After concluding my very odd and… well, fun adventure in the Makina Labyrinth, I wasted no time in plotting the course for my next mission.
Thanks to the use of Magic, I was able to traverse this world with so much ease that it almost felt like cheating at the pace I was going.
Of course, it made me happy because that would mean I was going to be able to save Karlia quicker than I initially thought.
Plus, since I wasn't particularly being pursued by the Triumvirate, it wasn't difficult for me to breeze past cities without having to watch my back.
My adventures were smooth—well, not exactly…
*******
[Arcana VI: The Eros Labyrinth]
The wind was harsh against my face as I stepped out of the teleportation circle and into a bustling city on the edge of a vast desert.
The Eros Labyrinth lay at the heart of the city, a grand monument that stood as a symbol of the ancient bond between two powerful tribes.
The challenges of this Labyrinth revolved around the concept of harmony and balance, a test of my ability to negotiate rather than fight.
I had to mediate between arguing spirits, find common ground between warring factions, and balance contrasting elements.
With every challenge I overcame, I learned more about diplomacy and compromise.
And then I held the card in my hands, the Arcana of [The Lovers].
What made this one so bizarre was that the power of [The Lovers] wasn't even related to romance.
Whoever made this trial probably just wanted to pull something based on their personal bias, not exactly based on the effects of the Arcana in question.
*******
[The Evanescere Labyrinth]
The next Labyrinth awaited me within a city overshadowed by a singular monolithic Tower.
The Labyrinth was hidden within its heart, a winding series of trials etched into the core of the ancient edifice.
The challenges of the Tower were a test of adaptability and improvisation.
This Labyrinth was a twisted, ever-changing maze of paths that looped back upon themselves, where up was down, and every step could change the very fabric of the path ahead. The traps were numerous and cunning, the puzzles intricate and deceiving.
There was no brute forcing through this maze, no rushing headlong.
Every step was measured, every decision weighed. I was forced to change my approach constantly, to adapt to each new obstacle, to improvise solutions on the fly.
By the end of it, I was mentally exhausted but exhilarated.
Touching the Arcana, [The Tower]'s essence flooded into me, filling me with the ability I had been searching for after so long.
Spatial manipulation!
With it, I would be able to travel the distances I desired, and sense whatever I wanted to in my immediate space. Not to talk of the effects of [Unknowable].
Unfortunately, I had to first learn how to use it.
Since there was no time, I settled for using the usual high-speed Flight Spell to traverse the distance to my next destination.
******
[The Vi Labyrinth]
I found The Vi Labyrinth of Strength hidden deep within a dense jungle, protected by a tribe of powerful warriors who believed that true strength came from within.
Of course, these warriors were constructs made using Magic; another trial I had to pass.
I expected that the trial would be to prove my mettle, but the challenges were different from what I thought.
The test wasn't just focused on physical prowess but mental tenacity.
I was tested on my willpower, faced with temptations and illusions designed to shake my resolve.
Most of all, I was forced to solve problems with nothing but my intellect.
Too bad for them… that was my specialty!
When I finally conquered my doubts and fears, emerging victorious, I felt a surge of power.
The Arcana, [Strength], was now in my grasp.
When I first arrived in this world, I thought the trials of the Arcanas would be similar to the ones I encountered in my own.
But I turned out to be wrong on that.
While [The Devil] had some similarities to the Dugeon my friends and I faced when we found the Arcana, it was still very different in some areas.
Arcanas like [The Tower], and even [Strength], were completely different from what I remembered.
Even [The Chariot] is completely different from what Beruel narrated for me,
I suppose it made sense, considering how different this world was.
'Oh well… on to the next one!'
******
[The Tempus Labyrinth]
The next Arcana that I obtained, [The Hermit], waited for me at the top of a secluded mountain, in a Labyrinth shrouded in fog and cloaked in silence.
It was a solitary journey, a journey of self-discovery and introspection.
… I was literally forced to face some of my experiences in the past.
I met my previous comrades. Emilia too.
I saw Solomon, Lilith… Karlia too.
The challenges of The Hermit were less tangible, less direct.
They were riddles wrapped in enigmas, trials of patience and introspection. I grappled with questions of morality, philosophy, and purpose.
They weren't particularly difficult since I had already made my peace with most of the issues presented before me.
… It was still painful to watch the choice I made between Emilia and Karlia, though.
When I finally reached the peak, I was, holding [The Hermit] Arcana.
[The Fortuna Labyrinth]
This one was… quite different from the others.
It was a city that never slept, a city of gamblers and fortune tellers, where luck ruled and fortunes changed in the blink of an eye.
The challenges here were unpredictable and capricious. I gambled with trickster spirits, raced against time, and navigated a maze that shifted with every step I took.
I was supposed to win every wrong, for ten consecutive rounds, to reach the final prize… which was the Arcana.
How crazy was that?
The Labyrinth's gimmick revolved was a game of chance, a test of adaptability and quick thinking.
… Well, I cheated in everything using Magic.
By the end of it all, as I held the [Wheel Of Fortune] Arcana in my hands, I could almost feel the capriciousness of fate.
Well, almost….
**********
[MEANWHILE…]
Bathed in the ethereal glow of the holographic monitor, the Elf Queen reclined in her ornate throne, a wolfish smile slowly stretching across her flawless face.
The chamber was steeped in a heavy silence, save for the gentle hum of the holographic projection in front of her.
"We've got them," she said, her voice resonating with a cool, dangerous certainty.
Across the projected network, two figures nodded in response.
Their countenances were similarly illuminated by the bluish light, creating stark shadows on their respective backgrounds.
The Beast King, a hulking figure draped in an assortment of furs, bristled with anticipation, his golden eyes glinting sharply.
The Dwarf Chief, sturdy and grizzled with age, stroked his thick braided beard contemplatively.
"Are you certain?" the Beast King rumbled, his deep voice resonating through the chamber.
The Elf Queen's lips curled further, a spark of lethal intent flickering in her emerald eyes.
"Very," she affirmed, her fingers dancing across an array of symbols, bringing forth a rotating holographic model of an ancient labyrinth nestled within the mountains.
"After much investigation, we found out the Great Sage is among the ranks of Aria and Drake. Once we found that out, it wasn't long before we discovered their objective."
Both the Beast King and Dwarven Chief knew precisely what the Elf Queen meant.
It was no secret to the world that the Great Sage sought only one thing at this point.
"The Arcanas." The Beast King growled exciredly.
"That's right. Which means they'll soon be heading to the designated location." The Elf Queen responded.
A murmur of understanding passed through the holographic assembly, the weight of the queen's revelation dawning upon the leaders. T
he Dwarf Chief, a seasoned tactician, leaned forward, scrutinizing the three-dimensional map.
"Then it seems the hunt begins anew," he muttered, his gaze flinty. The Elf Queen inclined her head, her smile unwavering.
"And this time," she stated, "we will not fail. We have them cornered, and they will find no respite. After all, a hunted prey is at its most vulnerable when it believes it's close to its goal."
Her chilling declaration echoed through the chamber, her confidence unwavering.
The Beast King nodded in agreement.
"And how are preparations? Is everything in place?"
A wide, ugly grin formed on the Elf Queen's face at this point.
"Of course. I don't plan on letting them go this time."
*
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[A/N]
I decided to make this chapter something like a short montage of his various adventures.
I hope you all enjoyed it!
Lewis Griffith doesn't seem to have completely evaded the notice of the Triumvirate.
What will become of him now?
