Chapter 43: Maze Mansion

Three weeks have passed since Jayven has been in the Forest just outside Decagon City. And during that time he has completed most of the tasks.

And now Jayven is facing a C rank monster Shadow Wolf a beast that uses its shadow to hide from its enemies during the night.

Currently, it is nighttime. Why is Jayven doing this? He wants to master the usage of shadow leopard's second stage, and knowing how they move in the shadow is the key to that.

"Let's see if I am successful on my 7th try."

Currently, Jayven is facing against the shadow wolf for the 7th time at the first three encounters he was only able to run fast.

The fourth and fifth. He was able to spot it before it could even attack. Dodging most of its attack. And at the six he was able to gradually copy it.

Now facing against it for the seventh time he felt that he could finally catch up to it.

The shadow wolf started to hide in the shadows and followed that in silence, and in that silence, Jayven analyzed the slightest movement from his surroundings.

"There." Without any doubt from his eyes, Jayven struck through a certain area where he felt the enemy.

With a yelp, the wolf flew far, and not long after he finished it off with a grab to its throat, but it was proven to be ineffective as it wriggled its way out, hiding in the shadow again.

But this was according to plan.

"I see so that's how dived into the shadow so swiftly."

Jayven's plan so to make it frantically escape to easily analyze its movement. Like how losing one's cool makes the person easy to manipulate.

"Let's try it."

So, after seeing his movements, Jayven followed suit. Although he can't dive into the shadows since he has no shadow element he can glide around the forest as though he is one of them.

The use of his mana made a shadow figure of him making it hard to discern his location and his step hard to locate.

Surprised the shadow wolf ran faster. But with Jayven's acute senses, he easily knows where to locate it. With a fast charge, he slammed his fist to the wolf and this time used mana intent in his strike materializing a claw and strangling the wolf to death.

"Phew, success. I was about to leave when I failed at this time since I would be late if I didn't go tomorrow but I guess luck is on my side this time."

Feeling relieved Jayven finished Dismantling the monster and set camp to sleep.

"Well then let's take a long rest and set off tomorrow."

~~~~~A Week Later~~~~~

Arriving at the walls of the city Jayven uses his device's GPS to locate where he is. Noticing that he was in the right place he entered the line going in.

"Man, this place has a long line of people but they are moving quite fast."

And just like in Blossom City the security scanned the people entering quite thoroughly but unlike in his previous city, it was fast and way easy.

But that doesn't mean it was easy to smuggle things.

"Yeah, this is illegal."

"What? You got to be joking this plant is quite common."

"Yes, this plant is quite common but not the one in your stomach."

Hearing that the man tried to dash using his skill, but ultimately couldn't.

"What?"

"This place has anti-skill and mana usage so your abilities are impossible to use inside."

"N-no, I'm sorry I won't do it again."

"Yes, you won't since prison would be the last thing you bring those."

The man was then sent to the put in their confined room until the head department took the man.

"This is the third time this week."

"Yeah bro, oldies like us were once like that too good ol'times."

"Says the person who forced me to join him."

"It worked for the better right? If it weren't for that we won't know your previous wife had been cheating on you."

"Yeah, yeah I owe one. Even though it all happened by accident."

"Hehe. It still happened right? "

Looking at what transpired Jayven was shocked and was even more confused when he saw two old men who seemed to reminisce about being out in jail.

Thinking it was nothing Jayven then commuted to the meeting place.

Using GPS to track down the meeting place at the address shown, Jayven after riding to multiple places and asking around finally arrived.

"So, this is the place, huh? Just wait master I will give you a piece of my mind once I see you."

Determined Jayven got in the mansion by putting in the ten rank D+ Mana Cores.

[Scanning….. Confirmed Ten D+ plus Mana cores have been collected]

And with a moment of scanning the house entrance made a mechanical voice and activated its series of functions.

"What's with this gimmick? It's cool and all but a few seconds of its opening should suffice right?"

Although skeptical of the workings of the gate of the house Jayven still waited. And moments later the gate opened.

[Maze Mansion is now accessible, please enter]

"Okay then, let's what they have in store."

Expecting to meet his master Jayven got in and in there he met with a huge building different from the outside.

"What the heck is this?"

[Surprise?]

"Woah!"

Shocked by the sudden voice Jayven jumped a few steps back and when he looked closely it was just a hologram of Klein.

"What? Is this a hologram?"

"You might be wondering why I left this instead of being here to train you."

"Yeah, I am actually." Jayven complained

[Well duty calls and both of us were told to go immediately but don't worry we will be back after a month so a week before your enrollment, I guess.]

"So, what am I going to do?"

[By the way, I don't know what you're talking about right now since this is a recorded conversation.]

"Okay, I understa-. Wait I don't need to reply to that."

[But all that is happening here will be sent to me though so I will know what you are doing. Also, I already saw how you did in the forest.'

"Say that first!"

[Well then for starters congratulations. Passing this test should be easy for you but at the same time, time-consuming.]

"Haaah, Yeah, it was." Nodding his head Jayven continued to listen.

[The reward for the accomplishment this time is in this Building. But at the same time not. Since I am not here, I left behind some things inside it. And the only way to get those is to overcome the obstacles I put inside.]

"As expected, here he goes again."

"I don't know much about training other people and you are my first disciple so this is what I can only teach you by experiencing it. And this here is gonna be your training ground."

"I knew it. I wonder if it has some training facilities that I need to make use of."

[You can see from getting inside there is a gimmick when getting in it is not without a purpose it is to prevent the illusion barrier from breaking. As the name suggests the whole place is a mansion so whatever crazy stuff happens inside will not be seen by others.]

"Wait what do you mean by crazy things?"

[Also, don't bring any women in I will be able to see what your gonna do inside and I don't really wanna look if you are gonna do the deed please do it in a hotel.]

'Do the deed your ass, this bastard!' Jayven complained heavily in his mind as he tried not to let it out.

[Well, not like you can get out though.]

"Huh?"

[This place has a built-in locking system getting out means forfeiting. The task I am going to give you so please don't accidentally go out and don't worry about your shortage of food. You will get some inside. If you can that is.]

"What was that?"

[Anyway, let's explain the rules. You heard of the name of the house when entering right? Just like its name, this house is a maze and this five-story house has a whole dungeon-like structure.]

Hearing that Jayven realized what he wanted him to do.

[It is just a mishap dungeon a friend of mine made. I want you to get to the top and conquer the building. but like I said this is a maze based on a dungeon you have to find your way into the top and arrive at the dungeon core to take over the place.]

He then continued to explain the importance of this training for him to be ready. Klein also told Jayven what he needed to do like the tasks and how he would get rations for survival.

[The house is a treasure make use of it. And once you conquered it then I will tell you the usage of those items I told you to get.]

Without further ado, Jayven was then forced to face the maze in front of him.