Chapter 304 – Tempestborne
Erynn gave a faint smile as he looked at the two slashes across his torso.
The flesh quivered, closed, as if nothing had happened.
— …Tss. Not even a scar.
Shadow raised an eyebrow.
— Seriously? I've seen armors that lasted less than that.
Erynn slowly lifted his hand.
The sky darkened.
Green lightning crashed down on Shadow with a deafening roar.
— Too slow.
— Too predictable.
Shadow caught a bolt with his bare hand.
The energy crackled, then shadow swallowed it.
He turned the lightning into a blade and cut the other bolts mid‑flight.
— See? Energy recycling. Eco‑friendly, too.
— …Show‑off.
Erynn vanished.
An instant later, he reappeared above Shadow, holding a massive anemal hammer.
— Hammer of the Heavens.
He gripped the handle with both hands and struck.
Shadow caught the blow with a single arm.
The impact fractured space‑time.
Reality cracked like glass.
The universe trembled.
Buildings twisted upon themselves.
— Seriously… Shadow sighed.
— You swing like you're trying to impress someone.
He grabbed Erynn's hand and yanked him forward brutally.
— Surprise.
BAM.
Erynn spat blood and was hurled through several layers of reality, crashing into a heap of shattered buildings.
---
Vareth stepped toward Kael, calmly running a hand through his white hair.
— You reminded me of important things.
— To thank you… I will grant a wish.
Kael blinked.
— …Any wish?
— Absolutely.
The pistol Executor watched tensely.
— Seriously…
— Between an all‑powerful anomaly and a guy who breaks the universe bare‑handed, how many episodes did I miss?
---
Far away, Erynn rose painfully.
His body was regenerating, but slowly.
He's too strong.
And he's not even going all out.
He's playing.
A strike suddenly shot toward him.
— Huh—?!
Erynn ducked just in time.
— Piercing Storm!
The attack hit Shadow and sent him flying.
— Hit! Erynn breathed.
Shadow vanished…
and reappeared behind him.
— Is… that really all you can do?
He launched Piercing Storm in turn.
The attack canceled before reaching Erynn.
— You can copy my techniques if you want, Erynn said with a smile.
— But anything based on air cancels before me. Sorry.
Shadow stared at him, amused.
— Kid…
— I think you're getting a little too full of yourself with me.
He vanished.
Blows rained down.
Too fast.
Too precise.
Thanks to his perception, Erynn barely managed to dodge.
— Spectral Strikes!
He staggered back suddenly.
His arm was nearly severed.
Then—
— Not phantom…
Erynn growled.
— These techniques…
— They're Lya's.
The attacks were invisible.
Imperceptible.
Shadow was already behind him.
A kick.
Erynn flew.
Shadow caught him before impact and unleashed punches so fast they formed a continuous barrage.
— Seriously, Erynn.
— You've got good endurance…
— But you're still too soft.
He hurled him away.
— ERYNN! Kael shouted.
Vareth calmly set his gaze on him.
— I told you I would grant your wish.
The pistol Executor clenched his teeth.
— Damn…
— The absolute anomaly is right here… in front of me.
---
From the rubble, Erynn rose.
A green glow enveloped him.
— …You asked for it.
His hair turned green.
The air howled.
— Tempestborne Form.
A surge of power swept across the zone.
Shadow smiled, finally sincerely.
— Ah…
— The kid really wants to start the hostilities.
— This time… Erynn growled,
— I won't hold back.
Chapter 305 – When Air Decides to Dominate Shadow
Erynn stepped forward.
The ground beneath his feet no longer truly existed.
Absolute wind gathered before him… then sliced reality in a perfect line that shot straight at Shadow.
— Seriously… Shadow sighed.
He blocked with his shadow blade.
The collision caused a dimensional fissure that closed immediately, as if the universe itself was ashamed of what had just happened.
Shadow charged at Erynn—
But stopped dead.
Frozen.
As if space itself had decided:
*"No. You don't move anymore."*
Erynn looked at him calmly.
— …Aerial Leap.
He vanished.
Not fast.
Not instant.
👉 Faster than the very concept of an instant.
Shadow barely had time to blink.
**BAM.**
Erynn's fist slammed into his face.
The impact spilled blood, hurled Shadow through space, time, and a good portion of his dignity.
As he was about to crash into a building—
Shadow twisted suddenly, planted his feet into the structure.
The building ripped from the ground.
— …Okay, that was stylish, Erynn admitted.
Shadow leapt.
**VMMMM—**
Erynn slowly closed his fist.
Pressure rose across the entire universe.
Not around Shadow.
Everywhere.
The laws of physics screamed.
Shadow felt his body pinned to the ground as if existence itself was trying to crush him.
— Tch… you're annoying when you get serious, he muttered.
A blade appeared.
Erynn sensed it at the last instant, ducked, dodged by mere millimeters.
He thrust his hand toward Shadow's chest.
— Tornado.
A compressed cyclone was born instantly, swallowed Shadow, and hurled him like a divine projectile.
— Woohoo—!
A blade burst from inside the tornado.
It sliced the storm apart.
Shadow emerged.
— More aerodynamic spikes, Erynn declared.
Cutting air projectiles erupted from the ground, the sky, everywhere.
Shadow dodged them, sliding between with absurd precision.
He reappeared before Erynn and struck.
Erynn ducked.
The blow sliced space behind him.
— Oops, Shadow said.
— Missed.
Erynn calmly placed his hand on the ground.
— Pressure Impulse.
He compressed the air in his palm…
…then released it.
💥 **BOOM.**
👉 All of this happened in less than an instant, before causality had time to understand.
Shadow was hurled to the other end of the local universe.
Erynn raised his hand.
— Storm of Disintegration.
Winds so fast they didn't destroy.
They evaporated.
Buildings. Ground. Structures.
Everything vanished.
The universe was erased.
Vareth raised a hand.
A barrier unfolded, protecting Kael and the pistol Executor.
The latter trembled.
— …I'm filing for administrative transfer.
— Or early retirement.
— Or an exorcism.
Vareth observed the scene, calm.
— Kael.
— What is your wish?
Kael blinked.
— Honestly?
— I'm surprised that for "just existing," you want to offer me a wish.
Vareth smiled faintly.
— It is never "nothing at all," Kael.
— Surviving moments like this…
— Is already refusing to be ordinary.
Far away, Shadow slowly rose.
— …Shadow Sphere.
An abyssal sphere was born and rushed toward Erynn, devouring air, light, sound.
— Atmospheric Wall! Erynn shouted.
The barrier shattered instantly.
— What?!
The sphere tried to consume him.
Erynn barely escaped.
He fell to his knees.
His arms had been vaporized.
His legs too.
They regenerated slowly.
He rose again, panting.
Shadow applauded.
— Seriously…
— Surviving that?
— People are right: you're no prodigy for nothing.
He smiled.
— You surprised me to the very end.
— I'm sure you'll reach S‑Rank very soon.
He appeared before Erynn, ruffled his hair.
— Until next time, kid.
Then he vanished.
Silence.
Vareth turned to Kael.
— Well.
— I know I keep repeating myself…
— But what is your wish?
Kael stayed silent for a moment.
Then he lifted his eyes.
— I don't want more power.
— Nor to become a god.
— Nor to crush others.
He inhaled.
— I want…
— To protect those who still fight, even when they have no chance.
— To give them a possibility.
— Just one.
Vareth remained still.
Then he smiled.
A true smile.
— …Very well.
— That is a wish worthy of being granted.
The Labyrinth seemed to shiver.
Something had just changed.
Chapter 306 – Wishes, Truths, and People Who Break the Rules with a Smile
Vareth raised his hand.
He snapped his fingers.
The sound was sharp.
Final.
— Wish granted.
No explosion.
No divine light.
No cosmic tremor.
Just… a silent rewriting of something fundamental.
Kael swallowed.
— …Are you sure this isn't risky for you?
— I'm almost certain the Labyrinth won't let this pass.
— And when it doesn't like something… it tends to want to kill the source.
Vareth smiled.
An arrogant, calm smile — almost insulting to cosmic order.
He placed a hand on his face, as if pondering a private joke.
— Let it try.
He lowered his hand, eyes gleaming.
— Honestly, I don't care about its rules.
— I've felt recent changes in the Labyrinth.
— Humans are far more frequent here than before.
— And when a system changes too quickly…
He paused.
— …it means someone behind it isn't fully owning their decisions.
Kael frowned.
— Wait…
— You were here before the Absolute Being took control of the dungeon?
Vareth blinked.
— The Absolute Being?
— I don't know them.
Silence fell.
— In my time, he continued calmly, someone else ruled the Labyrinth.
— We had a treaty.
He tilted his head slightly.
— He left my world alone.
— In exchange, I promised not to destroy the Labyrinth.
— And to respect a specific role.
He smiled faintly.
— That of Executor.
Kael inhaled slowly.
— …That explains a lot.
— The new ruler changed the structure.
Vareth stayed silent.
— The Labyrinth is shorter.
— Every ten floors, a Supreme Boss appears.
— There are ten in total, each embodying a concept.
Vareth raised an eyebrow.
— Concepts?
— For humans?
Kael shrugged.
— The concepts adapt to the level of the opponent.
— The trial depends as much on personality as on strength.
He continued:
— There are also a hundred mini‑bosses.
— Each embodies a law.
— They are hidden and don't directly influence progression.
— Defeating one guarantees a reward.
— Chance only intervenes in the intermediate floors.
The pistol Executor sighed.
— Cosmic RNG…
— Not my favorite.
Vareth nodded slowly.
— …Very interesting.
— That's why humans flock here.
He snapped his fingers again.
The ravaged universe repaired instantly.
Buildings reformed.
Streets returned to place.
Reality stabilized.
As if nothing had ever happened.
— I hope my reward pleased you, Kael.
Erynn approached, visibly exhausted but still standing.
— I was a hair's breadth from maintaining infinite pressure in one zone…
— A little more, and I'd have created an unstable singularity.
— Which would have attracted very, very unhappy entities.
He ran a hand through his long red hair.
— Luckily Shadow left.
— I was almost out of mana.
— Honestly… that was insane.
Kael smiled.
— You still handled it really well.
— Thanks, Erynn replied with a shrug.
— I like it when the universe doesn't completely collapse.
Then he inhaled.
— Well.
— I think it's time for us to leave.
Kael suddenly grabbed Vareth's arm.
— Come with us.
Vareth froze.
— …Excuse me?
— From what you said, and what the new ruler is doing…
— Maybe you should stay.
— Help the humans.
— With your inventions, you could really change things.
Vareth hesitated.
— I made a promise to the former ruler.
Kael answered simply:
— He's dead.
Silence.
— You could create an incarnation, couldn't you?
— An emanation of yourself.
Vareth closed his eyes.
Then smiled.
— …Very well.
He extended his hand.
Reality bent.
An incarnation appeared.
👉 The Sword Executor.
Same role.
Same presence.
Even more powerful.
— You will rule this universe.
Then another form took shape.
👉 The Halberd Executor.
Vareth then turned to the pistol Executor.
— And you?
— Will you come too?
— …Yeah, she replied.
— Tired of shooting into the void all alone.
Her technological helmet retracted.
A female face appeared.
White hair tied back.
Deep black eyes.
Erynn blinked.
— …Wait.
— She's a woman?
Kael turned to him, stunned.
— YOU TALKED TO HER ALL THIS TIME.
— HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO GUESS?
— TECHNOLOGICAL ARMOR.
— HELMET.
— DISTORTED VOICE.
She sighed.
— Honestly, it's not your fault.
— The armor masked my features.
She straightened.
— My name is Nyra.
Erynn coughed.
— …Wasn't there a feminine version of the armor?
Vareth answered calmly:
— The armors can adopt any appearance.
— Nyra chose to blend among men.
Nyra lowered her eyes slightly.
— I thought if I showed I was a woman…
— You wouldn't respect me.
Silence.
Vareth placed a hand on her shoulder.
— Some wouldn't have respected you.
— That's true.
He smiled.
— But as long as you are strong…
— You will be respected.
— No matter your gender.
Nyra's eyes widened.
Then she smiled, sincerely.
They left the fifteenth floor.
The voice of the Labyrinth resounded:
*"Congratulations.
You have passed the fifteenth floor.
Rewards granted."*
Kael reverted to Llan, keeping Kael's fire powers.
Erynn reverted to Aeris, mid‑length green hair, freed from restrictions, but retaining Erynn's support abilities.
Llan blinked.
— …The Labyrinth is generous today.
— Ah, I almost forgot, Vareth said.
He created a second pistol Executor.
— There.
— Now we can leave.
Chapter 307 – Tea, Rules, and the Child Who Pulls the Universe by the Sleeve
🍜 In a restaurant, somewhere outside the Labyrinth
The broth steamed softly.
The noodles trembled with care.
An ordinary scene. Almost restful.
Shadow slouched in his chair, hoodie half‑open, glass in hand.
Across from him, Lya ate calmly, chopsticks impeccable — as always.
— That kid… Aeris, Shadow said, swirling the liquid in his glass.
— He's not just strong.
Lya raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on her lips.
— Oh? Mister "I survived things that should've killed me three times" is impressed?
Shadow clicked his tongue.
— I've seen monsters with absurd stats.
— Geniuses born with broken gifts.
— Chosen ones, blessed ones, calculation errors.
He stared at his glass.
— Aeris, though… he refuses.
— Refuses to fall.
— Refuses to let go.
— Refuses even when his body screams to stop.
He chuckled.
— That's not power.
— It's an existential bad habit.
Lya took a sip.
— A will that never learned how to die, then.
— Exactly.
Shadow set down his glass.
— And that kind of will, if it survives long enough…
— It becomes a problem.
— Or a miracle, Lya corrected calmly.
Shadow glanced sideways at her.
— You're really annoying when you're optimistic.
— And you when you're lucid, she replied without looking up.
A comfortable silence settled.
Then—
— Excuse me.
A small voice rose beside the table.
A child stood there.
Black mid‑length hair, a ramen bowl too big for him, calm demeanor.
— May I sit?
Shadow sighed immediately.
— Seriously… even to eat, you need an invitation?
Lya set down her chopsticks.
— Arelis.
— You could have warned us.
The child smiled.
— I tried.
— But every time I warn someone, they panic.
— Lie, Shadow muttered.
— You think it's funny.
— A little, Arelis admitted, pulling out the chair.
He sat without ceremony.
— At least today, I didn't destroy anything coming in.
— Progress.
— We're proud of you, Shadow said.
— Truly.
At that moment, another chair scraped.
A man sat beside Arelis.
White hair, star‑red eyes, calm smile.
Valen.
— Service is slow, he said.
— But the place is nice.
— You too decided to play normal guy? Shadow asked.
— I pretend all the time, Valen replied.
— It's become second nature.
Lya crossed her arms.
— Well.
— Why are you here?
Arelis blew on his noodles.
— Llan's wish.
Shadow straightened slightly.
— Ah.
— That one.
— It changed something, Arelis continued.
— Not a power.
— Not a visible rule.
He lifted his bowl.
— A possibility.
Valen added calmly:
— Those who had no chance…
— Now have one.
— Not guaranteed, Arelis added.
— Not free.
— But real.
Lya frowned.
— And the price?
Arelis smiled.
— It always comes afterward.
Shadow burst out in brief laughter.
— Great.
— When a system starts thinking, it always ends badly.
— Let's say it's… perplexed, Arelis replied.
— Which is worse.
— Wonderful, Shadow muttered.
— A Labyrinth that doubts itself.
— That's new.
Arelis looked out the window.
— Anomalies will increase.
— "Miracles" too.
— And some Concept Bosses will evolve.
Valen turned his head toward Shadow.
— Including you.
— Of course, Shadow sighed.
— Why would anything ever be simple in my life?
Lya smirked.
— And Aeris?
Arelis lifted his head slightly.
His eyes remained half‑hidden.
— Aeris is already involved.
— He now attracts what the world rejects.
Shadow raised his glass.
— Translation:
— He's going to suffer even more.
— Yes, Arelis confirmed.
— But this time…
He paused.
— He won't be alone.
Silence fell.
Then Shadow burst out laughing.
— Seriously…
— An assassin huntress, a former duplicator, the divine hunter, and a kid who tugs the universe by the sleeve…
— Remaking the world over ramen.
He raised his glass.
— To Aeris.
Lya did the same.
— To those who refuse to lose.
Valen inclined his head.
— To rules that crack.
Arelis smiled, simply.
— And to what comes after.
Far away, somewhere in the Labyrinth…
something hesitated.
Then changed its mind.