Chapter 66

The Infinite Labyrinth

A barrier is a space created through magic.

And magic is a supernatural phenomenon that defies common sense, or the power to manipulate or influence phenomena through supernatural forces.

... Except it isn't.

Most people think of magic as a "supernatural phenomenon." I thought so myself at first. But that couldn't be further from the truth. According to the Archmage, one of the allied army's heroes:

["On the contrary, magic is a perfectly ordinary natural phenomenon."]

It is nothing more than interpreting the principles behind natural phenomena and reproducing them artificially. In that sense, magical studies could be called the "science of interpretation." And what magical studies seeks to interpret is the laws and governing precepts of this world. Thus, magic is a "natural phenomenon" produced by "interpreting" those laws and precepts.

What that requires is magical power—Mana Force—the energy produced by converting mana into a usable form.

["You could describe magical power as energy that serves as a kind of raw material."]

To light a fire, you need a raw material called firewood. Magical power served the same role as that firewood. The only difference was that it could become anything else as well.

["By controlling magical power, mages can generate all sorts of energy: heat, light, electricity, sound, and so on."]

A ball of fire floating in midair: Fireball.

A sudden burst of light: Light Boom.

Lightning erupting in succession: Chain Lightning.

An eardrum-shattering sound wave: Shock Wave.

Behind these spells lay firewood that took different forms. In other words, magical power. So while magic might look absurd at first glance, it was actually a perfectly natural phenomenon grounded in the laws of this world.

["Just as burning firewood produces thermal energy in the form of fire."]

Thus, mages cannot use magic that produces phenomena outside the laws of nature. Bringing back the dead. Turning time back to the past.

["Reversing entropy is impossible."]

That was precisely why, from a mage's perspective, aura was the real magic: the power to take something that existed only in an individual's imagination and manifest it in reality.

Aura was a power that should not exist. Yet there it was, inexplicably, abruptly, absurdly existing. It disregarded even the world's governing precepts wholesale. If that wasn't magic, what on earth was?

But most people thought the opposite. They considered magic supernatural and aura natural.

["Even though the reality is quite different."]

In light of all this, Avarus was a mage. One incapable of wielding the supernatural power known as aura, because his superior intellect had led him to understand that aura should fundamentally be impossible.

That meant this barrier was magic—a natural phenomenon. It merely used the Sovereign of the Abyss's Authority, its "magical power," as raw material. That was the only reason it looked supernatural.

And so, when Rule 3 appeared in the Rulebook, stating that there was no exit, I realized that all its rules were either false or deceptive.

One absolute law of magic, and a fundamental truth of alchemy in particular, was [Equivalent Exchange]. To gain something, you must pay a corresponding price.

To light a fire, there must be firewood. If there is an entrance, there must be an exit. Even if that exit was unreachable, even if the means of reaching it bordered on impossible.

The rule claiming there was no exit was therefore a trick. More importantly, Find Weakness[U] had clearly identified the Rulebook as this barrier's weakness. That meant the Rulebook held the means of escaping it.

With those doubts in mind, I examined the rules closely and noticed something strange. Certain words in the Rulebook were subtly different. Their lettering was different, I suppose you could say.

* * *

3. There is no exit here.

: If you see anything that looks like an exit, do not stop. Ignore it all.

* * *

In Rule 3, that word was "stop." At first, I thought it was simply emphasizing the rule. But when I checked Rules 1 and 2, I found more words stained red with blood, their lettering subtly different. Isolating those words gave me:

1. Light. Secure. You are. Trapped. Sense of direction. Distorted.

2. Structure. If it moves. In place.

3. Stop.

A message was taking shape. So I stopped moving and stayed where I was. Strange patterns appeared after that, and the new rules also contained words with subtly different lettering.

4. Strange patterns.

5. Repeat. That. Moment.

7. Rulebook. If you damage.

8. Rule 6. Discover.

9. Hope.

10. Exists.

When I gathered those words and combined them into a single message:

* * *

Secure light and recognize that you are trapped.

Then, if your sense of direction becomes distorted and the structure of this place moves, stop where you are.

Repeat the strange patterns in your mind.

If you damage the Rulebook at that moment, you can discover Rule 6.

* * *

"Found it."

I sharpened Dragon's Claw[A] and tore into the Rulebook. But since it had fused with my hand, I had no choice but to sever the whole thing, hand and all.

◆Temporarily blocking sensory nerves!

◆Using the skill 'Regeneration[B+]' to regenerate damaged body parts!

I restored my severed hand with Regeneration[B+]. Since the abilities from Predation[S+] worked normally here, that wasn't much of a problem. The Rulebook, torn away along with my hand, fell sprawling on the floor.

SKREEEEEECH!!!

The Rulebook flopped about like a living creature, letting out one spine-chilling scream after another. Dark red blood seeped from its torn body. Mixing with my blood, it soon inscribed a new rule on the floor.

* * *

6. Hope exists.

: This place is called the [Infinite Labyrinth]. The Infinite Labyrinth is a distorted dimension intertwined with the [Administrator]'s consciousness, and an entity fused with the [Administrator]. Within the Infinite Labyrinth, [Absolute Rules] exist, and they take precedence over all other laws.

==[Absolute Rules]==

1. The [Administrator] cannot arbitrarily set or modify the Infinite Labyrinth's [Absolute Rules].

2. The Infinite Labyrinth must have an [Administrator].

3. The Infinite Labyrinth's stamina and mana are infinite, as are its space and time.

4. The [Administrator] must personally reveal the Infinite Labyrinth's [Absolute Rules], in whatever form.

5. If even one of the [Absolute Rules] is violated, the Infinite Labyrinth will cease to exist.

* * *

The hidden Rule 6. As it was revealed, ominous shapes and patterns etched themselves into the Rulebook. Faint eyes and lips appeared between wrinkles tangled like spiderwebs, twisting grotesquely as though in pain—

<"YOU BASTARD!!!">

It shouted at me in a voice that was little more than a scream.

<"What the hell are you?!!!">

The Rulebook... no, Avarus cried out in disbelief.

<"How did you escape the Great One's Authority?!!">

So it seemed that really had been the Sovereign of the Abyss after all. But...

"You shouldn't have brought a fake."

It hadn't been the real Sovereign of the Abyss. It was a Sovereign of the Abyss created through illusion magic. There was no way that could break my mind. No, even bringing the real Sovereign of the Abyss wouldn't have changed anything.

◆Player's Will[EX] resists The Inexplicable Terror of the Unknown!

Ian's ability, Player's Will[EX]. As long as I had it, my mind would never break.

<"H-how did you know...? No, even so, it was the Great One's Authority! How could you—!">

"That's none of your business."

Now I had a way out of the barrier: using the [Absolute Rules]. Absolute Rule 2 stated that the Infinite Labyrinth must have an [Administrator]. Absolute Rule 5 stated that if even one Absolute Rule was violated, the Infinite Labyrinth would cease to exist. In short, eliminating the Administrator would destroy the Infinite Labyrinth.

And it went without saying who the Administrator was. This was why Find Weakness[U] had identified the Rulebook as the barrier's weakness.

I tensed my thighs and leaped off the floor. Sharpening Dragon's Claw[A], I slashed at Avarus in his Rulebook form. Chunks of his flesh tore free and fell, but...

<"Heheheh! Where do you think you are?">

Avarus did not die.

<"This is the Infinite Labyrinth, created through the Great One's Authority!">

Absolute Rule 3: the Infinite Labyrinth's stamina and mana were infinite, as were its space and time. And since the Infinite Labyrinth was an entity fused with its Administrator...

<"No matter how hard you pathetic fools struggle, it's useless!">

That meant Avarus's stamina and mana were infinite as well.

SHRRRRK!

Sharp tentacles burst from the gaps in the fleshy walls. Parasite-like growths protruded from their tips, sucking up everything they latched onto. Just then:

"Would it kill you to warn me beforehand?!"

Kai, who had watched all the rules appear from beside me, leaped into action. Apparently he had a rough grasp of what was happening, because his strikes were merciless. He butchered the flesh in an instant and drew up close beside me.

"Do you have a plan?"

As expected, Kai also knew there was no easy way to kill Avarus. Of course, Immortal Link[E] kept Kai from dying too. But that wasn't infinite either. Once his aura ran out, his Immortality would vanish.

The same went for me. I had Regeneration[B+], but my calories were finite. Speaking of which, my current calorie reserves were...

◆Surplus Calories 13,551Kcal

About thirteen thousand calories. Having used Metabolic Overdrive[U] and Regeneration[B+] before entering the barrier, I was nearly running on empty.

◆Error: Inventory is not responding.

Worse still, my Inventory wasn't responding. Consuming the calories I had stored there was impossible.

Infinite versus finite.

<"You'll all rot and die here! Trapped in the infinite abyss, you'll become offerings to the Great One!!">

Avarus's victory was all but certain. Our defeat had practically been assured the moment we entered a mage's domain.

But there was one thing Avarus didn't know.

The fleshy tentacles reached for me again. I tore off a handful with Dragon's Claw[A], stuffed it straight into my mouth, and bit down—

CRUNCH!

An indescribable flavor filled my mouth. Never mind the squishy texture; the taste was truly bizarre. What could I even compare it to...?

MUNCH, MUNCH.

I would venture to describe it as "chewing rotten mud." Not that I'd ever eaten rotten mud. If it had calories, I might have given it a try, but there were hardly any calories to be gained from mud, so I had no intention of eating it in the future either. Still, you know the sort of impression I mean.

And in that sense, the juices that burst out every time I crushed the heart... if you could call them juices...

"Urgh!"

It tasted like a boiled, festering mud puddle. Fucking vile.

"Bleurgh!"

... I didn't think I could sell this one. Commercial value: zero. Once again, I was reminded that monsters from the snowy mountains were the best. Even so, I somehow forced it down my throat.

◆Calories +5,210Kcal stored.

A message appeared before my eyes, announcing that calories had been stored. Surprisingly, it was incredibly calorie-dense. I'd expected it to contain calories since it was flesh, but I'd never imagined a single handful would give me a whopping 5,210kcal.

<"W-what...?!">

Avarus's eyes widened in shock. More precisely, the things that looked like eyes widened. Kai wasn't much different.

"..."

Beside me, he wore the expression of someone who had bitten into a bug, as though he were looking at a creature even worse than Avarus. Friend and foe alike regarded me with loathing.

... Strictly speaking, Kai was an enemy too, but anyway.

I blithely ignored them both and used Dragon's Claw[A] to tear another chunk of flesh from the wall and chew it.

<"W-what are you doiiiiing?!!!">

Avarus screamed in agony.

I jerked my chin at him and spoke.

"Kai."

"..."

"See him right now?"

"..."

"Answer me."

"... What are you referring to?"

"He's in pain."

"That he is, but... Ah!"

Kai's eyes lit up, apparently realizing what I meant.

According to Rule 6, the Infinite Labyrinth was an entity fused with Avarus. More specifically, a distorted dimension intertwined with his consciousness. In other words, striking the Infinite Labyrinth caused him pain. All those screams we'd heard whenever we damaged the walls or floor had been his.

Of course, under the Infinite Labyrinth's [Absolute Rules], Avarus's stamina and mana were infinite. But his mental fortitude was not. Meanwhile, since I could gain calories by eating his flesh, my stamina was infinite too.

Unfortunately for him...

◆Player's Will[EX] resists The Inexplicable Terror of the Unknown!

My mental fortitude was infinite as well.

So then, what would happen if I inflicted infinite pain on Avarus?

My Regeneration[B+] could block pain. Avarus couldn't do that. Just how much could his mind endure?

"Kai, stay out of this and keep the light going with your aura."

◆Surplus Calories 100,000Kcal

Before I knew it, I'd reached the limit of my calorie reserves. The taste was bizarre, but the calorie efficiency was insane. If it were possible, I almost wanted to put Avarus in my Inventory and raise him there.

I burned all one hundred thousand calories at once. The explosive substances synthesized inside me multiplied and spread uncontrollably, diffusing throughout my body with intense heat and energy.

CRRRACK!!

My body seethed as though about to explode, every cell igniting at once. A tremendous blaze surged across my entire body.

WHOOOOSH!!!

An inferno of endless ages blazed up, using my very existence as firewood. Overwhelming power beyond all endurance. As it compressed into both my arms, compressed, compressed, and compressed again—

The ferocious power of a dragon awakened.

"This'll be a thrill you never got from the Sovereign of the Abyss!"

◆Using the combination skill 'Dragon Rage Explosion[E]'!

I thrust both hands toward the horrified Avarus.