The Primal Hunter

The thirty-first floor felt different the moment they arrived. They walked out of the gateway and into a large chamber that looked out of some temple, with white pillars lining the walls and a large elevated stone platform in the middle. Towards the other end of the chamber was a massive gate with a glowing rune on it, emanating impressive power. Through his sphere, Jake also felt that outside of these chamber walls, only the void existed, meaning they were definitely not meant to try and go there. Not that he even thought they could, as the walls gave him the feeling they were nigh-indestructible.

However, none of these things explained why this place felt different. The explanation for that came from the mana in the air… rather than being the usual environmental mana, this was not in any way natural. Exchanging a glance with the Fallen King and feeling Sylphie shuffle a bit on his shoulder, they all felt it.

This was the domain of a living being, or perhaps they were even within the body of some creature, though that didn’t seem likely considering the void outside the walls. No, chances are, they were in a claimed domain akin to a world formed by a high-grade space mage.

As they all took in the environment, the introduction to the floor appeared.

Welcome to the Thirty-first floor of Nevermore: Minaga’s Labyrinth

Main objective: Reach the end of the Labyrinth.

Bonus objectives: N/A

Current progress: End reached (0/1)

Note: More hidden events, achievements, or objectives may be hidden on the floor.

Current Nevermore Points: 14622

Staring at the message, one thing instantly sprung to his eyes. This was the first floor without a bonus objective. Perhaps that meant achievements and bonus events were also limited on this floor. Seeing the name, though, Jake felt quite a bit more confident. Labyrinth… Jake was good at labyrinths.

Jake was about to speak but stopped himself as he faintly felt a new presence appear.

”Welcome, welcome, welcome! Oh, I am so excited to have some more visitors! Such esteemed guests too!” a jovial voice echoed as the entire chamber lit up. Lights of all colors of the rainbow lined the walls as an entire light show began, and on the central platform, a figure appeared as space warped.

Jake was instantly put on alert as he observed the being.

Blue skin, two legs, and two arms with a generally humanoid form, making Jake almost mistake them for a blue human. Yet the creature had four eyes on its head, a large mouth, no nose, and instead of hair, short tendrils that slightly wriggled every time the creature spoke grew out of its scalp. A loose-fitting blue robe covered its body, only held in place by a belt, but this did mean Jake couldn’t see if the creature had any other peculiar features hidden beneath.

“My name is Minaga, your glorious host. Truly a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the creature spoke with a big smile as he looked at Jake and the others as the entire light show died down. Jake used Identify and was taken aback.

[Minaga – lvl 275]

He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this Minaga was more powerful than any C-grade he had ever stood before. Definitely stronger than anything in Nevermore… which did make Jake wonder why he – Jake was pretty sure the creature identified as male - had shown up at the beginning of this floor.

As Jake wondered this, he felt the Fallen King tense up at his side from the creature laying his eyes on him, and as the being spoke… he understood why.

Unique Lifeform? How fun, how fun,” this Minaga said as he looked down at the Fallen King for a few moments before shifting his gaze to Jake. “And a C-grade Chosen of the Malefic Viper? Even a Transcendent? Oh, is that a

us as an opponent,”

on!” Minaga said with a grin. “As I said, then I am your host! It is your honor and your privilege to have me

curiously. “Do

on how this Unique Lifeform spoke, he obviously knew of the outside world, meaning he was likely someone who had existed on the outside before

work with,not for the Wyrmgod, but otherwise, your assessment

told you

on the

the King asked, refusing to let the

omega, the beginning and the end, but more commonly just known as Minaga. Oh, well, I guess, seeing as you are all pretty influential people, I can give a small hint. I know who you all are, and you know so little about me, so it’s only fair. I am the

Jake shook his head. “Either way, you seem to know about us, and you are not particularly willing to tell us much about you, but can you at least tell us what we are meant to

the point… unless the point is a poisoned needle he pricks you with, in which case he can be a bit too happy getting to the point,”

five giant pillars of light descended from nowhere, each of the pillars having a giant floating rune within that corresponded to

– Apprentice – Adept – Mage

as we are all smart people, I don’t think I have to explain to you what we have there. That’s right, it’s, of course, different difficulties!

it, after all. Alright, alright, it isn’t overly original, but you didn’t see it on any prior floors, now did you?

does it impact the

enemy level, more powerful variants, the bosses, complexity of the labyrinth. It is quite an extensive makeover. Also, it isn’t just

wasn’t there meant to be

decided to make it a part of the labyrinth! Once more, innovation at its finest. Now, which difficulty do you all want? Do note that you can only

was there? Jake quickly exchanged a glance with the others and was about to

of course, going for the archmage difficulty, right?” Minaga asked as he tilted his head while looking at them. “If you didn’t, that would be pretty darn pathetic considering your party setup.

why we wouldn’t go for the Archmage difficulty,” Jake shrugged. “It isn’t like Nevermore was particularly challenging before this. Wait, unless choosing the

every damn era for some silly reason. Sure, you can argue it is unfair for aquatic lifeforms that Nevermore doesn’t really cater to them, but it isn’t like the system

do we select the difficulty?” Jake asked, glad that at least the Unique Lifeform had some idea of how to design a

up with intense light before it exploded in a cascade of multicolored wisps, bathing the

you all! Ah, and Jake, don’t worry too much about all that Yip of Yore business; I am sure you got it covered! Then again, I will definitely say the exact same thing to Ell’Hakan when he appears and tell him not to worry about you, but don’t let that take away from me encouraging you right now! You dying would also make a bunch of factions sad, especially the Endless Empire, so at least

creature while processing what he had just said and his clearly contemporary information. Minaga gave them

watching with high expectations! Oh,

was gone and the path forward was open, the Fallen

creature,” the Unique Lifeform complained about the

thought he was kind of funny…” Dina

world in real time,” the Sword Saint mused. “The level of 275 is clearly not accurate either, though he did register to me as truly only at that

explanations. Shit, maybe

voice of Minaga suddenly