The Return

My back is covered in deep cuts, blood flowing down my kidneys. The whips in the hands of my masters are too powerful, each blow more painful than the last. Air starts to escape my lungs, my vision blurs. I think this is the end for me.

I look up and see my attackers: men wearing shiny armor, each with a different emblem engraved on their plates. They wear colorful clothes, the vibrant colors contrasting with the darkness of the Labyrinth. They are wizards, I can feel the magical energy flowing from them. They torment me because I am not working as I should, my skills as an engineer and scientist wasted here as a slave.

I hear the cold and inhuman words of my masters as they discuss my fate.

"Can we sell him for some magic stones?" one of the shiny armored knights suggests, his silver eyes disinterested.

The wizard beside him, dressed in colorful clothes, smiles and responds: "I think if we found a novice, we could trade this old man for some valuable items."

As they talk, they continue to whip my back, the sharp pain making me scream in agony. I try to get up, but they stomp on me again, throwing me back down. I feel my life slipping away, my vision getting blurry. I know this is the end for me, but my anger and desire for revenge still burn within me.

Everything starts to darken and the voices begin to distance.

Suddenly!

I open my eyes and feel a chill run down my entire body. I am lying on a cold and silver floor, looking forward and can't see an end. The labyrinth stretches to the horizon, its walls are infinite and dark. Behind me, there is only one wall, I am at the beginning of this place and, somehow, this dark environment seems familiar to me.

Looking around, I see that the labyrinth is lit by a weak and pale light, which barely manages to penetrate the darkness. The air is cold and damp, and I can feel the presence of something sinister in the air. The sound is strangely silent, except for the echo of my heartbeats. I feel a strange feeling because I know this place.

"I'm confused, my head aches as I try to understand what's happening. I remember taking my last breath, feeling life escape me, but now I'm here, breathing again.

If I'm not mistaken, I've been here before, but I can't remember how I got here.

I get up, my legs trembling and my back hurts, but I'm alive. I look around, trying to find an answer to my questions. I wonder if I'm dead and if this is hell, or if I'm living some strange dream.

"I look at my hands and feel a wave of shock hit me. My hands are young, without the scars and marks left by years of forced labor. I raise my hand and feel it, the fingers flexible and agile, not the painful joints I had before. I start piecing together the puzzle, trying to understand what's happening.

"This is fake, right?" My mind retrieves from the depths of my memories, some memories. This place is the beginning of the infinite labyrinth. But! I need to investigate some more things to be sure.

I don't think much and say aloud

"Configuration!"

As soon as the words came out of my mouth, the space a few centimeters near my face began to vibrate and distort, forming a blue spiral. With this anomaly, information began to float in the air. I could see my information, my abilities, attributes, and items.

<-[User Configuration]->

[Title: (/)]

[Name: Atreus Raven Darkin]

[Gender: Male]

[Age: 18 Years]

[Class: Worker]

[Description]: This class increases by 50% your ability to learn and master professions such as: Tailoring. Alchemy. Mathematics. Engineering. Mining. Fishing among thousands of other professions.

<-[Skills ]->

1 - (/)

<-[Attributes ]->

[Intelligence] = 5

[Description]: It is the ability to solve problems, no more and no less. A character with high intelligence is more likely to understand what is happening around them and not be easily deceived.

[Constitution] = 1

[Description]: Determines the vigor, health and physical condition of the Character. In general, a character with a low value in Constitution is frail and ugly, while a high value guarantees a good appearance - or a brute aspect, you decide.

[Strength] = 1

[Description]: Determines the physical strength of the Character, their muscle capacity.

[Dexterity] = 1

[Description]: Defines the manual skill of the Character, their dexterity with their hands and/or feet.

[Points] = [5]

<-[Items ]->

[1] - Water Bottle! (1x)

[Description]: A bottle is a container with a narrower neck than the body, with the purpose of retaining liquids such as water, soda, wine, beer, milk among others.

[2] - Bread. (1x)

[Description]: Bread is a food obtained by cooking an elastic dough, mainly made with cereal flour, water, salt/sugar.

[3] - A Gift. (1x)

[Description]: An initial and random gift. The square box is made of solid wood, lined with elegant red paper and tied with two large red bows, crossing at the top of the box. The bows are made of thick silk and have a silky shine that makes them look luxurious and sophisticated. They are tied perfectly, creating an elaborate knot that is as beautiful as its functional.

Tears begin to fall from my eyes as I finish reading, and a feeling that has long been forgotten warms my heart again.

The name of this feeling is hope!

I finally understand, because somehow unknown, I went back in time. I went back to the day I arrived at the Infinite Labyrinth for the first time, but this time I have the advantage of knowing what is to come. I know my skills and knowledge will be valuable in this world, and I know I can use them to change the course of my story.

I can't believe what's happening, my hands are young again and I'm back at the beginning of the infinite labyrinth. Adrenaline starts running through my body, with a smile on my face, I feel a feeling of euphoria and joy that makes me want to shout with happiness.

I feel like the sun, feeling the emotion growing more and more, I feel the power and possibility to change the course of my destiny...

I start jumping from side to side, feeling the adrenaline running through my body, I feel the joy and excitement invading me, I feel that I can achieve everything I have always dreamed of. I also feel alive again, I know I can change my story and build an empire.

Ok, now I need to calm down because in this place I need a cool mind and an even cooler heart.

I sit on the cold floor of the labyrinth, closing my eyes and trying to concentrate. I take a deep breath, holding the air in my lungs for a few seconds before releasing it slowly. I repeat this breathing exercise, trying to calm my mind and prepare for what will come next.

I feel my mind getting clearer and my body relaxing. I visualize a peaceful place, perhaps a beach with gentle waves washing up on the shore. I focus on this image, feeling the cool breeze and hearing the sound of the waves. This helps me feel more calm and prepared to face any challenges this labyrinth may throw at me.

With ease, I continue breathing deeply, feeling the fresh air filling my lungs and giving me strength. I know I need to stay calm and focused if I want to survive and achieve my goals in this place. I stand up, ready to start my journey.

I pick up the present that was stored in my inventory, feeling the weight and texture in my hand. I issue another oral command and the configuration appears before me, asking me if I really want to open the present. I quickly select the "Yes" option without hesitation.

Suddenly, the present opens, revealing five magical items. I see 30 grams of fairy dust, a triangular magical liquid container, a perfect wooden handle, a magical dynamite that can be activated with a verbal command, and a reinforced bronze pickaxe head with runes to increase its resistance and penetration ability.

[Fairy Dust] (30g)

[Description] = One of the quick effects of consuming fairy dust is an elevation in blood pressure, heart rate, and vasoconstriction in the brain and body. Extreme pleasure peaks. This gives the user a feeling of energy peaks, anxiety, stress, and paranoia. Prolonged use of the drug causes irreversible damage to the cardiovascular system.

[Triangular Liquid Container] (1x)

[Description]: The triangular liquid container is a dark glass container with a triangular shape. It is sealed with a golden screw cap and is capable of storing magical liquids.

[Perfect Wooden Handle] (1x)

[Description]: A perfect handle, one of the materials to make a hammer, pickaxe, sword, among other things.

[Magical Dynamite] (1x)

[Description]: It is a magic bomb created with a mixture of magical ingredients and concentrated energy. It has the ability to cause powerful explosions and is activated by a verbal command. The magical dynamite can be used to destroy rocks or other materials, and it can also be used to cause damage to enemies.

[Reinforced Bronze Pickaxe Head]

[Description]: A pickaxe head is the part of the tool that has direct contact with the material to be drilled. It is usually made of metal, such as steel or iron, and has a sharp and pointed shape to drill the material. It can be found in various sizes and shapes, depending on the type of work to be performed.

The reinforced pickaxe head with magical runes is an advanced version of this tool, it has the ability to drill harder materials than the common and its durability is greater, it also has an additional magical drilling capacity, allowing it to drill magical rocks or cut magical materials.

I don't waste any time and grab the wooden handle and the reinforced pickaxe head with magical runes, I start fitting them together firmly, the sound of metal striking wood echoes through the labyrinth. When I'm done, the pickaxe is complete and I hold it firmly in my hand. Suddenly, I hear a robotic but unmistakable voice in my ears and a message appears before my eyes.

[You discovered engineering! ]

[You received +1 experience in engineering! ]

[You received a +3 experience bonus for creating an item without the help of the System! ]

[Engineering] - [Level 1]

(100-4) - (96 experience points are missing to level up!)

After creating the pickaxe, I store the items that are not useful at the moment, in this case it's the magic powder and the container.

I lift my head and look forward, I see that the narrow labyrinth stretches to the horizon, I swallow a bit of air and breathe deeply. "Time to burn cities and conquer worlds!"

In my right hand is the pickaxe and in my left hand is the magical dynamite, I take a step forward and then another.

Using previous knowledge, I begin to walk slowly, as I have a path charted.

The environment was dark and scary, the high and dark walls stretched up and down, as if they were closing in on me. The air was heavy and humid, and I could smell mold and decay in the air but nothing scares me, all I'm feeling now is a burning desire because the dream of the oppressed is to be the oppressor.

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Hello, this was the first chapter of a book with great potential, so if you want bigger and better chapters please donate power stones and rate 5 stars. Thanks!