Chapter 21: The Heart of the Labyrinth

The group stepped out of the Safe Zone, refreshed but wary. The soothing blue light faded as the labyrinth loomed ahead once more. The paths shimmered ominously, as if taunting them to proceed. The clock was ticking, and with only two shards left to find, the labyrinth's tricks were bound to grow deadlier.

Aric adjusted his grip on his weapon, his voice calm but firm. "We're not letting this maze get the better of us. Temporal, keep tracking the shifts. Analyst, watch for patterns in enemy placement. Stealth, scout ahead but stay within range. The rest of you, stay alert."

The clones nodded, their resolve solidified. Together, they pressed forward into the shifting maze.

Phase One: The Shard Guardian

After another hour of navigating the labyrinth's deceptive twists and turns, they entered a cavernous chamber. Unlike the rest of the maze, this area was open and eerily still. At the center stood a massive construct—a towering humanoid figure made of interlocking stone plates, its core glowing with a pulsating red light.

System Notification:

[Shard Guardian Detected.]

[Name: Sentinel of Shifting Paths]

[Traits: Heavy Defense, Area Control, Regenerative Core]

[Warning: Guardian is tethered to the shard. Defeat it to claim the prize.]

The Sentinel's glowing eyes locked onto the group as it rumbled to life. The ground trembled with each step it took, and the red light in its core flared menacingly.

Clone 7, the Tactician, quickly assessed the situation. "It's slow but heavily armored. We need to focus on disabling its core. Any attacks on the body will just waste energy."

Clone 19, the Elemental Sage, raised his staff, summoning a barrage of lightning bolts that struck the Sentinel's armor. The creature barely flinched, its glowing core beginning to hum louder.

"It's regenerating!" Clone 11 shouted. "We have to break through the armor to reach the core."

Aric stepped forward, activating one of his newly developed abilities: Piercing Nexus Strike, a technique that concentrated energy into a single, devastating thrust. His blade shimmered with power as he charged at the Sentinel.

"Cover me!" he shouted.

The clones sprang into action. Clone 8, the Duelist, darted around the Sentinel, slashing at its legs to draw its attention. Clone 2, the Analyst, launched ranged attacks at the joints, searching for weaknesses. Meanwhile, Clone 19 unleashed a wall of flames to keep the regenerating core from fully healing.

Aric's blade struck true, piercing through a crack in the armor and sinking into the glowing core. The Sentinel let out a deafening roar as the energy in its core exploded outward, sending shockwaves through the chamber.

System Notification:

[Sentinel of Shifting Paths Defeated.]

[Reward: Shard of the Labyrinth Core (3/4).]

Aric caught his breath, pulling the shard from the wreckage. Its glow joined the other two in his inventory, their combined light growing stronger.

"Three down," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "One more to go."

Phase Two: The False Path

As they moved deeper into the labyrinth, the walls began to play cruel tricks on them. Hallways looped endlessly, and some paths led back to areas they had already cleared. Clone 11's Temporal Mapping struggled to keep up with the increasingly erratic shifts.

"This isn't normal," Clone 11 muttered, frustration evident in his tone. "The maze is actively trying to mislead us."

Clone 2 studied the glowing patterns on the walls, his expression grim. "It's not just shifting—it's creating illusions. Some of these paths don't even exist."

Aric frowned, his mind racing. "If illusions are in play, then we need a way to see through them. Sage, can you clear the distortions?"

Clone 19 nodded. "I can try."

The Elemental Sage raised his hands, conjuring a wave of pure energy that surged through the labyrinth. The walls shimmered, and several false paths dissolved into nothingness.

System Notification:

[Illusory Paths Neutralized.]

[The True Path is Revealed.]

A hidden doorway appeared at the end of the corridor, its edges glowing faintly. Aric motioned for the group to proceed cautiously.

Phase Three: The Final Trial

The doorway led to a narrow bridge suspended over a bottomless chasm. On the other side stood an altar, where the final shard floated, its light pulsing rhythmically. The air was thick with tension, and the faint sound of whispers echoed in the distance.

System Notification:

[Final Trial Activated.]

[Objective: Retrieve the Shard.]

[Warning: Enemy Forces Incoming.]

As Aric stepped onto the bridge, shadowy figures began to materialize around them—dozens of them. These were not the simple enemies they had faced before. Each was armed with a unique weapon, their movements coordinated and precise.

Clone 7 cursed under his breath. "Elite units. They're not holding back anymore."

Aric grinned, his blood pumping with excitement. "Good. Neither are we."

He summoned his clones into formation. "Duelist, take point. Sage, provide ranged support. Tactician, coordinate our attacks. Everyone else, protect the flanks. Let's finish this."

The battle was intense. The shadowy elites fought with unmatched precision, forcing the group to adapt quickly. Aric's clones worked in perfect harmony, each executing their roles flawlessly. Clone 7 barked orders, guiding their movements like a conductor leading an orchestra.

Aric activated another of his cheat abilities: Overdrive Nexus, temporarily boosting his speed and power to overwhelming levels. He became a blur of motion, cutting down enemies with lethal efficiency.

As the last shadowy figure fell, Aric reached the altar and grasped the final shard.

System Notification:

[Shard of the Labyrinth Core (4/4) Acquired.]

[Objective Complete: Return to the Entrance to Claim Your Reward.]

Phase Four: The Labyrinth's Collapse

The moment Aric secured the final shard, the labyrinth began to quake violently. The walls shifted at an alarming rate, and the ground cracked beneath their feet.

System Notification:

[Labyrinth Collapse Imminent. Return to the Entrance Within 5 Minutes.]

"Move!" Aric shouted.

The group sprinted through the collapsing maze, guided by Clone 11's Temporal Mapping. Paths crumbled behind them, and the air was filled with the deafening sound of stone grinding against stone.

They reached the entrance just as the labyrinth collapsed entirely, leaving nothing but an empty void where it once stood.

System Notification:

[Shifting Labyrinth Cleared.]

[Reward: Key to the 30th Floor Gate.]

[Bonus Reward: Labyrinth Core Fragment (Mythical Rank).]

Aric held up the glowing key, a sense of triumph washing over him. The 30th floor awaited—a milestone that promised even greater challenges and rewards.

He turned to his clones, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Another floor down. Let's see what the Tower has in store for us next."

To Be Continued...