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.

shifting his gaze to Jake. “And a C-grade Chosen of the Malefic Viper? Even a Transcendent? Oh, is that a mutated version of Nature’s Attendant’s Bloodline? Interesting, interesting… but not quite as interesting as you, Sylphian Hawk! Never even heard of your race before! I know Sylphs, but… oh wait, too much information,

us as an opponent,” the Sword Saint spoke

with a grin. “As I said, then I am your host! It is your honor and your privilege to have me let you go through

a dungeon master of some kind?” Jake asked curiously. “Do you perhaps work for the Wyrmgod and made this floor for

he was likely someone who had existed on the outside before this. Perhaps someone who had

for the Wyrmgod, but otherwise, your assessment

told

you didn’t. Anyway, let’s get this show on the road!” the creature

you?” the King asked, refusing to

influential people, I can give a small hint. I know who you all are, and you

to tell us much about you, but can you at least tell us what we are meant to do here? Seeing as the gate behind you is still shut closed, I assume we must

point is a poisoned needle he pricks you with, in which case he can be a bit too happy getting to the point,” Minaga said as he made an overdramatic sigh. “But you are right. See, I wanted to make this entire thing a bit more interesting, so before you enter my labyrinth, you have a choice

the entire room lit up once more as five giant pillars of light descended from nowhere, each of the pillars having a giant floating rune within that corresponded to a

– Apprentice – Adept – Mage –

don’t think I have to explain to you what we have there. That’s right, it’s, of course, different difficulties! A floor with multiple difficulty levels from the very beginning is quite innovative, eh?” Minaga

it, after all. Alright, alright, it isn’t overly original, but you didn’t see it

exactly does it impact the floor?” the

an extensive makeover. Also, it isn’t just this floor. My labyrinth is kind of big, so I decided to just make it take

was ten… wasn’t

city layer after floor thirty-five?” and you are right that there should be, but you see, I decided to make it a part of the labyrinth! Once more, innovation at its finest. Now, which difficulty do you all

glance with the others and was about to answer

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. Oh, and also, doing it all on the Archmage difficulty gives the best rewards, so I highly recommend it. Maybe there is even something special at the end

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

worries, no worries, no water theme here,” Minaga shook his head. “You know, I never even liked these water-themed floors? Yet the Wyrmgod insists on having them 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

at least the Unique Lifeform

disappeared, leaving only the final one in place. It lit up with intense light before it exploded in a cascade of multicolored wisps, bathing the chamber. Their host looked damn proud of the

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

words, the grand gate behind him opened. Jake stared at the creature while processing what he had just said and his clearly contemporary information. Minaga gave them

high expectations! Oh, and of course, remember

the path forward was open, the

the Unique Lifeform complained about the

he was kind of funny…” Dina

is happening in the outside world in real time,” the Sword

explanations. Shit, maybe he just has an earpiece and has someone talking in his ear, telling him what to

the voice of Minaga suddenly