Emotions are contagious. When you see someone's tears, you can get upset, and when you see someone's laughter, you can laugh.

The same applies to the feeling of fear.

At first, you think, "Come on, that's not going to happen," but then you see another person who is constantly anxious, and you can't help asking, "What if?"

It's just that people are born this way.

"It feels like something is really going to happen because you keep saying it.

"Well, it doesn't hurt to be careful...

My teammates slowly began to recover from my serious attitude to the matter. I could not help but welcome this change.

Of course, Rothmiller's words played a decisive role here.

"I still can't wrap my head around it. But for some reason, I have a feeling that if I don't follow you, something very bad will happen.

Rothmiller, having absorbed the essence of Mimic, acquired the Sixth Sense indicator. This ability helped the team of losers a lot. The fact that he said it out of the blue changed the weight of my words.

"B-Bjorn." Should we keep moving? Mike asked.

"Hahaha!" That's right! It will be better this way! We will have to endure one more day!

It was a bit disappointing. They assessed my words as exaggeration and all, but they are ready to move mountains at Rothmiller's words.

However, the fact that he says this also makes me more anxious...

The Sixth Sense was literally the sixth sense. However, with the arrival of uninvited guests, hasn't our overall numbers increased?

We really need to prepare.

It was as if the veil had been pulled back and a sinister secret hidden behind it had been revealed. Even assuming the worst, deep down I hoped that everything would end up just with my paranoia. But it seems that this will not happen.

*Tudum!*

My heart clenched even more, but it didn't change anything.

I'll just do what I can.

"Let's get moving."

After a short break, we resumed movement. Even though I picked up speed, everyone followed me without the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. For some time we ran through the labyrinth in heavy silence.

Rothmiller spoke suddenly.

"Now that I think about it, it seems to me that you, Bjorn, are like me.

"What do you mean by 'similar'?"

"I got this ability through essence, but it may turn out that you have a good sense of smell from birth.

I've never thought about it before. But it was definitely not nonsense.

In Dungeon & Stone, when selecting a character, the baseline was set randomly within certain values.

The default Sixth Sense was between 0 and 50, I think?

When you consider that the Sixth Sense bound to Mimic's essence was only 50, then the default maximum value was very high. It wasn't the main stat as power, so I didn't rework the character to increase it.

"I've been thinking about it for a long time, but you're always shrewd.

"Exactly! You beat that bitch Eliza when everyone was confused about being a priestess.

Hmm, isn't it? Since everyone said so, I began to believe that it might be true. As I have already said, this is how people are arranged. Perhaps Bjorn's Sixth Sense was naturally high.

But this was not what worried me now.

"Anyway, keep following me.

I decided to think about it later and focused on clearing the path. Everything has its own priorities.

*Blow!*

I waved my mace.

*Shuuuuuh!*

Dvalki fired ice spears.

*Colic!*

We continued to move through the decapitated Vaikundus.

[05:13]

A lot of time passed, and now the morning of the 21st day has come.

I ran almost non-stop for 12 hours from the moment Baphomet was killed.

- Huff, huff...

The air I exhaled through my nose and mouth was scorching.

The rest were no different. I checked the complexion of my colleagues for the last time. Everyone looked exhausted. Even if their indicators increased, they did not sleep for two days, so it was natural.

However, the end was near.

"If we turn that way, we'll be there!"

After running along a long straight passage, we reached our destination: a huge stone chamber, not a cramped, labyrinthine-like passage.

*Click!*

As soon as we entered it, iron bars descended from the three entrances leading to the stone chamber.

"Ah!" We are trapped!

"Everybody be on the lookout!" We don't know what's coming!

Although everyone was puzzled by the unexpected situation, they took up formation and prepared for battle. Our eyes naturally focused on one place—the only place from which anything could have come out: on one side was an imposing stone gate.

— ... It's not a rank 4 monster, right?

[The master of the labyrinth sensed the claimants].

Soon, the geometric patterns engraved on the door began to glow, and it opened.

*Gnashing*

Soon, a monster appeared through the fully open stone door with a distinctive scream. His height was about 4 meters, his body was huge, and formidable horns protruded from the top of his head. The brown coat was short enough to show blood vessels and muscles, and there were hooves on the legs that supported thick thighs.

*Boom!*

"Mmmuuu!"

"The Minotaur!" It's the Minotaur!

***

The last boss of Larkaz's Labyrinth was a well-known enough monster that even Misha would immediately recognize him. At least the Minotaur, a rank 5 monster, wasn't a rank 4 monster as Mike had feared.

Technically, it would be something like a rank 4.5.

This guy was different from an ordinary Minotaur - it was a named monster with the unique name Larkaz. In other words, it was a high-rank mutant with the skills of another creature.

*Boom!*

As soon as the monster looked at us and took its first step, everyone noticed the anomaly. And how could you not notice it?

Just by looking at it, it could be understood that this was not a skill that the Minotaur could use.

"Mmmmuu!"

He took a short breath and raised his hand up.

[Larkaz, the Master of the Labyrinth, used [Burning Skin]].

*Uu

A huge flame engulfed the creature's hide. Even from a distance of 30 meters, I could feel the heat.

Everyone was stunned.

"Can this guy control the fire?"

— Of course not. There was no such thing in the books.

"Then it must be a high-ranking mutant, like the Baphomet we met in the secret room where this map was hidden.

"Oh!" Come to think of it, it's like a single monster's special ability! Dvalki quickly shared the information with an enlightened expression on his face. "Ifrit!" It must be the power of Ifrit!

That was the right answer. It seemed that he had read a bunch of labyrinth-related books in the past few months, and now he was definitely more like a Magus.

But there was no time for compliments.

'Mmmuuuuu

The creature looked at us as if to say, "What kind of bastards are these?" and then walked toward us with heavy steps.

*Boom! Boom!*

The sight of a 4-meter monster approaching us with a burning body was, to put it mildly, strange. Still, it was nothing compared to Riakis.

"Behella!" I shouted and rushed forward.

The distance was rapidly closing. As soon as I entered his attack zone, a giant double-edged axe descended above my head.

*Bam!*

Hmm, so you're only that strong.

I smirked as I looked at the weight transmitted through the shield. It didn't seem like there was a need to use [Gigantization]. As expected, [Burning Skin] was quite bearable.

*Ears!*

Even though the red flames were raging right in front of my nose, there was no serious damage. It was just a little hot, thanks to the Fire Resistance gained from the 3rd stage of the Imprint of Immortality. Of course, continuing to remain in this position is another matter entirely.

[You took damage from fire].

[Damage increases based on duration].

Fire damage increased as it accumulated. The principle of operation was similar to how you can cook meat by putting it in hot water for a long time. However, the solution was simple.

[Riol Varb Dvalki cast an 8th rank spell [Cold Blood].

As Dvalka's mana penetrated my hot body, it cooled down. I was a little surprised.

To think that he had cast a spell before I gave the order.

Probably, people still learn from their own experience. It seemed that only yesterday he was trying to aim the ice spear correctly.

"I'll help you too!"

"Oh, it's not hot anymore!"

After hesitating at the sight of the fire for just a moment, Hikurod and Misha received buffs and joined the battle line.

[Hikurod Murad used [Lightning]].

[Misha Karlstein used [Toxin Release]].

We blew electric shocks, cut thick skin with a sword, injected deadly poison, and so on. Thus, the monster named the final boss was easy to deal with.

"Mmmuuu-!"

Of course, he was also furious and began to vigorously wield his fists, legs, and axe. The monster has made generous use of its unique skills, but nothing has changed. He was still too slow to catch up with Misha, and he didn't have enough strength to deal with me and the dwarf.

At this time, magical support continued.

[Ryol Varb Dvalki cast a Rank 8 curse [Wound Sharpening]].

[Riol Varb Dvalki casts a Rank 9 curse [Slow]].

[Riol Varb Dvalki casts a Rank 7 curse [Weaken]].

Usually, Dvalka's magic support ended after he was knocked out from mana depletion simply by casting [Cold Blood]. Rothmiller was guarding Dvalki just in case, but the monster could not even pass by one tank. How would he get to Dvalka?

*Bam!*

It didn't take long. Soon, Misha cut the monster's Achilles tendon, sending its huge body to the ground. The battle ended with her sword going deep into her brain.

[You killed the Minotaur. Experience +5].

[Bonus for killing a high-class mutant. Experience +1]

The boss's body suddenly turned into a halo of light and dissipated.

First, I checked the time.

[5:21]

Less than 10 minutes since the last check. For some reason, this fact gave rise to a strange feeling of regret.

How nice it would be if everyone remained the same outside this zone.

If the team of losers existed in its completed form, it would probably look like this:

Highly stable configuration of two tanks.

A melee damage dealer who boldly attacked and dealt damage consistently.

A mage who wielded high-level AoE and single-target attack spells and could support the team depending on the situation.

And a scout who was not a burden even in battle.

... What am I thinking?

Useless thoughts were not like me, especially if the real problem had not yet been solved. I shook my head, as if to drive away thoughts, and again began to organize my goals.

What do I need to do right now to save at least a little time?

Quickly grab everything you need and get out of here.

*Shaaaa!*

The light completely dissipated and everyone sighed.

"Oh...

"Again, nothing.

The Minotaur did not leave behind any essence. Well, even though he was a high-ranking mutant, he wasn't a Rift boss, so that was more realistic.

Well, okay.

*Bam!*

If the yellow essence dropped, it could come in handy until the second half of the maze.

But a real reward fell.

I put my regrets aside and checked my surroundings.

*Click!*

As if to signal that the boss battle was over, the grates in the passage rose up again.

"And the portal?" Why didn't the portal open?

"Maybe it's different from the Rift?"

"Maybe there are other monsters besides the Minotaur?"

The trio could not hide their bewilderment and poured out various assumptions. I was about to say something, but Rothmiller was the first to speak.

"I have a feeling that there is something there. Why don't we check it out?

As you might expect, this man was a born spy.

"Oh, that's right! There is still something left.

"Let's go." Maybe the portal is open.

Soon we entered the door, from which the Minotaur appeared. Of course, the portal that was supposed to open at the starting point couldn't be here, but no matter how much we were in a hurry, we still had to take it. It was something that money could not buy.

"Something...... In this place it looks very suspicious.

Behind the door was a crypt. Like the intermediate boss's room, there was a magic summoning circle painted on the floor.

"I feel a lot of mana from this item.

"Then you'd better take it with you."

As Dvalki muttered, I placed the jewel in the center of the magic circle in my backpack. Without regret, I turned around and headed for the exit. I also took Dvalka's advice to investigate further as a bad idea. After all, there was only a reward here.

"Phew, what a headache. There is no portal here either.

"Does it make sense?"

"Rothmiller, it looks like there used to be a blue dot in the center of the map. Is there a chance that the portal opened there?

"Actually, I've thought about it too. I have a strong premonition about this.

Was it the Scout's Sixth Sense?

With this thought in mind, I left the crypt where the Minotaur was locked.

A small male voice came from the aisle straight ahead.

"You see, I knew it.

***

The last boss room was generated at a random location in the maze. As soon as we got the map, we rushed here and defeated the last boss in less than 10 minutes.

It probably doesn't matter how he got here.

What's done is done.

There was no way he could find this place by chance, he had to have the appropriate ability. Even in a place where a scout's abilities were useless, essences, items, and other abilities could still be used.

Leaving the questions aside for a while, I focused on what was in front of me.

"Look, old man. Didn't I tell you? If we hadn't donated one more hand, we might not have made it.

*Tudum!*

My heart was pounding wildly.

When I first became aware of the existence of intruders, I concluded that if they:

Five, then they are most likely active on the 6th floor,

Four are on the 7th,

Three - on the 8th.

It couldn't be, but if there were only two of them, then they would be active on the 9th floor.

Changes in my indicators led me to this conclusion.

So what really happened?

Whatever my thoughts, it's time to check.

"Hey, barbarian. Shouldn't you say thank you? You easily defeated him thanks to me.

The man was covered with burns not only on his face, but also on his slightly bare wrists.

An old man in the black robes of a priest begged him:

"I beg you." Please take the object you need and let them go.

Two people.

—…

It was not clear why, but a middle-aged man with severed hands silently followed them. There were three people in total.

Bloody hell.

I've dropped all plans in case we run into them, from plan A to plan D.

"Hey, why did everyone fall silent?"

My trained instinct, picked up from meeting all sorts of sons of, told me that this was not a guy to handle.