CHAPTER 409: EXPLORING THE LABYRINTH

Between them, towering even higher at nearly eight feet tall, was an even larger ape, a Tier-8 beast. Its crimson tail flicked dangerously behind it, its eyes focused sharply on Orion, clearly identifying him as an immediate threat.

Orion’s eyes sharpened immediately, a hint of seriousness filling his expression. Ape-type mana beasts were notoriously difficult opponents; their intelligence and adaptability made them formidable foes.

He heard Lumi’s curious voice resonate in his mind,

[Master, these creatures most likely wandered in from the Desolate Wilderness. It’s unusual how we have encountered so many species of mana beasts by now.]

Orion nodded silently, acknowledging Lumi’s thoughts. His hands swiftly grasped the hilt of his Realm Guardian, unsheathing it smoothly while he also took out another greatsword from his inventory.

As his blades shimmered in the dim lighting, his body rapidly began transforming once again. Scales of brilliant azure tinged with arcs of silver lightning spread swiftly across his body.

Powerful claws replaced his fingertips, and his muscles bulged with raw, electrified strength. In mere moments, Orion had fully transformed into his imposing Thunder Draconian Form.

Holding both swords confidently, Orion channeled pure, crackling Intermediate Grade Thunder Sword Aura along their lengths.

Immediately, he could sense a tremendous difference. He had realized from his previous experiences that matching his elemental Dragon form directly with the corresponding sword aura dramatically enhanced the effectiveness of his strikes.

Rather than diluting his focus by splitting the elements, he concentrated purely on thunder, feeling its power multiply within his blades.

Without a second of hesitation, Orion swiftly raised one of his swords, aiming decisively at the largest ape.

"[Railgun: Thunder]!" he commanded firmly, his voice resonating in the labyrinth.

Instantly, thunder mana condensed rapidly into a shimmering projectile that exploded forward with incredible speed, slicing through the air with a deafening sonic boom.

Despite its extraordinary velocity, the ape beasts’ agile reflexes allowed them to leap swiftly to either side, narrowly evading the devastating blast that scorched and fractured the stone wall behind them.

The battle erupted instantly into chaos. The apes surged forward, roaring fiercely, their massive limbs striking with astonishing speed and precision.

Orion met their assault calmly, weaving swiftly between their strikes, his blades crackling and humming powerfully as he slashed outward, forcing the apes into defensive positions.

The clash intensified as Orion masterfully blended martial prowess with spellcasting. [Stormpiercer Bolt]! he shouted decisively, aiming precisely at one of the Tier-7 apes.

The ape frantically raised its thick arms, attempting to deflect the piercing lightning bolt, only to have it penetrate through its defenses, burning through its chest and dropping it lifelessly to the ground.

Enraged, the remaining two beasts pressed their assault relentlessly. Orion moved fluidly, activating [Velocity Strike] repeatedly to swiftly dodge and counterattack using his Thunder Dragon Breath.

Each slash crackled violently with thunderous energy, sparks scattering brilliantly through the labyrinth’s corridor.

After a long and fierce engagement, Orion saw his opportunity. He feinted skillfully to the left, drawing the Tier-8 ape’s heavy strike toward empty air before spinning rapidly, twin blades held firmly.

By combining sword technique with powerful arcs of lightning-infused energy, his swords carved a brilliant crescent of crackling lightning through the air, cleanly slicing through the Tier-8 ape and simultaneously decapitating the remaining Tier-7 beast behind it.

As their bodies collapsed heavily onto the cold, ancient stones, silence once more descended over the corridor.

Orion exhaled slowly, feeling the intense rush of combat gradually fading. A subtle smile formed on his lips as he straightened calmly, his form gradually returning to human as he sheathed his blades again while his armor came back on his body.

Lumi’s voice chimed warmly in his mind, [Hehe your strength is somewhere around the Peak of Tier 8 right now Master. If it continued like this then you can fight against Tier 9 beings once you breakthrough to Tier 7.]

Orion crouched down to take out the mana cores of the beasts while saying, "It might not be that simple, after all the difference between Tier 8 and Tier 9 is much greater than the difference in Tier 6 and Tier 7. Tier 9 beings are called Apex Awakeners for a reason."

[Hmm, you can remain undefeated on the same level with your Mana Channels alone. Then your unique legacies help you to battle people one level higher. But...]

Orion softly nodded his head, "Exactly, I can’t use my legacies to their maximum potential. I can only use one form at a time. And the legacies will show their true power once I’m at a higher level, at least the Dragon legacies."

[But Master, with that Dragon-Cow, you can definitely stand shoulder to shoulder with Apex Awakeners at Tier 7.]

[Hey hey, no need to drag me into this you little cat. A fragile woman like me can’t handle such rough treatment~]

"..." Orion decided to ignore her words and moved deeper into the cave.

As Orion moved deeper into the labyrinth, the air grew steadily heavier, filled with an eerie energy that felt oppressive.

Time blurred gradually into a rhythmic cycle of battle and rest, each confrontation increasingly fierce.

At first, the beasts that emerged to challenge Orion were Peak Tier 7 or Early Tier 8, formidable opponents demanding his full attention.

He dispatched them decisively, honing his techniques and improving his battle instincts with each confrontation.

Yet, as days turned into a full week within the relentless labyrinth, Orion encountered beasts whose strength pushed him to the very limit.

On several occasions, he found himself locked in brutal, exhausting combat against Peak Tier 8 beasts, each clash drawing forth every ounce of his skill, strength, and tactical cunning.

His Mana Channels pulsed powerfully, circulating mana continuously, while his Draconian Forms became moves in battle, shifting fluidly between Fire and Thunder according to necessity.

The encounters brought Orion close to exhaustion, forcing him to innovate and improvise constantly.

Against a particularly vicious Peak Tier 8 beast, a massive serpent covered in armored crystal scales, he had been forced to unleash the full potential of [Railgun: Thunder] alongside the power of his Dragon Breath.

Only after a prolonged, devastating exchange did he finally pierce through its nearly impenetrable defenses, claiming victory amidst shattered stone and scorched earth.

Despite the harrowing battles, each victory yielded invaluable treasures hidden within the winding paths and concealed walls of the labyrinth.

Orion acquired herbs brimming with dense mana, mystical flowers and herbs that nourished and refined his soul, and rare fruits that could help to increase his understanding of his legacies.

Each treasure consumed or absorbed helped Orion to get a better grasp of his inheritances as his comprehension of both Thunder True Dragon Emperor, Fire True Dragon Emperor, and World Tree legacies improved from 10% to 20%.

But these relentless battles and repeated use of his Draconian transformations took their toll.

His prized Black-Gold Dragon Armor, meticulously forged by Selene, bore increasing damage with each intense fight.

Eventually, during an especially ferocious duel against three Peak Tier 8 beasts, the armor succumbed completely, fracturing into countless fragments despite its durability, leaving Orion relying solely on his own Draconic body for future battles.

Standing amidst the remains of the shattered armor, Orion exhaled a weary breath, wiping sweat and dirt from his face. Lumi softly giggled and remarked,

[And there goes your armor Master. I didn’t think it would last this long. Even though you didn’t use it that much. The strange energy here corroded it I think.]