would be nearly impossible with frontal attacks. He needed to create an opening, to trick the armor somehow.
"A knight should be honorable, should he not?" William said suddenly, remembering his earlier encounter with the guide. "Yet you hide behind that armor. Is that truly the way of a warrior?"
The armor paused momentarily. "My true strength is locked by the labyrinth, what you see is merely a shell. But honor is in service, not in appearance. My form is irrelevant to my purpose."
William seized on the hesitation, launching a renewed assault with every ounce of skill he possessed. He deliberately left openings in his defense, baiting the armor into specific counters that he could predict. The strategy was risky - several times the claymore came within inches of his vital organs - but it allowed him to gradually maneuver the construct into position.
William feinted a stumble, appearing to lose his footing on a piece of broken furniture. The armor, sensing an opportunity, lunged forward with its claymore extended. William, having anticipated this exact move, twisted at the last moment and used [Blade Momentum] to execute a perfect parry that knocked the claymore off course.
For a fraction of a second, the armor was off-balance, its chest exposed. William didn't reach for his jian - instead, his hand flew to the Runic Dirk at his waist. In one fluid motion, he drew the dagger and thrust it directly at the glowing crystal.
The dagger's enchanted blade sank into the crystal with a high-pitched whine. Cracks spread from the point of impact, blue light spilling from the fractures like blood. The armor froze mid-motion, its limbs locking in place as the energy powering it fluctuated wildly.
"Impossible," the armor's voice distorted, fading in and out as the crystal's power wavered. "No normal weapon should... penetrate..."
William twisted the dagger, driving it deeper into the crystal. "This is no ordinary weapon," he grunted through clenched teeth.
With a final push, the dagger sank to its hilt. The crystal shattered with a sound like breaking glass, fragments tinkling against the inside of the armor. The blue light sputtered and died, plunging the armor into darkness.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the armor began to collapse, piece by piece. The helmet fell first, followed by the pauldrons and breastplate. Each piece turned to dust as it hit the floor, disintegrating into fine black powder.
As the last piece of armor crumbled away, a soft blue light rose from the remains. It coalesced into the translucent figure of a man - a warrior.
"You have bested me in combat," the spectral figure said, its voice clearer and more human than the armor's had been.
"It was an honor," William said, genuinely impressed by the warrior's skill. “May I know your name?”
"I am Hein, once the greatest swordsman in the king's service, now bound to test those who seek to ascend the labyrinth."
The ghost gestured, and several items materialized on the dining table - a key of ornate gold, a small gemstone similar to the crystal that had powered the armor, and the sword Hein had used in their battle.
"The key will grant you access to the next floor," Hein explained. "And the crystal fragment contains a portion of my essence. Use it well."
William approached the table cautiously, examining the items with [Keen Introspection].
[Floor Key - Opens the portal to the second floor]
[Soul Crystal Fragment - Contains the essence of a master swordsman]
[Hein’s Claymore - A masterfully crafted sword of black iron, wielded by Hein]
"Thank you," William said, collecting the items and placing them carefully in his pack.
"Do not thank me yet," Hein's ghost warned. "The challenges ahead will make our battle seem like child's play. But you have potential, William Torren."
Before William could respond, a system notification appeared:
[Congratulations, you have defeated the boss]
[First floor cleared]
[Time taken: 14 days]
[New record set. Unique title granted]
[Title acquired: Swift Conqueror]
[Effect: Enhanced speed in all physical and mental actions]
The familiar distortion rippled across the system window immediately:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Title upgraded: Swift Conqueror → Speedrunner]
[Effect: Significantly enhanced speed in all physical and mental actions]
[Bonus rewards for exceptional performance:]
[Skill acquired: Basic Weapon Proficiency]
[Allows for slightly faster proficiency gain with all weapons]
[Proficiency: 5%]
The familiar distortion rippled across the system window immediately:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Basic Weapon Proficiency → Weapon Proficiency]
[Allows for faster proficiency gain with all weapons and enhances natural aptitude with any weapon]
[Proficiency: 5%]
[Stat increase: +1.0 to all basic attributes]
The effect was instant. William's thoughts flowed faster and his perception of the world slowed in turn, his body adjusting to match. He felt stronger, more in control of his movements, and could sense the subtle changes in his stats.
Hein's ghost began to fade. "We will meet again, William Torren, though perhaps not in this form. The labyrinth has many secrets yet to reveal."
As the last wisps of the ghost disappeared, William took a moment to appreciate his victory. He had defeated the first floor boss through skill and cunning, but he knew that wouldn't be enough for what lay ahead.
"Now the real challenge begins," he murmured, examining the soul crystal fragment in his hand. It pulsed with a gentle blue light, almost like it was responding to his touch.
He was about to pocket the crystal when a familiar voice made him jump.
"Bravo! Bravo! What a splendid display of resourcefulness!" The guide materialized from thin air, his emerald outfit as vibrant as ever, clapping enthusiastically. "Using the dagger at the perfect moment - did I not tell you that you needed to be creative to acquire the right skills?"
"You scared the shit out of me!" William yelled, startled by the sudden appearance. "And you never mentioned anything about a dagger."
The guide's grin widened impossibly. "I said to be creative and thorough. The dagger was your reward for being so. And now look at you - fastest clear of the first floor ever! Most entertaining indeed."
William narrowed his eyes. "How long does it usually take people?"
The guide laughed. “Months, and that’s just the time they spend mucking around the village killing werewolves. A few more months until they kill the armor. You couldn’t imagine how hilarious it is to see them sprinting out of the castle at full speed while being chased by it!”
“Hein,” William interjected. “Running from Hein.”
“Ah, yes.. Hein.” The guide squinted his eyes unnaturally as he said the name.
“Anyways, what can I expect from the next floor?” Asked William.
"Now that would be telling," the guide replied with a wink. "But I will say this - what you've faced so far has merely been the appetizer. The true performance is about to begin."
The guide disappeared into mist, and William once again stood alone in the massive dining hall. He pulled out the floor key, examining its intricate design. Golden runes covered its surface, shifting and changing as he turned it in his hand.
"First, let's see how much I've improved," William muttered to himself. "Status Window."
[William Torren]
[Species: Human]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (21%), Keen Introspection (9%), Combat Perseverance (11%), Devour (6%), Vulnerability Analysis (11%), Danger Sense (10%), Blade Momentum (14%), Basic Martial Arts (4%), Basic Tracking (1%), Weapon Proficiency (5%)]
[Titles: The Audacious One, Defier of Fate, Speedrunner]
[Authority: !~`#5%$&/=]
[Stats]
[Vitality: 12.95]
[Power: 11.3]
[Control: 11.5]
[Aether: 0.09]
William's eyes widened as he took in the numbers. The +1.0 boost to all stats from defeating Hein had made a significant difference, particularly to his Vitality which had also benefited from the potion. He was a little disappointed that Aether hadn’t improved, but he supposed it didn’t count as a ‘basic stat’, whatever that meant.
With the breach of 10% proficiency in some skills, his combat power skyrocketed rapidly. Basic swordsmanship grew the most as he watched Hein’s swordsmanship, ingraining a part of it in his head.
The crystal fragment pulsed in his hand as he studied the status window, almost as if responding to his thoughts.
"Wonder what this thing actually does," he murmured, holding up the soul crystal. Its blue light cast strange shadows across his face. On impulse, he used [Keen Introspection] on it once more, focusing more intently.
[Soul Crystal Fragment (Hein) - Contains a portion of Master Swordsman Hein's combat knowledge and experience. Can be used to temporarily enhance combat abilities or permanently integrated to gain a fraction of his skill.]
"Permanently integrated? How the hell do I do that?" William turned the crystal over in his hand, looking for any clues. The surface was smooth, offering no obvious method of activation or integration.
Then, an idea hit him. He willed for his skill, [Devour], to activate, its target being the blue stone in his hand.
As soon as he did so, the stone started being slowly consumed. As if a million tiny ants were devouring it, the stone shrank until there was nothing left. Initially, nothing happened, but then the system window opened.
[Soul Crystal Fragment (Hein) consumed]
[Essence of Master Swordsman Hein partially absorbed]
[Gained 0.2 Control]
[Gained 0.15 Power]
[Skill obtained: Combat Technique]
[Improves positioning and movement efficiency during combat]
[Proficiency: 1%]
The familiar distortion appeared:
[Authority !~`#5%$&/= forcibly activated]
[Skill upgraded: Combat Technique → Advanced Footwork]
[Significantly enhances positioning, balance, and movement efficiency during combat. Reduces stamina consumption when maneuvering]
[Proficiency: 1%]
William gasped as foreign knowledge flooded his mind - memories of countless hours spent perfecting the most crucial aspect of combat: movement. He felt a sudden awareness of his body's positioning, weight distribution, and balance that he'd never consciously considered before.
"This changes everything," he muttered, taking a few experimental steps. His movements were smoother, more efficient. When he pivoted, his balance remained perfect. A quick dash followed by a stop left him perfectly poised to attack or defend, with no wasted motion.
"Thank you, Hein," William said quietly before turning his attention back to the task at hand.
Taking a deep breath, William approached the pedestal and inserted the key. It fit perfectly, and as he turned it, a low humming filled the chamber. A blue portal opened, the second floor on its other side.
