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

get the feeling you have not shown up before us as

on!” Minaga said 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 the wonderful labyrinth that I

of some kind?” Jake asked curiously. “Do you perhaps work

the outside world, meaning he was likely someone who had existed on the outside before

work with,not for the Wyrmgod, but otherwise,

never told you

Anyway, let’s get this show on the road!”

are you?” the King asked, refusing

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 creator of this labyrinth, and I am more than you see before you right now. But most importantly, I like to snack on

you at least tell us what we are meant to do here? Seeing as the gate behind you is still shut

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,” 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

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 word. Jake quickly checked them all from left to

Apprentice – Adept – Mage

I 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

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

say difficulty level, how exactly does it impact the floor?” the Sword

the labyrinth. It is quite an extensive makeover. Also, it isn’t just this floor. My labyrinth is kind of

frowned a bit at hearing it was ten… wasn’t there

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.

really any need to discuss it, was there? Jake quickly exchanged a glance with the others and was about to answer as their “host” spoke

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

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

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 it isn’t like the system doesn’t go out of its way to help them deal with the harsh

we select the difficulty?” Jake asked, glad that at least the

grinned as four of the pillars 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

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 don’t die inside my labyrinth, alright? Dealing with complaints is so annoying,” Minaga

while processing what he had just said and his clearly contemporary information.

expectations! Oh, and of

the path forward

creature,” the Unique Lifeform complained about

he was kind of funny…” Dina said,

and he seems fully aware of what is happening in the outside world in real time,” the Sword Saint mused. “The level of 275 is clearly not

cloning skill?” Jake wondered aloud. “Or perhaps summoning of some kind. There could be a lot of explanations. Shit, maybe he just has an earpiece and

of Minaga suddenly