Minos Labyrinth was a place of secrets.
Hidden pathways, deadly traps, concealed chambers—this place was a maze of deception and peril. But after all the time I had spent studying its intricacies, I was convinced that I had uncovered every secret it had to offer.
Most of the hidden treasures scattered throughout the labyrinth were far beyond my reach at the moment. Except for one.
A single hidden item—a crucial piece in the core build of the druid I was aiming for. This was the reason I had risked everything. From gathering hard-earned materials to willingly handicapping myself into a trash-tier character—everything had led to this moment.
All or nothing.
With quiet, measured steps, I moved deeper into the labyrinth. The air was thick with tension, and in the suffocating darkness ahead, a deep, ragged breathing echoed through the corridors.
Then—
A low growl rumbled, accompanied by the rhythmic tremors of heavy footsteps. Each thud sent vibrations through the floor, growing stronger, closer. The walls quivered with every impact.
From the shadows, a massive figure emerged.
Minos the Minotaur.
Without hesitation, I activated my secret weapon.
[Fleeting Potion used.]
Minos Labyrinth’s Field Effect, Daedalus’ Curse, granted a 50% cooldown reduction. By consuming a Fleeting Potion, I could push that reduction even further—an additional 15%.
For most wizards, whose high-powered spells suffered from excruciatingly long cooldowns, this was a godsend.
But for a druid—whose spells already had naturally short cooldowns—this was an exploit.
[Windstride casted.]
A druid spell designed to boost movement speed by 50% for a brief duration. Normally, it required a delay before it could be used again.
[Windstride Casted.]
But now, with Daedalus’ Curse and Fleeting Potion in effect, Windstride could be cast almost without interruption.
[Windstride Casted.]
I, who was usually slow, now surged forward with a speed that defied belief. The Minotaur’s heavy steps thundered behind me, but I was already pulling away, vanishing into the twisting corridors of the labyrinth.
[Windstride Casted.]
Left, right, second intersection—left again. Press the hidden section of the wall—there. The passageway shifted, revealing a secret route. I dashed through without a second thought, my body moving purely on instinct, following the mental map I had memorized down to the smallest detail.
[Windstride Casted.]
The labyrinth blurred past me as I pushed myself to the limit. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed it—the Minotaur was falling behind, its sheer bulk slowing its pursuit.
Just 200 meters straight ahead. Then, jump onto the hidden platform on the right and double back to the grand intersection.
My breath was ragged. My lungs burned.
[Windstride Casted.]
Almost there… Just a little more…
At the final stretch, I forced my legs to move faster. The path ahead led directly into a dead end, but that was exactly where I needed to be.
[Fleeting Potion effect has worn off.]
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I had arrived. Relief washed over me—I had made it.
Without wasting a second, I turned toward the wall at the dead end and pushed.
Nothing.
I pushed again, harder this time, my palms pressed against the cold stone.
Move, damn it!
I shoved with all my strength—again and again—but the wall didn’t budge.
Not even a fraction.
Behind me, the heavy footsteps of the Minotaur grew louder.
A wave of dread crept up my spine.
Oh, shit.
***
Within the labyrinth, the Minotaur was nothing short of a cheat-like monster. Unlike ordinary creatures bound by sight and sound, the Minotaur possessed an unnatural ability—it could sense the presence of any being inside the maze, pinpointing their exact location without exception.
And instead of following the labyrinth’s winding paths like a normal pursuer, the Minotaur simply smashed through the walls, carving a direct path toward its prey.
This was why so few adventurers dared enter Minos Labyrinth, despite the vast treasures hidden within. No amount of preparation, no amount of tactical maneuvering could ensure safety when faced with a relentless force that could rewrite the very structure of the dungeon itself.
Yet, here I was.
I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. My reckless overconfidence had led me here. I had relied too much on my game knowledge, assuming that my past experiences would be enough to carry me through.
I had been arrogant.
This world wasn’t just a game. There were things I didn’t know—things I had yet to understand.
GROOOAAR!!
The Minotaur’s roar shattered my thoughts, reverberating through the stone corridors. From the intensity of the sound, I estimated that I had minutes before it arrived.
My heart pounded against my ribs, adrenaline flooding my veins, but I knew one thing—panic and fear wouldn’t help me survive.
I needed to act.
I needed to find the item.
A memory surfaced—the teachings of the elder druids.
"Calm your mind. Close your eyes. Become one with nature."
I shut my eyes and focused.
The chaotic noise of the labyrinth—the distant echoes of shifting stone, the Minotaur’s heavy footsteps, the whispering air in the corridors—all of it faded into silence.
Then—there it was.
A faint yet distinct pulse of energy lingered beyond the wall ahead.
I opened my eyes, my vision sharpening as if seeing the world anew. A greenish aura flickered on the other side, calling to me.
Without hesitation, I turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, weaving through the narrow corridors until I reached yet another dead end.
This was it.
The energy here was dense, practically leaking from beyond the stone wall. I could feel it—what I was searching for was just beyond this point.
Drrrrt.
I pushed against the wall with all my strength.
For a brief moment, nothing happened.
Then—a deep, grating shift echoed as the wall gave way, revealing a narrow opening. The hidden room was small, almost claustrophobically so—barely enough for someone of my size to fit inside.
At its center stood a solitary stone pedestal, upon which an object rested.
My breath caught in my throat.
This is it.
"Please… just this once, let my luck hold out."
I stepped forward, reaching out with trembling hands.
The moment my fingers touched the artifact, a violent sensation tore through me.
It started in my stomach—a gut-wrenching twist, as though my insides were being churned by an unseen force. A sickening lurch spread through my entire body, making my head spin.
Even though this was already my third time experiencing it, the sensation never became any less unbearable. I clenched my teeth, shutting my eyes to dull the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm me.
But—I am truly grateful to be able to experience this sensation.
Just like in the game, claiming this item triggered an automatic teleportation. Within moments, my body was forcefully transported back to the entrance of Minos Palace. The labyrinth would now be sealed off, inaccessible until the next Tower cycle.
I had done it.
The talisman I had been searching for—the druid-exclusive artifact—was finally in my hands.
But there was one problem.
Talisman drops in this chamber were random. There was no guarantee of what I would get. The best possible outcomes were the Arcturus Talisman or the Wildkin Talisman—both of which would have doubled, or even tripled my combat ability.
But when I looked at the talisman now resting in my palm, my chest tightened. It wasn’t what I had expected. It was—something even stronger. More powerful than either of the talismans I had originally wanted. If I had found this talisman at a higher level, I would have been ecstatic—beyond thrilled at my luck.
But right now…
My hands curled into fists as a sinking realization settled over me.
"Shoot…" I muttered under my breath. This talisman was too strong for my current build. If I wanted to use its full potential, I would have to completely rebuild my druid from scratch.