Chapter 101: The Hunt Begins

The deeper they ventured into the Labyrinth, the more time itself seemed to lose meaning.

One floor after another.

The scenery changed little from floor to floor. Endless stone corridors stretched in every direction, illuminated by clusters of glowing blue crystals embedded throughout the walls and ceiling.

Occasionally the passages widened into vast chambers filled with monsters, only for silence to reclaim them moments later.

Hours quietly slipped away.

Floor after floor disappeared behind them.

Reiji never slowed. Neither did he complain. He simply walked forward with both hands tucked inside his hoodie pockets, allowing Detect Presence to guide every step.

Whenever monsters appeared they disappeared just as quickly.

Sometimes they were engulfed by amber flames.

Sometimes crushed beneath invisible pressure.

Sometimes sliced apart by razor-sharp blades of wind.

By now even Aoi had stopped reacting.

After witnessing dozens of different spells throughout the raid, surprise had long since abandoned her.

Instead a different thought occupied her mind.

’He’s never used that bone sword again...’

Ever since entering the Labyrinth, Reiji hadn’t once drawn the strange white blade he always carried.

Every monster had fallen to magic alone.

’Maybe...’ Aoi glanced at his back. ’He’s actually a mage.’

It certainly explained a lot. The variety of spells. His calm fighting style.

The fact that he rarely allowed monsters to come close.

Although she still couldn’t understand why a mage possessed enough physical strength to casually throw people off skyscrapers.

She quietly decided not to think too deeply about that.

It was probably healthier.

Eventually...

A transparent notification floated before Reiji.

[Floor 88]

They had finally reached the eighty-eighth floor.

The surrounding corridors had become noticeably wider than before.

The air felt heavier.

Even the mana density had increased significantly.

Somewhere deeper within the floor, distant roars echoed through the endless stone passages.

Aoi exhaled softly. "We’ve been here for hours..."

She stretched her shoulders before glancing toward the ceiling.

"The military must be here by now."

Reiji didn’t even look back. "Don’t worry about that."

Aoi shook her head. "No... I mean outside."

She gestured upward.

"They’ve probably surrounded the entrance already."

Reiji remained completely unconcerned.

"When we clear the Labyrinth, a return portal will appear. It’ll take us back to the first floor."

"I know." Aoi sighed. "That’s exactly what I’m worried about."

"If the military’s waiting outside..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to.

Reiji understood. He simply shrugged.

"Don’t worry about it."

His answer remained as carefree as ever.

Aoi looked at him for a second before quietly giving up.

Trying to understand how his brain worked usually ended with her getting a headache.

They continued walking.

Several moments later Detect Presence quietly expanded once more.

Reiji’s footsteps slowed. "Something’s coming."

Aoi immediately became alert.

Unlike before, she instinctively reached toward the hilt of her sword but nothing was there.

A faint hissing sound echoed from somewhere ahead.

Then a massive black serpent slowly emerged from around the corner.

Nearly four meters long.

Its scales reflected the blue crystal light like polished obsidian.

Two cold yellow eyes locked onto the intruders.

Its forked tongue flicked through the air.

[Black Python (C-Rank)]

The monster coiled its muscular body before suddenly launching forward.

It was far faster than anything they had encountered on the lower floors.

Aoi instinctively took half a step backward.

Reiji calmly removed one hand from his hoodie pocket.

[Water Jet.]

A compressed beam of water erupted from his palm.

*SWOOOSH!*

The serpent didn’t even have time to react.

The jet pierced straight through its skull before continuing several meters into the wall behind it.

The enormous body collapsed heavily onto the stone floor and it died instantly.

Ding!

[Host has killed a C-Rank Black Serpent!]

[+10 EXP]

Reiji casually placed his hand back inside his pocket.

Aoi wasn’t even surprised anymore.

She simply walked toward the corpse and waited for it to dissolve into glowing particles.

A few seconds later... nothing.

No monster core.

She stared at the empty floor. "...Again."

Since entering the Labyrinth she had only collected fourteen monster cores.

Considering the number of monsters Reiji had exterminated...

That drop rate was honestly depressing.

With a helpless sigh, she adjusted the pouch hanging from her waist before quietly catching up to him.

"...I really hope the Boss is feeling generous today."

***

Far above them...

Outside the Labyrinth Gate the once deserted street had transformed into a heavily fortified military zone.

Dozens of military trucks lined both sides of the road while portable barriers blocked every entrance leading toward the Gate.

Floodlights illuminated the entire area despite it already being well into the night.

The dim yellow portal quietly rippled beneath the countless lights.

Reporters, journalists and paparazzi crowded behind the security barricades.

Camera shutters rang out nonstop.

*Click!*

*Click!*

*Click!*

Every single one of them had received the same piece of information only minutes earlier.

The Night Empress had entered this Gate. And according to an anonymous witness, she hadn’t entered alone.

The news spread across social media almost instantly.

"The Night Empress has a companion?"

"Is it another hidden Awakener?"

"Could it be her teammate?"

"Or perhaps... her lover?"

Speculations spread like wildfire.

Every news station wanted to be the first to uncover the truth.

Several helicopters hovered overhead, their cameras focused on the glowing portal below.

Meanwhile Captain Morgan silently stood before the Gate.

Her golden eyes remained fixed on its surface.

"...A C-Rank Labyrinth."

One of the military officers stepped beside her.

"Captain, the scouting team has finished their inspection."

"No signs of a Gate Break."

"No unusual mana fluctuations."

Morgan nodded once. "Good."

She folded her arms.

"If the Night Empress truly entered this Gate... then there’s a very high chance she’s still inside."

Silence followed.

Everyone present understood exactly what that meant.

Unlike ordinary Gates, Labyrinth Gates took significantly longer to clear.

Even someone capable of solo-raiding couldn’t simply finish one in a few minutes.

Which meant this was their best opportunity yet.

Morgan slowly turned toward the squad assembled nearby.

Eight elite B-Rank Awakeners.

Every one of them had extensive combat experience.

At their front stood a tall woman with short silver hair.

The squad leader.

She immediately saluted.

"Captain."

Morgan returned the salute with a small nod.

"Your mission remains unchanged."

She looked at each member individually.

"I don’t expect you to engage the Night Empress."

Several of them visibly relaxed.

Even they knew fighting someone capable of solo-clearing Gates was beyond their pay grade.

"What I want..." Morgan continued.

"...Is information. If you encounter her.. observe and eport everything."

"Her abilities. Her fighting style. The monsters she kills. The route she takes." Anything unusual."

She paused briefly.

"Do not provoke her unless absolutely necessary."

The squad leader nodded firmly.

"Understood."

Morgan’s gaze shifted toward another Awakener.

"You."

The woman immediately straightened.

"Yes, Captain."

"When you enter the gate which is the first floor... you’ll remain there."

The Awakener blinked.

"Remain there?"

Morgan nodded. "If the Night Empress clears the Labyrinth before you reach the lower floors... A return portal will appear on the first floor."

A cold glint flashed through her golden eyes.

"I refuse to let our only lead disappear again."

The Awakener’s expression turned serious.

"I understand."

"I’ll guard the portal."

Morgan looked back toward the Labyrinth entrance.

"This is the closest we’ve ever come."

Her voice remained calm.

Yet everyone present could hear the determination hidden beneath it.

"This time... I don’t intend to return empty-handed."

The squad leader took one step forward before turning toward her team.

"Formation Alpha."

"Check your equipment."

Weapons were unsheathed.

Mana quietly surged through the air.

Helmets were secured.

Protective barriers activated one after another.

Within moments every member stood ready.

The squad leader drew her sword and pointed it toward the glowing yellow portal.

"Move."

Without another word the eight B-Rank Awakeners charged forward.

One after another their figures disappeared into the Labyrinth Gate.

The hunt had officially begun.