Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 387: Gatekeeper of the Labyrinth (2)

The salamander.

Although salamanders are well-known for their fiery temperament, the ones associated with the Veteran Corporation were on a different level.

Fwoosh!

Red flames flickered around its mouth.

The intense flames scorched the air.

“Kyaaah!”

The salamander let out a fierce roar.

A terrifying sense of dread washed over them as if they were facing a dragon’s intimidation head-on.

This wasn’t just a fire spirit.

It was a being in the form of a fire spirit… a dragon.

At least, that’s how it appeared to the salamanders summoned by the Statue of Fire.

“Kyaa. What is that monster?”

“A… high-level spirit?”

“I thought we were the only fire spirits bound by contract here…”

“It’s… terrifying.”

The salamanders administering the test were trembling.

Seeing a being several times stronger than themselves emerge, fear was inevitable.

If the opponent had been anyone other than their own kind, they would have charged in without hesitation.

After all, rushing in without regard was a typical trait of fire spirits.

But of all things, the opponent turned out to be another salamander, one belonging to a higher tier.

The Statue of Fire that had set the test was equally flustered.

“What… what’s going on? A human who can handle spirits?”

“And… quite a high-level one at that?”

“A spirit master? I’ve never encountered one even in the Empire.”

Each statue muttered in surprise.

Seeing their reactions, Jinhyuk felt a sense of satisfaction for having trained his spirits so well.

He patted the salamander’s head.

‘Well, I did raise these guys with a lot of love and care.’

Perhaps that’s why?

They seemed to be growing remarkably well.

“Master, what do you want me to do?”

“I’m currently undergoing some test, and I need those salamanders to submit to me. But, considering I’m a pacifist, using violence doesn’t feel right.”

“Of course. You’re a lover of peace, Master.”

“So, I want you to persuade them for me.”

“Persuade? Me? How?”

“Do I really have to spell it out?”

“Eek! I’m sorry! My mistake.”

The salamander raised its tiny hands protectively over its head, as if expecting to be struck.

Anyone watching might think he was actually going to hit it.

“Just tell them how great our company’s employee benefits are. How well you’re treated. It shouldn’t be hard since you’d only be speaking the truth.”

Persuasion through appeal would be the best option.

Jinhyuk planned to pass the test of fire by using his salamander to appeal to its own kind.

‘If I told the truth, Master would kill me. Absolutely, under no circumstances can I tell the truth.’

Sometimes survival required a lie.

‘I’ll just say the exact opposite of my situation.’

The salamander, tasked with a grand responsibility, stepped in front of the assembled fire spirits.

All eyes were on him.

“You’ve all been through a lot, being under contract and all, working in such poor conditions, barely getting any tasty fire to eat. And what about the working hours? You work without any rest, don’t you?”

“How… how did you know?”

“Call it intuition. Let’s see… I bet your contract states you work year-round, and whenever your contractor calls, day or night, you have to show up on the spot. And the list of bad conditions probably goes on.”

“…!?”

“That’s… exactly right.”

“That’s exactly how I spent my day yesterday!”

Their eyes widened.

How could he understand their hardships so perfectly?

“I was once contracted to a terrible master too. I had a hard time back then. But now… now I’m living in paradise.”

The Veteran Corporation was different.

“My Master takes such… such… phew, good care of me. Look how I’ve grown, eating well and sleeping well.”

Ample mana, plentiful rest, support from dependable comrades.

If you joined, not only was your retirement secured, but also your afterlife.

With his plump belly and radiant flames, the story gained credibility.

“Is it really that great?”

“Really?”

“We’d get to eat all we want and even evolve beyond low-level spirits?”

The salamanders’ eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“You fools! Don’t forget the contracts you signed. You’re all bound to our master, the Labyrinth Lord!”

The Statue of Fire bellowed, but the salamanders, whose minds were already swayed, weren’t listening.

“I… I want to go!”

“I’m first!”

“I’m breaking this stupid contract right now!”

The spirits one by one shouted their surrender.

[The Fire Spirits have acknowledged you.]

[Many salamanders have taken a liking to you.]

[You have passed the ‘Test of Fire.’]

“Good. That was easy.”

Jinhyuk grinned.

Thanks to his good conduct, things had gone smoothly.

“This was… too simple…”

“Impressive.”

“Fine. Passing the first gate is one thing. But luck won’t be on your side next time.”

The Statue of Water stepped forward.

Rumble!

Amidst a swirling vortex, even more water spirits emerged.

Larger and more powerful than the salamanders, they were superior spirits.

“Hoho! Water and fire oppose each other. No amount of talk will help you this time.”

The appearance of a spirit master among the challengers had been an unexpected twist.

But that was all.

Against opposing spirits, no matter how skilled a mid-level spirit master was, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

“I’ll end this swiftly, human rookie.”

The Statue of Water grinned wickedly.

But that expectation was…

“Undine. Come out.”

…shattered with Jinhyuk’s next words.

＊＊＊

Only a select few tamers could advance to become spirit masters.

Geniuses displayed their worth and gathered talent, but…

Less than a handful could walk the path of a spirit master.

In fact, even those who had lived in the tower for ages numbered fewer than a hundred.

And among the most skilled spirit masters, very few had contracts with two mid-level spirits simultaneously.

Those with three or more spirits were rare enough to be recorded in history.

Yet here was this absurd individual.

A spirit master with five spirits.

All of them mid-level or above.

Thus, all the spirits painstakingly prepared for the trial were completely subjugated by Jinhyuk.

“How… how can this… be possible?”

“A spirit master who can control the five elemental spirits?”

“This isn’t even divine… Only a top-tier elite from the upper floors could manage this.”

The statues muttered in disbelief.

“Well, it seems like I’ve passed all the tests, so why not hand over those Resistance Stones?”

Jinhyuk wiggled his fingers.

“…Very well. Having passed the tests, you have earned the right to them.”

Thud.

Thud.

The large Resistance Stones that had been around the statues’ necks dropped.

Good.

With this, he’d met the minimum requirement to reach the boss.

And he’d acquired a pack of reliable little spirits as well.

‘With the Soul Imprint seal already in place, they can’t back out even if they want to.’

Looking at the cheerful faces, he felt a small twinge of guilt, but what choice was there?

In this world, there were only two sides: the devourers and the devoured.

‘Signing a contract is always risky. They learned a valuable lesson at a small price.’

Indeed. He was teaching these budding spirits the bitter truth of society.

This wasn’t exploitation, no, not at all.

As Jinhyuk prepared to leave, he suddenly halted.

“Oh. Almost forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“If we leave, you’ll just run off and report to the Labyrinth Lord that we took the Resistance Stones, right?”

“What…?”

“Come on. You’d spill everything, so why should I take that risk?”

Reducing risk was always wise.

No witnesses meant no worries about loose lips.

“Are… are you going to kill us?”

“Blasphemy! We are protected by the system, just like the administrators. We’re integral to the laws governing the labyrinth!”

“And that flimsy weapon won’t work on us.”

Yeah, probably.

His current weapon couldn’t harm them.

In that case…

Swish.

The space tore open, and an enormous greatsword emerged.

Balmung.

The holy relic that had once slain a dragon now appeared.

“Sorry, but keeping this raid discreet is essential.”

Though wielding it required a considerable amount of mana, this had to be done first.

“No personal grudge here.”

He was simply doing what was necessary to climb the tower.

Jinhyuk raised the massive sword high.

“Aaah!”

“Stop, stop!”

The statues screamed.

But Balmung’s merciless strike shattered their heads.

Amid the fragments scattering everywhere…

Jinhyuk brushed the dust off his face, expressionless, as if to say he would use any means necessary for his goal.

＊＊＊

Rushing water poured from a golden spring, forming a massive training ground that resembled an arena.

And there…

“Hah!”

A man wielding a colossal spear was practicing his swings.

He was none other than the labyrinth’s lord, the boss monster.

Whizz!

The glimmering spear cut through space itself.

The afterglow of the heated energy traced its path through the air.

Boom! Boom boom boom!

The floor of blue stone bore deep scars from the weight of his strikes, yet he handled the spear with the finesse of a master.

How much time had passed?

Finally, the spear’s movements ceased.

“As always, your skills are impressive. I lost track of time just watching.”

Clap, clap, clap.

With the sound of applause, a beautiful elf appeared.

It was Sherry, one of the intermediate administrators.

A wood elf who cherished nature, yet at this moment, she served as a messenger.

“I was so focused on relaxing my tense muscles, I didn’t even notice you were here. My apologies.”

“It seems your traps have discouraged any intruders from coming this far… Yet you don’t skip a single day of training.”

“Of course. Thanks to those unyielding defenses, I haven’t tasted blood in ages. If the path to me were open, I wouldn’t be this bored… tsk!”

The towering man clicked his tongue.

A thick killing intent rose from his body.

When was the last time he engaged in a life-or-death battle?

He was nearly going mad from his longing for such a fierce confrontation.

Hearing this, Sherry seized the moment and spoke.

“That’s exactly why I’m here. This time, it seems there are intruders who are difficult to hold back, even with the traps.”

“Oh? Are they strong?”

“They are.”

“…That’s promising.”

The man’s face broke into a grin.

If someone as discerning as Sherry acknowledged them, he could anticipate a worthy fight.

Finally, a chance for real combat had arrived.

Boom!

The spear traced a wide arc.

“Though they may not be the Five Tiger Generals, they should at least be enough to scrape the rust off my spear.”

Labyrinth Lord, Lü Bu Fengxian.

One of the tower’s ‘Heroes’ grasped his halberd.

“Awaken all the lieutenants. Let’s prepare to welcome our guests.”

“Yes, Great General.”

The shadows surrounding the arena began to move in unison.