Solo Max-Level Newbie

Chapter 8: Labyrinth Libarintos (2)

Jin-hyuk decided to take a peek at her status window.

---

Name: Park Hana

Age: 22

Level: 1

Strength 4 Agility 5 Stamina 5 Magic 10

Stat Points: 0

Coins: 100

Occupation: None

Unique Ability: Communion

Skill: Lv1 Fast Step Lv1 Weak Healing

---

The feeling of communion.

Even if it was their first meeting, the person they met would feel like they have known them for a long time and erase any wariness.

It was an ability that he needed to break peoples guards and copy their abilities.

Furthermore

It will be a great help for taming that guy later.

At first, he thought about using them to get rid of the traps inside the labyrinth, but now he changed his mind.

This skill cannot be missed.

He had to get this skill, so Jin-hyuk confirmed the conditions needed to copy it.

[Copy Condition: Stay with Park Hana for at least 240 hours. However, once 240 hours have passed, there must be no one other than you and Park Hana.]

240 hours.

In other words, they had to be together for ten days to satisfy the condition.

I dont need the other five

There was no need to kill them, though.

I am no bloodthirsty killer.

If they didnt cross the line, he would use them in moderation, and then they could leave in their own way.

But if they crossed the line.

That would be a different story.

Because I am determined to survive in this world as well.

Jin-hyuk, who had read the conditions carefully, then said,

So why did you come to me instead of going to the hunting grounds?

Before I answer that, maybe I can ask you a question?

Ask away.

The place youre entering now is a labyrinth, right?

Yes.

As I thought

Park Hana bit her lips and then said

We want to join in.

We join?

Yes. Wouldnt it be better to go together as a group than alone? There is a saying that sharing the risk is better.

She smiled brightly.

Well, it was good that she had said it first, even as her hand went to the needle on her waist.

That is the sting of the bumblebee from the museums insect room.

Everyone else flinched and moved.

This was fun.

So

So she plans to use it on me inside?

Jin-hyuk pointed to the entrance.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Want to enter the labyrinth?

Do it.

Once you entered, you wouldnt be able to leave on your own anyway.

---

[You have entered the labyrinth 'Libarintos']

[The number of challengers is 7.]

They could feel the moist, sticky air sticking to their skin as they entered the labyrinth.

The smell.

The feeling.

Now he really felt the truth that he was really within the tower.

Jin-hyuk looked at the wall. There were bright lights in place shining from inside them.

There were hundreds of Luminous Moths within the walls.

They were widely known for providing light for vision in underground dungeons, but

There was an exception here.

Jin-hyuk moved his five fingers at regular intervals.

He slowly folded them and opened his palm again.

As if he was mimicking their wing movement.

Once.

Twice.

And thrice.

And then

A moth sat on Jin-hyuks hand.

The dust quickly covered his hands, making them emit a bright light.

Right, nice to meet you.

A gentle smile appeared on his lips. And it was then.

Ah, I couldnt get your full name.

Park Hana spoke from his side. Jin-hyuk placed the moth back on the wall and said.

Ah, I must have forgotten.

All of them had entered inside, and the labyrinth was closed. There had been no time to properly greet each other.

Now that they were inside, they could now talk leisurely.

I am Park Hana, 22, and have been to the second floor of the Tower of Trials before.

Park Hana introduced herself, and the rest of the people began to speak.

I am Hang Cheol-sik. Only ended up on the first floor a long while back.

Lee Haemin. Only till the first floor.

Jang Mina. Till the 3rd floor

I am Cheon Min-guk. Never played the game.

Do Kwang-woo. My first time too.

Everyone was speaking words, but

It all sounded strange to Jin-hyuks ears.

Extra person to die in traps!

Backup plan to be used as bait for emergencies for running away!

Haha! Every night we will work hard to have delicious meals done!

Like so.

At the last minute, he was sure they would all aim to stab him in the back, so knowing their names wasnt worth it.

Jin-hyuk smiled lightly.

A raiding party with people trying to kill each other.

He didnt think he could get bored here.

Kang Jin-hyuk.

Mr. Jin-hyuk I see. So has Mr.Jin-hyuk been inside the labyrinth before?

As they exchanged their names, Park Hana stuck closer to him.

[Park Hana activated her unique ability 'Communion.']

In an instant, ticklish energy made his body feel tired.

His mind became at ease.

So this is how it works.

He would have felt friendly towards her if he didnt know about her ability.

Good compatibility or someone to be trusted.

It was like a good first impression.

Fortunately, I knew about this labyrinth from before.

Wow. You are more amazing than I thought. It is an honor to be with you.

Park Hana slowly looked at him as she was trying to break down his walls

It might work on those with shallow minds, though.

Jin-hyuk smiled and shook his head.

I know it well. Probably no one knows it as well as I do.

Ah I see.

No, I mean it. A player who knows the whole places layout will also fall short in front of me. There are 12 laps around, and people who can listen to me once in a while are enough.

Park Hana had a surprised expression.

A blunt answer.

Not a single one of her praise for him was working.

Well then, could you please tell me what kind of monsters are in the labyrinth and what characteristics they have? Would that be possible?

That wont be too difficult.

Lets see

What to do?

First of all, the labyrinth changes its interior at regular intervals.

Uh? What is that supposed to mean?

This place is also called the Labyrinth of Change. Ah, the time has come.

Jin-hyuk stood still, and at that moment.

Kukuku!

The entire labyrinth began to violently shake. Dust from the ceiling fell as cracks opened on the floors and walls.

Ack!

What is this?

Ackkk!

Panicked screams erupted from the group. The ground was rising up and going down. The boulders inside the labyrinth also moved in every direction.

M-Move! Dont stick close to each other!

Shit! If we fall, we die right away!

Right side! To the right!

Bang!

Bang!

The stones of the labyrinth were moving quickly, fitting together like blocks in Tetris.

Kwaang!

Everyone was moving quickly to avoid getting caught between the rocks.

They scratched their knees, causing blood to flow, but they didnt have time to care about that.

Kukukuk.

The vibrations stopped, and the paths changed entirely from before. If there was a small fortune, it was that the team didnt get split up.

Ugh!

Their hearts were pounding.

Ugh, this is the labyrinth on the first floor!

Nonsense. Wasnt there supposed to be nothing here except for ruins?

As everyone breathed heavily with pale faces, Jin-hyuk simply stood up and brushed the dust from his body.

Have you all experienced a labyrinth with changing terrains at least once?

W-who would want to experience such a thing!

Park Hana shouted with a pale face.

Well, fine.

Jin-hyuk shrugged.

Once again, he called over a luminous moth and collected its dust.

The humming from it was a bonus for him.

At his carefree appearance, Park Hana felt the urge to curse.

But she held back as she had more important things to do.

We need to get out right now. Haemin. Can you find an exit?

That the ability got canceled when the labyrinth changed.

Lee Haemin shook her head with a dark face.

Unique ability Compass.

The ability to show the safest route out of a dungeon or labyrinth

Park Hana had confidently entered the labyrinth because of this ability.

But

That ability had now become useless.

Because the labyrinth had been recreated.

And that changed everything.

So you mean you cannot find a way out?

In this place we are locked up?

---

I did wonder how she could enter the labyrinth that confidently.

Was it because there was a navigation ability?

Jin-hyuk, who overheard their words, swallowed a laugh.

Guess the newbies didnt know that going into a labyrinth wasnt like going to their local supermarket.

Even so, what can we expect from fools? The time for it to appear has come

Jin-hyuk glanced at the moth dust on his hand.

When body odor and the dust mixed together, a special substance was secreted, letting out a unique scent.

Ah, it appeared promptly.

Thud! Thud!

A faint sound could be heard from afar, though everyone else was panicking, so they couldnt hear it.

But Jin-hyuk felt it.

Something that roamed in this place was approaching them.

---

The labyrinth changes? Why the hell didnt you tell me such an important thing in advance?

Park Hana raised her voice.

It hurt his ear a bit.

And

Did I ask you to follow me?

what?

No, you were the ones who said you wanted to come. I never forced you.

They wanted to come.

Thats right, speak up now.

T-that is true

Park Hana stuttered.

She wanted to retort back, but she had nothing to say.

This bastard is saying this only now! I already feel like a beggar being confined to this one place. If you mess around one more time, Im gonna kill you.

Cheon Min-guk shouted.

Well, he would let Park Hana speak as he needed her, but this guy?

Jin-hyuk scratched his head and stood in front of Cheo Min-guk.

You are free to squeal like a pig, but you better keep your voice down in here.

What?

Ah! You dont understand human language? Then. Oink oink oink oink. Oink! Oink oink! Did you get it now? I said to be quiet.

Y-You fucking bastard!

Cheon Min-guk, whose face was flushed red, swung his fist.

It was an attack that flew towards his chin.

Puck!

Jin-hyuk turned his head and avoided the punch. At the same time, he tapped his opponents foot to break his balance.

UhUh?

Cheon Mun-guk struggled to maintain his balance and fell forward.

Clench!

And Jin-hyuk trampled on Cheon Mun-guks fist.

As he placed weight on it, the eerie sound of breaking bones could be heard.

Ahhh!

Shhh! Be quiet. Dont you know the saying, Do not shout in a labyrinth?

Ughhyou bastard! Why are you breaking my wrist while telling me to be quiet!

Because you didnt come to your senses when I said it with my mouth.

What?

Your mouth seems like its tough to keep it closed.

Jin-hyuks expression turned cold.

From above.

To below.

Puak!

His foot dug into Cheon Mun-guk.

Since he had added weight to it, the impact was more noticeable.

Kuak!

His front teeth were all smashed as blood spurted out of his mouth.

Arent you being too much? It was just one swing of a fist.

R-right. Who in the world

Is that cruel?

Park Hana and the rest of the people seemed a bit shocked.

Of course, they were.

Do you all think it was too much to smash someones face after they first attacked you?

There was no such thing as come back stronger.

Why care about others?

I was never a righteous person.

Besides, this wasnt the time to judge humanitys morality or anything else.

Dont worry. I wont kill you.

Actually, there was no need for that.

Jin-hyuk looked into the darkness in the passage.

After hearing this commotion and smelling the blood, its now his turn to appear.

Thud! Thud!

Loud footsteps could be heard.

Unlike before, the sound was clear enough for everyone to hear.