Chapter 38 - The Disappearance Of Uno Labyrinth
"This is astonishing," the chief mumbled.
Although such phenomena weren't rare, the most doubting part was the rank of the labyrinth.
There was a reason why it's called the labyrinth of no return. Unlike ordinary dungeons, the labyrinth had no predetermined exit.
When a person entered it, he/she could not pass back at where they entered, but. It didn't mean that there's no way out.
Although there's no exit, one could still get out of it.
Right, there was once a legendary figure who managed to get out of such a labyrinth.
Based on that person's report, to escape the labyrinth, one must beat it.
Everyone gawked at that statement. How to beat a labyrinth? Their question. Just then, the legendary person explained to them.
According to the legendary figure's statement, the labyrinth was lorded by powerful entities. After defeating a strong creature inside, he suddenly found himself in a different place which he assumed was the outside of the labyrinth or the real world.
Though, at first, he thought he arrived at a different place again. It surprised him when he found out that he was truly outside.
The legendary person advised and strongly warned them that it's better to prohibit anyone from entering a labyrinth as there was only doom awaiting everyone who planned to venture inside.
Although he gave a strong warning, it only fueled everyone's curiosity, especially that the person himself got a noticeable powerup and collected rare materials after beating the labyrinth.
In the federation, only the selected people knew about it.
In the military, only the starred personnel were allowed to know it. That said, the 3-star chief himself knew about it.
They'd even sent some of their men to escort some researchers to the Uno Labyrinth when it came out. However, none of those people had yet to come back and it was almost a year or two since the last time they sent their men to investigate it.
They'd lost contact with them once those people stepped inside of the entrance. Until now, no single indication of their return.
They already abandoned the idea of studying it further because of the rate of danger.
In this case, does someone beat it? Maybe one of those people who they sent was able to beat it. But, it was already a year since they went inside. Also, that labyrinth was ranked hell for a reason.
Or is it a new phenomenon? It could be, but.
The chief creased his brows as he was pondering the reason for the cause of the disappearance of the Uno Labyrinth.
"Did the researcher's organization send their men to investigate it?" 3-star Chief Dix Marcel asked his subordinate, who gave the report.
"No chief. They're asking for our cooperation about it. Here is the letter of request from them," said his subordinate while handing a rolled piece of paper that was tied with a ribbon.
"I see," the chief nodded and took the letter.
After reading the content of the letter, he sighed before opening his mouth once again. "Send some of our men….." he ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
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After defeating the Highland Gobs, Jem continued his search and investigation. He killed all the hostile creatures he encountered and gained all the points that he needed for his advancement.
His journey inside the labyrinth was dark and bloody. Many times his life was in danger. He encountered many obstacles that sent him back to square one. But Jem got up and continued. Every time he fell, he got up a lot stronger. The labyrinth was littered with many kinds of strong creatures that were unfamiliar to him. Thanks to the trader's guidance, he was able to get some information about them.
He also encountered many traps.
Utilizing his skill to their utmost utility, he was able to overcome all the traps and defeated his enemies.
He became stronger as he gained a lot of experience. He also arrived in different kinds of places and found himself in a different kind of situation, and he fought different kinds of creatures.
If by chance he encountered a strong enemy that was impossible for him to defeat alone, he would use his Blood Oath ability to gather more allies and defeat the said enemy through numbers.
His life inside the labyrinth was all about searching and fighting against the hostile creatures he encountered.
Whenever he had some free time, he would be practicing his combat ability.
Jem continued struggling inside the labyrinth without awareness of the time.
Several months had passed.
In the southeastern part of Hillside City of Blue Narra Region, in which the frontline was located, the news about the sudden disappearance of the Uno Labyrinth caused an uproar among all the known people in the military and researchers organization.
Several people in military outfits along with some people garbed like astronauts stepped inside the Desolate Region. The outfit was to safeguard them from the miasma that was proliferating all around the Desolate Region.
A few kilometers away from the eastern border, they arrived at the foot of a mountain surrounded by trees.
However, all of them wore shocked expressions when they arrived at their destination.
"Professor Grace, i-it really disappeared," said one of the people in white suit in a stuttering voice and wide eyes.
The person he called Professor Grace was a woman in her 30's. Like some of them, she also wore the same outfit as them, but unlike them, there were 3 stars on the chest area of her overall suit. It also spoke of her status.
Professor Grace faced the wall of the mountain with a frown.
This spot was where the entrance was supposedly located. However, just as her subordinate said, there were no more entrances. There was only the hard soil and rocks on that wall.
"Bring out the detector device," she ordered in a calm voice, befitting of her status.
"Yes. Right away!" After nodding, her subordinate called out to one of their members. "Oi, Sean, bring the detector here!"
"Okay!"
A few seconds later, a small rectangular device was handed by the person named Sean to the person who called him.
"Professor Grace, I have the device," he told her.
"Okay, start," she nodded and urged him.
After pressing the button on the rectangular device in his hand, numbers started appearing on the small monitor in it.
"50%, 45%, 40— the value continued decreasing."
Reported the person while reading the status in the detector device.
"Ah, it went down to 1%!"
With squinted eyes, while remaining calm, "I see. It's no use then. The labyrinth was already gone," she spoke in confirmation that the labyrinth had truly disappeared.
But the reason for its disappearance was yet to be uncovered. This matter intrigues them.
Without them noticing, not far from them, hiding on one of the trees around, a figure was looking at them with peering eyes.
The next moment the figure disappeared into thin airs.