Labyrinth Exploration 101 - L.E Chapter 11 (Part 1): I AM (3)

The *Labyrinth Exploration* series itself is a colossal magical invention, yet no one knows who created it.

Of course, there are plenty of speculations. Some say it’s the same person who invented Bitcoin, others claim it’s Main PD Yoon Sa-hyeok, or perhaps Yoon Sa-hyeok’s long-lost brother or college friend. Stuff like that.

Anyway, the mysterious inventor entrusted the *Labyrinth Exploration* series to a mere cable channel in South Korea, IoNet, and PD Yoon Sa-hyeok used it to create a competitive exploration program.

—

[Level test will begin in 3 minutes.]

“Wow, this is amazing.”
“Can everyone else see this too, or is it just me?”
“It doesn’t feel tangible, though.”
“Ooh! It’s following me. Look, it’s following!”

The contestants’ reactions vary widely. Some laugh and chat with the person next to them, others tap at the air, and a few swivel their heads back and forth, clearly fascinated by this unfamiliar system.

“Hoo…”

Meanwhile, I took a deep breath and prepared myself. I focus, letting my mind settle into seriousness.

This was a matter of life and death for me. I only had about 70 days left to live.

—

[ You will soon be transported to the labyrinth. ]
[ Sustaining fatal damage will trigger a forced recall. Note that a labyrinth, once failed, cannot be challenged again. ]

[ 3, 2, 1. ]

With the countdown, the space shifted. To be precise, I was the one transported.

*Thud.*

I tapped the ground first with my cane.

“…Hmm.”

—

[Objective: Locate the spoils and escape.]

The labyrinth’s objective floated in the air.

The ground was a rough, gritty stone floor. The surroundings were pitch black, making it impossible to see anything.

However, this entire process would be recorded, and the world would watch… well, not my entire journey, but an edited version of it.

I channeled my mana into my eyes. My will was clear: Optic Nerve Bloom.

My vision brightened with a blue glow, and the area ahead became clear.

“…Optic Nerve Bloom.”

I even muttered the incantation aloud.

Just in case anyone was wondering what I was doing.

*Step. Step.*

I walked slowly. I had watched Season 3’s level test live before my regression, but it was so long ago that the details have faded.

*Keruk— Keruruk—*

As I walked, a guttural, tongue-clicking sound echoes from the right side of the straight path.

That monosyllabic sound was enough to identify them. Goblins.

These weren’t creatures to be taken lightly. They traveled in groups and never wandered alone.

*Keruk— Keruruk— Keruk—*

As I moved further, sure enough, there were three goblins near the path’s entrance. The torchlight on the wall illuminated their grotesque faces. They looked like someone had smashed them with a brick.

“…….”

I silently extend my fingertips.

*Keruk— Keruruk!*

*Kerek!*

The goblins seemed to be conversing with each other. Goblins had low durability, so a well-placed shot to the forehead would take them down easily.

“Fire.”

*Bang.*

A magic bullet pierced one goblin’s forehead. The noise was significantly reduced, but there was still a slight burst. I immediately fired another shot.

*Bang.*

By the time the second goblin fell, the third one noticed me.

*Kerruk!*

It glared at me and charged. It wasn’t a straight dash but a zigzag motion—a basic evasive maneuver.

Clever.

I waited calmly until its short strides brought it right in front of me.

*Keeeek!*

It tried to stab me in the neck, but—

*Bang.*

I shot it in the forehead first.

No matter how small or quick, it has to stop eventually. If it doesn’t, it can’t attack me. As long as I don’t flinch, it’s manageable.

“Hmm…”

I picked up the torch stuck in the wall and looked up. Near the labyrinth’s ceiling, there was a hollowed-out space.

In battle, securing high ground is paramount. Positioning myself up there might give me a better grasp of the labyrinth’s overall structure.

I reached out toward it.

*Whoosh!*

A wire-like stream of mana shot out and hooked onto the wall. In the next moment, my body floated up, and I adjusted my speed to land safely in the hollow.

*Thud!*

I misjudge the landing. A jolt shoots through my left leg. Clutching my knee, I collapse onto my back.

“Ugh…”

It hurts.

The pain is excruciating, almost beyond words, but bearable enough to push through.

“Haa… haa…”

I exhale heavily and pull myself up, leaning firmly on my cane as I survey the labyrinth.

The primary objective of this labyrinth was to find the spoils.

And to do that… mana.

The spoils in these labyrinths emits a unique flow of magical signature.

The farther away they were, the harder it would be to detect them, but with 11.5 Magic stat and 【Good Ears, Good Eyes】, it should be possible.

I focused my mana into my optic nerves. A special current of energy appeared in my blue-tinted vision—a long, continuous line.

I just had to follow it.

“Found it.”

I nod with a dramatic flourish.

Posing a little can’t hurt—it might earn me an extra shot in the final cut.

Dangun

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