Soon, the lion’s massive form emerged from behind one of the labyrinth’s walls, its glowing eyes locking onto Ludwig with predatory focus. Just as it noticed Ludwig, it charged forward, its speed astonishing for something so large. The ground trembled beneath its weight as it barreled toward him, its jaws open in a silent roar.
But Ludwig, instead of running away like he had done countless times before, stood his ground. His eyes narrowed, his mind calculating every possible move. He raised his hand, his voice firm and unwavering as he chanted, “Bounds of Latvia!”
“It’ll break it,” Thomas warned, his tone urgent.
“Not if it’s focused,” Ludwig replied, his voice calm but determined. He didn’t aim for the lion’s entire body—that would be too much for his mana to handle. Instead, he targeted just one of its legs. The chains sprang up from the ground, coiling around the lion’s right front leg mid-leap. The sudden restraint caused the lion to stagger, its momentum carrying it forward as it tumbled to the ground with a thunderous crash.
The lion roared in indignation, its massive body writhing as it tried to free itself from the magical chains. Whether it was rage or simply frustration at being humiliated, the lion’s fury was palpable. But by the time it reared up and roared again, Ludwig was already gone, his figure disappearing into the labyrinth’s twisting corridors.
The lion, now enraged, barreled through the maze after Ludwig, tearing through the softer walls with its sheer strength. Its goal was clear: to crush and rip apart the undead who had dared to humiliate it.
Ludwig’s plan was simple: to lure the lion into one of the labyrinth’s traps. Whether it was the massive pits lined with steel spears or the pillars that swung down at random intervals, Ludwig knew that using the environment to his advantage was his best chance at taking down the beast.
But as he ran, a frown began to form on Ludwig’s face. Something felt off.
“Something is off,” Thomas said, his voice echoing Ludwig’s thoughts.
“Yeah, I think I noticed the same…” Ludwig replied, his tone grim. “The traps… they’re all gone.”
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. The labyrinth, which had been filled with deadly traps just moments ago, now seemed eerily empty. The pits were covered, the pillars no longer swung, and the walls no longer shifted. It was as if the labyrinth itself had decided to give the lion a clear path to its prey.
Ludwig’s mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation. Had the labyrinth’s mechanics changed? Or was this part of the trial, designed to make the final moments even more challenging? Whatever the reason, Ludwig knew he had to adapt—and fast.
The lion’s roar echoed through the corridors, growing louder with each passing second. Ludwig tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of a trap or an advantage. He wasn’t about to let the labyrinth—or the lion—get the better of him.
“Time to improvise,” Ludwig muttered, his voice low but determined. The game wasn’t over yet, and he wasn’t about to go down without a fight.
“Are you seriously thinking of fighting that head-on?” Thomas asked, his concern showing in his voice.
“Yeah, it’s not like we have another choice,” Ludwig replied as the lion bounded toward him, its massive form closing the distance with terrifying speed.
“It’s gonna get tricky,” Ludwig said as he waved his hand forward. “Exhaust!”
[Your Exhaust is half effective due to your target being wary of you!]
The spell washed over the lion, but its effects were diminished. Ludwig decided against using Enfeeble to further weaken the lion, it was a half curse, and everyone was watching, better be safe than sorry. Instead, he focused on enhancing his own abilities.
“Galvanize!” Ludwig shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor.
[For 30 seconds, all your physical stats have increased by 20%!]
Ludwig could immediately feel the power of Galvanize coursing through his Nephilium vines.
“Vengeance!” he cast again, his voice filled with determination.
[For 300 seconds, all your physical stats have been increased by 50%! All damage received will be doubled. All damage dealt will be increased by 20%! Your stamina usage will be three times the norm.]
Ludwig’s body immediately began to burn red, a visible aura of power surrounding him. He exhaled through gritted teeth, releasing a powerful stream of vapor. The sheer intensity of the buffs made his undead form feel alive with energy.
“That’s more like it!” Ludwig said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and resolve. He charged forward at the lion, his scimitar gleaming in the dim light of the labyrinth.
The two collided mid-air, Ludwig’s scimitar landing right into the forehead of the lion. The impact was brutal, the sound of metal striking stone echoing through the corridor. The lion, caught off guard by Ludwig’s sudden aggression, missed its paw swing, the massive limb striking the wall instead. The force of the blow made the entire labyrinth vibrate, dust and pebbles raining down from the ceiling.
However, Ludwig didn’t expect one thing to happen in that clash.
A sudden notification popped up in front of him.
[Your weapon has been destroyed!]
The shards of the scimitar flew everywhere as it exploded upon impact. The damage numbers didn’t show up—after all, the stone lion was a construct, technically without health. But the destruction of his weapon left Ludwig momentarily stunned.
He pushed himself back from the reeling lion, which roared again, its stone face cracking slightly from the force of Ludwig’s strike. It snarled at him, its glowing eyes filled with rage, and began prudently approaching him, its massive form looming over Ludwig like a living mountain.
“What now, chief?” Thomas asked, his voice tinged with concern.
“This is a bit disturbing,” Ludwig admitted, his eyes darting to the shattered remains of his scimitar. “That was my only weapon, and it’s gone…”