The End of the Labyrinth
Chapter 12: The End of the Labyrinth
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The labyrinth began to tremble with increasing intensity, the very walls shifting as if the maze itself was in pain. Kai felt a sharp pull in his chest, as though something deep within the labyrinth had sensed the end of its reign.
"Selene," he said, his voice trembling. "What's happening?"
Selene, her form glowing dimly in the gloom of the labyrinth, turned her head toward him. "The realm is collapsing. With the defeat of the Dark One, the balance of the labyrinth has been broken. It is no longer able to sustain itself."
Kai's eyes widened. "The entire labyrinth is falling apart?"
"Yes," Selene confirmed. "All that remains now is to escape before we are consumed by its collapse."
Before Kai could speak, the ground beneath their feet cracked, and a massive rift opened in the space ahead of them. The walls of the labyrinth were disintegrating, their once-imposing structure now nothing more than fragments of shadow and ruin.
"Move, Master!" Selene urged, her voice steady but urgent.
Kai sprinted ahead, following Selene as she led him through the shifting corridors, her celestial presence guiding the way. Every step felt like the walls were closing in, and the air grew colder and more oppressive with each passing second.
They had no time to waste.
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As they ran through the collapsing labyrinth, the shadows that had once filled the space now writhed and screamed, as though the very darkness was trying to escape the impending destruction. But Selene was unfazed. Her movements were swift, and every time the labyrinth attempted to ensnare them with a sudden shift or trap, she neutralized it with ease.
They reached the heart of the labyrinth, the place where the core of the realm resided—the very epicenter of the Dark One's power. There, hovering above a massive void, was the swirling core of the labyrinth's existence, a massive sphere of dark energy.
Kai stopped in his tracks, staring at the core. It pulsed with power, and yet, as he gazed into its depths, he could feel it flickering, destabilizing. The labyrinth's essence was dying.
"This is it, Master," Selene said, her voice filled with finality. "The realm's core is crumbling. There is no way to stabilize it."
Kai clenched his fists. It was over. The maze, the danger, the countless trials—they were all coming to an end.
Suddenly, the sphere of dark energy exploded outward, sending a shockwave that threatened to tear them apart. But Selene was already moving, her form blazing with divine energy. With a single slash of her leg, she cut through the wave of dark energy, protecting Kai from its destructive force.
As the core collapsed into nothingness, the entire labyrinth began to break apart at a faster pace. The space around them distorted violently, and the ground beneath them began to crumble.
"Hold on, Master!" Selene shouted, her energy enveloping Kai as the labyrinth threatened to consume them.
In an instant, Selene's energy flared to its maximum, and she created a shield of celestial light, protecting them from the collapsing world around them. The labyrinth was no more; the walls disintegrated, the floor shattered, and the very air seemed to break apart in a final, furious explosion of energy.
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System Notification:
Realm Collapse Detected: Labyrinth of the Abyss Destroyed
Rewards: 1500 Experience Points, Abyssal Core Fragment, Legendary Treasure Chest
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As the light of Selene's shield began to fade, the world around them stabilized. The void of the labyrinth, which had once been a twisted, endless maze, was now replaced by an open sky. The air was clear, the oppressive weight gone.
Kai blinked against the brightness, the remnants of the labyrinth's darkness now nothing more than a memory. The vast open sky above them was peaceful, the world calm once again.
"It's over," Kai whispered, his voice filled with relief. "We did it."
Selene turned toward him, her expression as calm as ever. "Yes, Master. We've freed this place from its corruption."
Kai took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past few days lift from his shoulders. He looked around, seeing nothing but the open expanse of a new world.
But just as they stood in the calm aftermath, a voice—soft and far too familiar—echoed through the air.
"Not yet, Kai. This is only the beginning…"
Kai's heart skipped a beat, and Selene's eyes narrowed as she scanned the horizon.
"You… You're still here?" Kai asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and concern.
The voice, cool and calculating, answered. "You've solved one puzzle, but there are many more ahead of you. The true game has yet to begin."
Selene's expression hardened. "Master, stay alert. This is far from over."
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To Be Continued…
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