PftA Book 3 - Chapter 53 - Staking Out the Safe Zone

I struggled to imagine how difficult making it through one of the labyrinths might have been without an updated interface.

It wasn’t because the creatures were all that difficult to defeat – aside from the added intelligence and the sudden addition of traps. Both of those made the labyrinth harder, but it didn’t necessarily make it difficult.

No. The real difficulty was due to the intricate, three-dimensional maze that weaved in mind-bogglingly complex paths. Without the added assistance from Lisa, I doubt I would have been able to find my way out of the low stage of the zone within a few months.

Zavira was experiencing a similar difficulty. Hers was perhaps even more pronounced since she didn’t have a Space affinity to rely on.

Even with the obvious nerfs to my ability to perceive my surroundings, the affinity had a huge impact on my ability to find my way through the multi-level labyrinth. Consequently, it only took me seven weeks to reach the exit portal.

Sharing the map of my path with Zavira would do her no good since the labyrinth was different for each challenger. From what we’d learned, the maze even changed if someone left and reentered the same section, making it nearly impossible to gain any true advantage.

I would have worried about my progress slowing too much if not for the added experience earned from defeating the humanoid creatures. As a general rule, I’d found that defeating more intelligent opponents typically yielded higher amounts of experience than their less evolved brethren.

Overall, I found myself disliking this floor of the dungeon more than any other thus far.

The fact that the designer of the dungeon placed this floor at the point where active challengers could leave had to be intentional. I couldn’t help but wonder how many challengers had given up and left because of the never-ending mazes and lack of contact with others.

The appeal of reaching the next floor and gaining the ability to return later probably meant little for those so disenchanted with the dungeon that they had no desire to ever come back.

Truly, speed in progression was not everything.

My conversations with Zavira made it clear that it might be weeks longer before she reached the end of the first section of the zone. Since I was already ahead of my projections for alternate experience, I decided to head into the next section, shifting to the Crystal zone instead.

The Stone Labyrinth hadn’t been too bad, all things considered. But I was tired of fighting cyonites and goblins. The occasional burrowing mole wasn’t enough variation to break up the monotony, either.

I reached out to the swirling portal that denoted the end of the stage.

I’d already defeated the hobgoblin mini-boss serving as the Chief of the dilapidated-looking goblin village and collected the meager loot from the chest. There wasn’t anything left for me in the lower stage.

[Choose Destination:
Central Village (Ano)
Safe Zone 1
Mid-Tier (Stone)
Mid-Tier (Crystal)
Low-Tier (Stone)
Low-Tier (Crystal)
Low-Tier (Ice)
Low-Tier (Metal)]

The options made sense. I could go to any of the starting points, but only the next stages I’d ‘earned’ were available. Crystal was an option because the Safe Zone for this portion of the floor connected the low-Tier portions of Stone and Crystal to the next stage for both.

I wasn’t quite sure how that manifested, though.

Finding myself curious, I decided to make a quick stop at the first Safe Zone to see for myself.

Before selecting my destination, I decided to take a moment to prepare in order to prevent any potential mishaps. Since I didn’t plan on staying, there was no reason to announce my presence in the first place.

Using the new Tier Seven [Stealth] talisman I’d designed and tested before coming to the floor, I functionally disappeared from all but the most advanced sensory skills.

Even those with skills like Spatial Sense would have difficulty noticing me if my experiments with Zavira were anything to go by. While some might have more advanced senses, I found it unlikely, given my affinity and Space Magic Mastery.

Acceptably hidden, I selected my destination and stepped forward.

= = =

The portal rippled slightly behind me as I exited, drawing the attention of two sentinels sitting nearby.

“What was that?” the female naga asked.

I hadn’t seen many of her kind before since they tended to prefer warm, wet environments on mid-tier or greater worlds. I’d seen one or two at a distance during my time on Olym, but I’d never interacted with them.

From what I remembered, most nagas avoided other races, finding the scent of them to be unappealing.

It made the naga’s choice of companions a bit odd since the elf sitting next to her was clearly not a naga.

The elf stood and took a few steps toward the portal. After a moment of consideration, he returned to his seat.

“Someone probably selected the Safe Zone and then changed their mind.”

“Do you think it was our target?” the naga asked, piquing my interest.

The elf scoffed lightly. “I doubt it. Time magic isn’t going to help the human navigate the labyrinth. It’s probably a waste to wait here so early, but nobody is quite sure when the human and her companion entered the labyrinth.”

“So, it might have been her,” the naga goaded the elf. “If you don’t know how long she’s been in the maze, how can you be so confident she hasn’t had enough time to traverse it?”

The elf huffed angrily. “Because the half-breed—” he spat in disgust “—was seen less than two months ago. I doubt the human would leave her companion behind, even if they did sneak into the labyrinth like cowards.”

I found the elf’s words a bit unfair, especially since neither Zavira nor I were cowards. Sure, we’d Teleported to avoid interacting with the floor residents, but between the fake flattery and people like these two, who could blame us?

“I heard a rumor the target has a dual affinity,” the naga said casually.

“What does that matter?” the elf scoffed. “Such short-lived species accomplish little in the grand scheme of things. Their lives barely amount to an elf’s adolescence. No amount of magic is going to bridge the gap that experience and centuries of training provide.”

“Yet she defeated one of your warrior mages trained specifically to counter her type,” the naga reminded him with a cruel grin.

I didn’t get the feeling these two cared much for each other, which made their apparent partnership all the stranger.

Further, the fervor with which I was being targeted made little sense.

I’d exchanged a couple of messages with Master Kairos about the topic, but he seemed to think the enmity shown was normal enough.

Having interacted with elves before, I knew it wasn’t a racial thing. At least, that wasn’t the whole of it. Every race was naturally going to believe theirs to be superior to the others, but it felt like there was more to the hate than just that.

And since the elf in front of me did not wear robes denoting him as a member of the Sovereignty Sect, I doubted blind indoctrination was to blame.

Unless he came from one of the territories that were homogenous.

I didn’t want to get too close, just in case one of them somehow sensed me, but I could see well enough to be sure no identifying emblems were displayed on his clothing.

It was odd, but ultimately, the elf’s motivation meant little. He and the naga were actively targeting me. The naga had used that term specifically.

It certainly didn’t imply anything positive.

“It is obvious that dirty human cheated in some way,” the elf growled. “And you should mind your words, naga.”

The naga smirked but remained silent as they watched the swirling portal. I imagined their task was particularly tedious, but I didn’t feel sorry for either of them. It was hard to feel bad for those who wished for your death.

To be fair, neither of the watchers had specifically mentioned killing me, but it didn’t take much to connect the dots.

I sent Zavira a warning about the watchers and described the conversation I’d overheard before heading deeper into the small Safe Zone to scout. I’d already extended Spatial Sense, so I knew there were a few other challengers within the seemingly open space.

None of the others seemed to care about the two individuals watching the portal, nor did they give any indication they sensed my presence.

The Safe Zone looked like a small grassy clearing surrounded by ephemeral trees. I could tell that the trees weren’t actually there, but the aesthetics were still nice.

Two enchanted tents were erected on opposite sides of the field, with a small wooden structure that looked far too permanent for a transitory Safe Zone in the middle.

Having completed a quick survey of the area, I decided to stay for a while and observe the portal watchers from a distance. I wasn’t sure what I hoped to learn, but it seemed foolish to simply leave them there without gathering more information.

Since I couldn’t easily set up my pod and activate the [Stealth] wards I’d incorporated without being seen, I decided to just rely on the talismans I’d made. They’d already proven they work against my current potential foes, so it made sense not to change things.

I’d eventually have to swap the one I was wearing for a new one, but it shouldn’t be too hard to conceal myself for the moment it would take to swap them out.

I’d have to be careful using Time magic, just in case the use somehow drew their attention. But as long as I focused the effects on myself and not others, I didn’t think anyone would notice.

= = =

I was only a little surprised when two replacements entered the Safe Zone via the portal several hours after I arrived.

I wasn’t sure why I expected the naga and the elf to remain at their post, but both eagerly disappeared through the portal once their relief arrived.

Their replacements were two male elves, one of whom was familiar to me. It was one of the sycophants who’d been following the Sovereignty Sect disciple the first day.

I’d wondered when they’d show back up.

[Serin’o Venenum – level 65 – Alchemist/Herbalist/Cartographer – Poison]

An Alchemist with a Poison affinity. I supposed it made as much sense as anything.

After several long minutes of silence, the other elf sighed and said, “Brother, what is the purpose of hunting this random human anyway? Wasn’t Javan the one who challenged the human to a duel?”

Serin glared at the other elf. “You think a lowly human should be allowed to get away with killing their betters?”

“I knew Javan, just as you did. We both know he would have insisted the duel be to the death.”

Serin flicked his fingers dismissively. “It matters not. The human dared kill a scion from the Sovereignty Sect. The slight will not go unpunished.”

The outspoken elf nodded with an air of indifference.

“As long as I am properly compensated, I suppose the reasons matter little. I don’t plan to leave the dungeon until I reach the peak, so I’m not worried about any potential fallout.”

I’d almost started to feel sympathetic toward the other elf, but his words made him little more than a bandit in my eyes.

And I despised bandits.

It was one thing to take the spoils of fairly fought battles. It was quite another to lay in wait and ambush an unsuspecting person just to steal their belongings.

While not all bandits attacked from hiding, the stereotype existed for a reason.

I was a little curious about how they knew which half of the dungeon we’d entered. They might have been monitoring both Safe Zones, but that seemed like an awful waste of time and effort for something so petty, especially since I was the one who’d been challenged.

I hadn’t sought out the conflict, nor had I insisted on the duel’s parameters. Javan had been the instigator, so his sycophants were completely in the wrong by continuing the conflict.

Since they wouldn’t be able to justify a duel – not a real one, anyway – it made a sick sort of sense that the people involved would lie in wait in hopes of landing a surprise attack.

Of course, a lot of that was presumption on my part, but I felt pretty confident in my assessment of the situation.

It would be nice to talk to them and verify their intentions before acting, but I doubted that I’d get the chance. Maybe with a bit of thought and effort, I’d find a way to glean more information about their plans.

With little better to do while I waited, I contemplated my options.