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Chapter : 66 – Labyrinth of Infinity
A barrier is a space created by magic.
And magic…
Commonly understood as:
A supernatural phenomenon or the use of supernatural power to manipulate or influence reality.
…but that’s not quite right.
Most people think of magic as “supernatural phenomena.”
I, too, initially thought the same.
But it’s absolutely not.
According to the hero of the Allied Forces, the Grand Mage:
“Magic is, in fact, an entirely natural phenomenon.”
It’s nothing more than artificially recreating natural phenomena by interpreting the principles behind them.
In this sense, magical studies can be described as the “science of interpretation.”
What magic seeks to interpret are the laws and principles of this world.
Thus, magic is the “natural phenomenon” that results from interpreting the world’s laws and principles.
What’s required for this is energy that converts mana into usable power—Mana Force.
“Mana serves as a kind of ‘raw material’ for magic.”
To create fire, you need a raw material like firewood.
Mana plays the role of that firewood.
Though it can also act as many other things.
“A mage can manipulate mana to produce heat, light, electricity, sound, and many other forms of energy.”
A fireball floating in the air.
A sudden burst of light.
Lightning striking in chains.
Sound waves that tear the eardrums.
Behind these spells, mana is the raw material in various forms.
So while magic may appear impossible, it is in fact an entirely natural phenomenon based on the laws of the world.
“Just like burning firewood produces heat energy called fire.”
Thus, mages cannot use magic that defies the laws of nature.
Resurrecting the dead.
Reversing time.
“It’s impossible to reverse entropy.”
Hence, from the perspective of mages, “Aura” was the true magic.
The power to bring something that exists only in imagination into reality.
Aura is a force that, by nature, should not exist.
Yet, it existed, suddenly and inexplicably.
Ignoring even the laws of the world itself—that is magic.
However, most think the opposite.
They consider magic a supernatural phenomenon and Aura a natural one.
“Reality, however, is not so.”
From this perspective:
Abarus is a “mage.”
He cannot manipulate the supernatural force known as Aura.
Because he understands, with exceptional intelligence, that Aura should not exist.
Therefore, this barrier is a magic, a “natural phenomenon.”
It merely uses the Abyssal Lord’s power as the raw material, “mana.”
So it only appears supernatural.
Thus, when I saw Rule #3 in the rulebook—“There is no exit here”—I realized all the rules were either false or deceptive.
One absolute law of magic, especially in alchemy, is [Equivalent Exchange].
To gain something, one must pay a corresponding price.
To make fire, you need firewood.
If there’s an entrance, there must be an exit.
Even if the exit is unreachable or nearly impossible.
Therefore, the “no exit” rule is a deception.
Moreover, the barrier’s weakness, identified with Weakness Detection [U], pointed directly to the rulebook.
So, the way out lies in the rulebook itself.
Examining the rules carefully, I noticed something odd.
Some words in certain rules had slightly different fonts.
Rule 3:
There is no exit here.
If you see something that appears to be an exit, do not stop, ignore it entirely.
The word “stop” in Rule 3 was the one with a different font.
Initially, I thought it was for emphasis.
But looking back at Rules 1 and 2, other words with slightly different fonts appeared.
Extracting those words:
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Light. Secure. You are. Trapped. Sense of direction. Distorted.
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Structure. If you move. Same place.
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Stop.
A sentence was forming.
So I stopped moving and remained in place.
Then, a strange pattern appeared, and the newly revealed rules also contained subtly different font words.
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Strange pattern.
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Repeat. That. Moment.
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Rulebook. If damaged.
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Rule 6. Discover.
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Hope.
-
Exists.
Combining them:
Secure the light and acknowledge that you are trapped.
If your sense of direction becomes distorted and the structure of this place moves,
Stop in place.
Recite the strange pattern.
At that moment, if you damage the rulebook,
You will discover Rule 6.
“Found it.”
I sharpened the Dragon Claw [A] and tore the rulebook apart.
However, it got entangled with my hand, and I had to throw both away together.
◆ Temporarily blocking sensory nerves!
◆ Using skill ‘Regeneration [B+]’ to restore damaged body parts!
I restored my hand using Regeneration [B+].
Since Predation [S+] works normally here, it wasn’t a problem.
The torn rulebook sprawled on the floor.
Kyaaaaaaaah!
The rulebook writhed like a living creature, screaming horribly.
Crimson blood poured from the torn pages, mingling with my own, soon etching new rules into the floor.
Rule 6: Hope exists.
This place is the [Labyrinth of Infinity]. The Labyrinth of Infinity is a distorted dimension entwined with the consciousness of the [Administrator] and fused with the [Administrator]. Within it exists an [Absolute Rule], which overrides any other law.
[Absolute Rules]
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The Absolute Rules of the Labyrinth of Infinity cannot be arbitrarily set or modified by the [Administrator].
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The Labyrinth of Infinity requires the [Administrator] to exist.
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The Labyrinth of Infinity has infinite health and mana, and infinite space and time.
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Absolute Rules of the Labyrinth of Infinity must be revealed by the [Administrator] directly.
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If any one Absolute Rule is violated, the Labyrinth of Infinity ceases to exist.
The hidden Rule 6 appeared.
Foreboding patterns and shapes emerged on the rulebook.
Among cobweb-like wrinkles, faint eyes and lips appeared, grotesquely distorted…
<Nehnoooooom!!!>
It screamed at me in a voice like a wail.
<What are you!!!>
The rulebook—or rather, Abarus—shouted as if it couldn’t believe it.
<How could you escape the power of the Abyssal Lord!!>
So it was indeed the Abyssal Lord.
But…
“Bring a fake, and it works.”
It was not the real Abyssal Lord.
An illusion created by magic.
It wasn’t nearly enough to break my mind.
Even if I brought the real Abyssal Lord, it wouldn’t matter.
◆ Player Will [EX] resists unexplained unknown terror!
With Ian’s ability, Player Will [EX], my mind could not collapse.
<How do you…? But this is his power! How—!>
“None of your concern.”
Thus, a way to escape the barrier emerged.
By using the [Absolute Rules].
Absolute Rule 2: The Labyrinth requires the [Administrator] to exist.
Absolute Rule 5: If any Absolute Rule is violated, the Labyrinth ceases to exist.
In other words, remove the Administrator, and the Labyrinth disappears.
I didn’t need to be told who the Administrator was to know.
The reason the barrier’s weakness was the rulebook was exactly this.
I jumped, bracing my thighs.
Sharpening my Dragon Claw [A], I slashed Abarus shaped like the rulebook.
Chunks of Abarus fell off.
<Heheheh! Do you think you’re anywhere near power?>
Abarus did not die.
<This is the Labyrinth of Infinity created by His power!>
Absolute Rule 3: infinite health, mana, space, and time.
And the Labyrinth is fused with the Administrator.
<Your struggles are useless!>
Abarus’ health and mana were infinite.
From gaps in the flesh, sharp tentacles shot out, with parasite-like protrusions that absorbed everything.
Then:
“Would it hurt if I warned you first?!”
Kai, observing the rules, leapt in.
He acted decisively, cutting through the flesh and staying close to me.
“Any way to beat it?”
Even Kai knew there was no straightforward way to defeat Abarus.
Of course, Kai’s Immortality [E] prevents death.
But it isn’t infinite.
When Aura depletes, immortality vanishes.
I faced the same.
Regeneration [B+] existed, but calories were finite.
◆ Surplus Calories: 13,551 Kcal
About 13,000 kcal.
Before entering the barrier, I had overused Metabolic Overdrive [U] and Regeneration [B+], leaving me nearly depleted.
◆ Error: Inventory not responding.
Even now, my inventory didn’t respond.
I couldn’t consume stored calories.
Infinite and finite.
<You will all rot here! Trapped in the abyss, become His offerings!!>
Abarus’ victory seemed inevitable.
From the moment we entered the Mage’s domain, defeat seemed certain.
Yet, Abarus didn’t know one thing.
Tentacles lunging again.
I grabbed one with Dragon Claw [A] and chewed it.
Crunch!
An indescribable taste filled my mouth.
The texture was squishy, and the taste was bizarre.
If I had to describe it:
Chewing rotten mud.
I had never eaten mud before.
Calories or not, I had no intention of eating it again.
But the sensation was unmistakable—like the juices of a heart being crushed.
“Ugh!”
Rotten mud boiling in my mouth, a horrible taste.
“Uwaaagh!”
Zero market value.
Snow mountain monsters are truly the best.
Still, I swallowed it.
◆ Calories +5,210 Kcal
The accumulated calories popped up before my eyes.
Surprisingly high per bite: 5,210 kcal.
<W-what…?!>
Abarus’ eyes—or something resembling eyes—widened.
Kai’s expression mirrored disgust.
Ignoring them, I grabbed more flesh with Dragon Claw [A] and chewed.
<W-what are you doing!!!>
Abarus screamed in agony.
I nodded to Kai and said:
“Kai.”
“….”
“See that?”
“….”
“Answer.”
“…What do you mean?”
“It’s in pain.”
“Ah!”
Kai realized my meaning.
According to Rule 6, the Labyrinth is fused with Abarus.
Damaging the Labyrinth causes Abarus pain.
The screams we’d been hearing were Abarus’ own.
Its health and mana are infinite, but its mind is not.
Meanwhile, my mental power is infinite.
So… what happens if I inflict infinite pain?
My Regeneration [B+] blocks pain.
Abarus cannot.
How far can its mind endure?
“Kai, stay back and maintain the light with Aura.”
◆ Surplus Calories: 100,000 Kcal
I burned 100,000 kcal at once.
Explosive energy surged through my body, spreading heat and power everywhere.
Rrrr-!!
My body erupted like wildfire.
A blazing inferno used me as firewood, condensed into my arms.
Awakening the power of a raging dragon.
“A thrill I never felt from the Abyssal Lord!”
◆ Combination Skill: Dragon Rage Explosion [E]
I thrust both hands forward toward the panicked Abarus.
