CHAPTER 134: 134 - LABYRINTH OF THE NURTURER [6]

"Phew... That was tiring..."

Raven muttered under his breath as he sat cross-legged in a lotus position, his back leaning slightly against a cool, jagged stone wall.

He honestly couldn’t even remember how many monsters he had slain today.

Undead soldiers with hollow eyes and brittle bones, Desert Tikbalangs with their tall, distorted horse-like figures, Mud Golems whose heavy bodies shook the ground with every step, and those damned Swamp Monkeys screeching nonstop— he had cut through all of them. It felt like the number of corpses he left behind could fill a graveyard.

(Desert Tikbalangs are monsters that roam the 2nd floor of the labyrinth. They’re [E] rank, and, as the name suggests, that entire floor mimics a vast desert. If you’re wondering about Tikbalangs in general— well, that’s something you can look up, they’re creatures from my country’s folklore.)

Raven tilted his head back slightly, enjoying the silence that came after hours of endless battles. His black eyes opened, and he gazed upward.

’Dungeons are really fascinating... They can even replicate the sky from the outside world.’

Above him stretched a star-scattered night sky, painted in deep shades of blue and black.

A glowing silver moon hung high above, illuminating their surroundings with a faint, ethereal light. It was strange, almost eerie, to be underground and still see such a breathtaking scene.

"They’re really exhausted, huh..."

Raven’s lips curled into a sly smile as he turned his gaze toward his companions. Alec and the others were sprawled out on the ground, breathing evenly, already fast asleep.

Their armor looked worn, their clothes stained with dirt and sweat, and yet they slept peacefully, completely oblivious to everything around them.

[It’s because you pushed them past their limits, you demon.]

Sariel’s voice echoed inside his head, the tone carrying an amused sting.

"Well..."

Raven whispered, shrugging lightly.

"This labyrinth is ten floors deep. And the growth boost only lasts for a week. We can’t afford to just clear one floor a day."

[Fair enough, I guess?]

Sariel conceded, though the snark in his voice remained.

"But still, it’s surprising how we’ve already reached the middle of the third floor."

There was a faint hint of pride in Raven’s voice, though it wasn’t clear if he was praising Alec and the others or simply satisfied with his own predictions.

"I honestly thought that on the first day we’d only get as far as the entrance of the third floor."

He spoke so casually, but the truth was that clearing two whole floors in one day was an accomplishment bordering on the impossible.

Even sophomores, more experienced and seasoned than his group, wouldn’t dream of pulling that off. Their current pace was comparable to that of tertiary students who had years of training.

Raven himself wasn’t nearly as fatigued. He had prepared thoroughly— mentally, physically, and with equipment— and his Calm Thinker trait kept his emotions under control no matter how long the battles dragged on.

The others, however, didn’t share that luxury. They were prepared, yes, but not nearly at the same level of readiness Raven possessed. And so now, they slept like the dead, drained of every ounce of energy.

Leaving Raven to stand watch alone.

-Ky...uu...

Even Yuki, had succumbed to exhaustion. She curled into a small ball of fluff, resting soundly on his lap, her soft breathing rising and falling in a gentle rhythm.

"Sorry for tiring you out..."

Raven whispered softly, his hand brushing lightly across Yuki’s feathers in a gentle caress. His eyes softened for a brief moment, an expression that none of the others would believe even existed on his face.

But then—

Shii— Shii— Shi—

A faint rustling noise broke the stillness of the night.

"Oh, it’s here."

Raven’s sharp ears picked it up immediately. The rustling grew clearer, heavier, accompanied by the sound of branches snapping under pressure.

Shii— Shii—

It was getting closer.

"Wait here for a bit."

Raven murmured softly as he used Psychokinesis to carefully lift Yuki off his lap.

The little bird floated gently through the air before being placed delicately on Eve’s head, where she continued to sleep without even stirring. Raven didn’t really have a logical reason for putting her there. It was simply a whimsical impulse.

With that done, he rose smoothly to his feet, dusting himself off. His eyes narrowed toward the direction of the noise, his body loose yet ready.

Moments later—

-Grrrr...

The beast revealed itself!

A hulking, five-meter-tall Red Gorilla stepped into view, each of its footsteps shaking the ground beneath!

Its entire body was coated in thick layers of black mud, hardened into something resembling armor. The stench it carried was foul, the air itself seeming to thicken with its presence.

The creature’s gaze locked on Raven, filled with a mix of curiosity, disdain, and murderous intent. Then, its eyes shifted toward the resting figures of Raven’s companions.

-Grrr...

A disgusting grin spread across its face, saliva dripping down its chin at the thought of easy prey.

Then at that moment—

"Hello, mister mini boss."

Raven’s calm voice broke the tense silence.

-Grrr?

The Gorilla’s head tilted downward, its predatory eyes meeting the human standing so fearlessly below.

"You are so unsightly that I would rather pluck my eyes out than stare at you for an hour... Politely, please fuck off."

A smile touched Raven’s lips as he continued.

"And as you can see, the others are resting. So do me a favor and close your smelly, filthy mouth."

This wasn’t just a random monster. The Red Gorilla was an [E++] rank beast, something far more dangerous than the typical creatures they had encountered. Normally, monsters of this classification couldn’t evolve beyond [E+], but this one had somehow clawed its way close to the next stage, making it a unique threat.

And worse— this one was intelligent!

It understood Raven’s words. Every single one.

Predictably, its body tensed with rage.

-GRRR–

It opened its massive jaws, ready to release a roar that would awaken the sleeping group!

"[Silence]"

But Raven’s magic took hold instantly. The beast’s mouth snapped open, but no sound came out. Its eyes widened in shock.

-Ghhh??

"Haa... And here I am, politely asking you to go away, even though I’m tired too."

Raven’s voice dripped with sarcasm as his hand moved to the hilt of [Emmeranne], the blade resting patiently in its sheath at his side.

[Politely? Are you sick in the head?]

Sariel snorted, but Raven ignored him.

-GHHHH!!!

The Gorilla raised one massive arm, muscles bulging as it prepared to strike.

"[Bind]"

But once again, Raven was faster.

FWOOSH~

Black ropes of mana erupted from the ground, lashing around the beast’s limbs, wrapping around its body, and anchoring it in place!

The Gorilla’s eyes widened further as it realized it couldn’t move, nor could it make a sound.

-?!!

It thrashed in vain, confusion and panic flashing across its monstrous features.

"Goodbye, mister mini boss."

Raven’s voice was steady as he slowly drew [Emmeranne].

Shhh—

S L A S H—

Then his blade cut through the air in a smooth horizontal arc!

Raven was still five meters away, his blade clearly out of reach.

-Ghh?

The Gorilla blinked, utterly baffled by the useless swing.

’What the hell was that—?’

Thud—

The thought never finished. Its massive head fell from its shoulders, landing heavily on the dirt, its eyes still blinking up at the dark sky.

-?!

And above, the beast caught a final glimpse of dark electricity crackling in the heavens, twisting with wind like a violent storm.

"It’s nice meeting you, mister mini boss..."

"And goodbye."

Those were the last words it ever heard before its consciousness slipped away.

Bzzt— Bzzzt—

SWOOOOH~

Crackling arcs of black lightning and swirling wind particles continued to dance across [Emmeranne]’s edge, proof of the tremendous elemental mana Raven had just unleashed.

Shhh—

Click—

He slid the sword smoothly back into its scabbard, his expression calm and indifferent.

Without hesitation, he stored the Gorilla’s massive corpse into his spatial storage, then quietly cleaned away the splattered blood from the ground, leaving no trace behind.

All the while... His companions watched...

"..."

"..."

"..."

Every single one of them had awakened the moment they felt the Gorilla’s murderous intent, their eyes groggily opening despite their fatigue.

They hadn’t meant to pretend to be asleep; they were simply too drained to move quickly. So instead, they peeked from their positions, watching through half-lidded eyes.

And what they saw left them speechless.

"..."

"..."

At first, they thought it was a dream. Raven facing a monster that large all by himself? Surely their tired minds were playing tricks.

But when the beast’s head rolled to the ground before they could even move...

""?!""

Reality hit them.

Confusion rippled across their faces, disbelief mixing with awe.

’What a monster...’

The same thought rang in the minds of Blake, Eve, Alec, Adelle, Curtis, and Aoi.

They had witnessed it.

When Raven swung his blade, an arc of black lightning, sharpened and propelled by violent wind, had been released. A crescent-shaped slash tore through the air, slicing cleanly through the Gorilla’s thick neck!

And then, in the sky above, the dark lightning scattered like fireworks, beautiful and deadly.

It all happened in the span of seconds. Raven never even moved from his spot. He finished it with silent precision, then calmly cleaned the mess as though it were just another chore.

No boasting. No grand speech. No acknowledgment.

Just quiet efficiency.

"..."

"..."

And despite their awe, exhaustion pulled at their bodies. One by one, Alec, Curtis, Eve, Blake, Adelle, and Aoi closed their eyes again.

Then they all went back to sleep.