Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

After finishing off Cresdowzer and wrapping up a brief conversation with Yeriel,

Beeeep.

the ringing in my ears, which had been relentlessly swirling in my head since regaining consciousness, was gradually subsiding.

“Come on! Get up and go greet your comrades running over there!”

Paladin Yeriel, gesturing toward the two figures approaching from afar, encouraged me, despite my furrowed brows.

“I used a healing sacred spell on you the moment you collapsed, so you shouldn’t have any major issues moving around.”

Right. Stand up and meet them with a smile.

Now that it was all over, I couldn’t afford to sour the mood just because I was struggling.

I shook my head and stood up.

Healing sacred spell? Was it just healing magic, or something higher?

Anyway, thanks to Yeriel’s emergency treatment, my body, which I thought would be weighed down by fatigue, felt unexpectedly light.

From far away, Lumia, staggering as she ran, leapt into my arms like a cat.

Well, considering she’s a feline beastkin, it wouldn’t be wrong to say she is a cat.

“Ahren!”

Thud.

She clung tightly to me, burying her face in my chest.

Her delicate frame trembled in a way that clearly wasn’t ordinary.

“…”

Had she been that startled by the sight of me plummeting from the sky earlier?

Her anxious murmurs didn’t form coherent words, instead lingering pitifully in her mouth.

She seemed on the verge of breaking into sobs, so I quickly stroked her ears and hair.

Swish, swish.

“Sorry for worrying you. You were really scared, weren’t you?”

“…Yeah. But I’m glad you’re okay now.”

Lumia soon calmed down and looked up at me with teary eyes. Seeing her face made me realize she wasn’t in great shape either.

Tear stains streaked her cheeks, and there were smeared bloodstains as if she’d wiped her face with her hands.

“Lumia, your nose is bleeding.”

“What? Eek! Nyaaa?!”

Before I finished speaking, she pulled away from my embrace, covering her nose and hastily running to Yeriel.

“Yeriel! Could you use a purification spell on me real quick? At least for my face if you’re tired. It’s urgent!”

“Honestly, you’re always the same. When it comes to Ahren, you just lose all composure. Come here.”

Hmm. Was showing a little blood that embarrassing?

I scratched my cheek and decided to pretend I didn’t notice.

Shortly after, Veronica approached, circling around me and inspecting something closely.

She nodded.

“Nothing’s broken or damaged, and you seem fine moving around.”

With a sly smile, she added a joke.

“Of course! You didn’t doubt me, did you?”

“Not at all. I had faith you’d survive and see this through to the end.”

She shook her head and tapped my chest plate.

Thump.

“But since your head and heart seemed a bit disconnected, I had to check. By the way, how are things other than your body? Any dizziness or hallucinations?”

“Uh… not great, honestly.”

Even though the sacred spell had stabilized my physical condition,

the mental strain from the aftermath of the first battle had left an uncomfortable sense of unease lingering in my head and chest.

I couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but perhaps the broken text on the message from Chaos, which I couldn’t decipher,

and my reckless casting of four exhausting spells mid-freefall in Arcane Evrius had taken their toll.

Since the battle was over, I reassured Veronica that there was no need to worry too much and that it was a relief my body was intact.

“Don’t worry too much. Why don’t we ask Yeriel while we’re at it? We don’t know when she’ll leave.”

“True. Someone as strong as her, a future paladin of light, might know something.”

Yeriel, summoned from another timeline to help, would inevitably return to her own world now that the task was done.

She likely wanted to go back, too.

Before the effect of the pocket watch expired, I approached Yeriel, who was whispering a secretive conversation into Lumia’s ear.

“Yeriel, what’s so exciting that you two are grinning about?”

“Hm? Oh, it’s a secret between us girls!”

With a decisive tone, she pursed her lips and folded her arms, making it clear she wouldn’t spill.

I gave up asking and got to the point.

“Do you know any treatment for Arcane Evrius? It’s a very rare abnormal condition, as you know, and my mana is, well… you get it, right?”

“Of course! How could I not after even using □□?”

Telling me to wait a moment, she pondered something before speaking.

“Actually, beings with massive mana reserves or unmatched mana regeneration are always peculiar and powerful.”

She explained briefly,

using examples like dragons, mythical creatures called divine beasts, ethereal beings who exist solely as spirits,

or the rare few born with innate superiority and limitless mana regeneration.

“But the problem is, Ahren, your mana regeneration is too high. Your heart endlessly produces mana, but your total capacity and output are limited by your body. What can you do?”

“Hmm.”

“When you use that limitless mana recklessly, once your body hits its limit…”

Once it hits the limit?

“Your body can’t handle it and just says, ‘Forget it!’ Then, without you knowing, it starts draining your mental energy instead.”

Yeriel explained that while most people feel drained and rest or rely on their physical skills when their mana runs out,

I don’t experience that. Instead, my mind ends up overworked in place of my body.

Damn it. That’s why I’m working hard to grow… I know I’ve been given an extraordinary trait.

Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to inherit the physicality of a dragon instead of its mana.

Of course, given the nature of the deterministic traits, such musings are pointless. Still,

having scales that deflect everything, along with horns and wings? That’d be cool, right?

While I briefly indulged in such thoughts, Yeriel presented a solution.

“The Ahren from that timeline apparrently wrapped his heart with rings or circles—something different from hierarchies. But that method isn’t feasible now.”

Wow. So in the seventh timeline, he combined some fantasy novel concept with mage tower knowledge to find his way.

A future ninth-circle archmage, huh? That’s pretty romantic.

“I’ll do my best to heal you and set up a mental barrier. It’ll hurt a bit, but bear with it. Shall we start?”

“Wait. Hold on. Everyone, come here.”

Yeriel’s maximum effort → no more reason or energy to remain here → returning to her original timeline.

It seemed appropriate to say goodbye before she left, so I called over Veronica and Lumia, who were standing a little apart.

“Though our meeting was brief, I won’t forget the grandeur you’ve shown us. I hope you’ll live well in your world.”

“Thanks to you, we all survived. Thank you. Truly.”

“Aw, come on! Why are you being all sentimental when I’m leaving anyway? Come here!”

Yeriel hugged them both and patted their backs.

“Don’t get hurt wherever you go. Keep at it, and someday you’ll achieve what you both desire. No spoilers because of the constraints!”

Nod.

With the farewells done, Yeriel removed my armor, sat me down cross-legged, and placed her hand on my back.

“Yeriel, thank you for coming to help without hesitation. Truly.”

“Hehe. If you’re really thankful, you’ll have to praise the Yeriel who left and returned! Pet her until she’s satisfied! In short, you have to do whatever I ask, got it?”

“I promise.”

“Good! Then let’s start!”

Paaaah─!

Even with my back turned to her, I could tell from the overwhelming radiance behind me that the shelter’s night sky was turning a vivid yellow.

Thump!

“Urgh!”

“Don’t let any sounds escape! Scream only in your mind!”

‘Aaaargh!!!’

From the hand touching my back, an intense holy power poured in, stirring every part of my body.

An excruciating burning pain consumed me from head to toe.

‘Damn it! Why does everything I do end in burning pain?’

From the first expedition when Scarlet scorched my shin, to even worse side effects that charred my entire leg.

And now, treatment burns my upper body too. Truly, what a life.

Crackle.

‘What the heck.’

As if the pain wasn’t enough, a chill layered over my veins in resistance.

Frost formed on my skin, and every breath exhaled white vapor.

Hot, then cold—it was chaos. This is what you’d call an infernal dance.

Unfazed by any of this, Yeriel spoke.

“Just the head left now. Bear with it a little more.”

‘Huff. Huff.’

Too drained to respond, I held onto my focus in silence. Then, Yeriel’s hand, lifted from my back, touched the back of my head.

Fwaaah!

‘Ugh─ huh?’

Expecting the final pain to be just as unbearable as the previous two, I braced myself, but instead of pain, I felt warmth.

Her tender touch, infused with holy power squeezed to its limits, wiped away all distractions, and the clarity in my mind felt like a fog lifting after a storm.

When I closed my eyes, I could see a massive, bright yellow wall. This must be the mental barrier she mentioned earlier.

Plop.

I felt the soft sensation of a cheek resting on my shoulder.

“Yeriel?”

“Mm. Sleepy…”

…She’s out.

She had exhausted all her strength treating me, then silently faded away.

Though her sudden departure left a void of sorts, I bowed my head to the one who wasn’t meant to stay here, etching gratitude into my heart for Paladin Yeriel, who returned to where she belonged.

“May you live well and without trouble with another version of me, wherever you are.”

Swallowing the bitterness in my mouth, I lifted my gaze, only for a flood of messages from Chaos to overwhelm me.

[Chaos fumes, swearing to give you a piece of its mind as soon as she recovers.]
[Chaos punches the air, vowing not to let this slide.]

‘…’

The clarity I had moments ago was already slipping away.

[Chaos sighs, wishing it could recover faster.]
[Chaos mutters about wanting to obliterate the labyrinth entirely in frustration.]

“Chaos, I can see you now.”

[Huh?]

‘…?’

The abrupt, clipped message startled me.

[The trait “Steel Body—Dragonian” advances to the next stage.]
[Due to the user’s achievements and unstoppable progress, a path to the next stage is unlocked.]
[With your mind restored, deferred choices become available.]

The world turned dark.

.

.

.

Shake.

“Wake up!”

Shake shake.

“Can’t you get up already?!”

“Ugh!”

The shaking jolted me awake, and I took in the familiar sight around me.

A space darker than the night sky, vast and mysterious like the cosmos.

This was where I’d met Chaos and Ceres last time, wasn’t it?

Tap! Tap!

While wondering why I was back, I felt a tapping sensation on my stomach and looked down.

“Chaos?”

“Yes! It’s your other half, Chaos!”

Chaos, on one knee, kept lightly punching my stomach, seemingly unable to contain its irritation.

“Alright, alright. Let’s calm down first.”

“Let go of me! Do you think I’m just a clueless little kid because my weakened form looks like this?!”

Thump!

“Ugh! You always push yourself recklessly! You wouldn’t have lost your mind if you’d stayed calm for even a moment!”

Chaos puffed her cheeks like a steamed bun and clenched its tiny fists.

“Even I, usually so composed, am angry! Stick out your head! I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget!”

Fine. What harm could a light punch from such tiny fists do?

I obediently presented my head before her.

When someone tells you not to do something, you’re more tempted, but when they actually offer, the urge fades.

As expected, Chaos hesitated, opening and closing her fist before letting out a deep sigh.

Sigh.

Pat.

Instead of punching, she lightly tapped the crown of my head and began gently patting it.

Rub rub.

“You’ve worked hard. I can see how much you’ve endured, so how could I bring myself to hit you?”

“I’m sorry. I lost control and let myself go.”

“It’s fine. From now on, avoid getting drunk on power and act with more composure. It pains me to see you struggle because of my essence.”

Chaos averted her gaze, embarrassed.

“Just consider that earlier scolding as a playful tantrum from your partner. Can you let it slide?”

“Of course. By the way, how much did you talk while I was mentally out of it? The flood of messages was—”

“Enough!”

Before I could finish, Chaos glared at me and snorted before clearing her throat.

Ahem.

“Enough chit-chat. Follow me.”

I trailed after her as she stomped away.

Now that I think about it, when my spirit was transported here earlier, system messages had popped up.

Let’s see. System log: advancement of Steel Body, path selection.

It felt like a pivotal moment in a game—choosing between branching skill trees or perhaps a class upgrade.

I couldn’t help but anticipate what choices would appear.

When we arrived at our destination, three statues stood solitary before us.

One depicted a figure split into black and white halves.
Another was a sword engraved on a flat stone, pierced through various magical circles.
The last was a massive dragon-shaped statue.

“Ahren, stand in the center.”

Following Chaos’s instructions, I stood at the central point equidistant from all three statues.

“From now on, I’ll explain step by step. Listen carefully and choose wisely. Remember, this decision will shape your future!”

As I waited for her to begin speaking, I studied the three statues one by one. Before her explanation, brief labels appeared before each, as if responding to my gaze.

[Aspect of Chaos]
[Cursed Demon Sword]
[Awakened Dragon]

‘Stay calm.’

Even before hearing the details, I could feel my excitement rising.