The Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos, was a member of the dragon tribe who was cursed for killing an ancient dragon clan chieftain.

After that, Vagos disappeared, but about 10 years ago he began his activities as a member of the Orcules, and single-handedly attacked the Holy Land of the elves.

His primary weapon was an arched longsword nicknamed the Dragon Slayer Sword, and it was claimed that he had six confirmed essences: three rank 5, two rank 4, and one rank 3.

In terms of known essences alone, he was close to a typical high-performance swordsman. Since all of his skills were to strengthen himself, class compatibility didn't matter as long as he had the right equipment. This information was obtained 10 years ago, so it may have changed to some extent, but the probability of this was small. How could a criminal erase the essence?

It means that he has come this way only for the sake of it.

It turns out that the dragon race's unique ability [Dragon Tongue] that I was most worried about was sealed by the dragon's curse.

That was good news.

To be honest, I was scared as hell when I found out that he was from the dragon race.

— … That's all I know," Rothmiller finished.

"Okay, thank you. It helped a lot.

Having received information about the enemy, I calmly occupied myself with my thoughts. Of course, continuing to run towards the goal.

*Running!*

First, the Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos, turned out to be an unexpected giant. If it weren't for the effect of the [Keeper of Balance], I would have been beheaded before I even realized that he needed the gem.

*Running!*

Feeling chills for some reason, I checked the time.

[8:57]

It's been about 3 hours since we met that bastard. In other words, after 9 hours, the tag game will begin.

Of course, this is provided that he keeps his promise.

Only 12 hours, right?

And that's what disappointed me.

In response to my proud demeanor, accompanied by the oath of a warrior, Vagos agreed to the deal just in case, either on a whim or with the thought that he would lose nothing.

If it hadn't been for that damned ring, he might have given us the whole day.

There was a big difference between 24 hours and 12 hours.

It was time to prepare everything necessary and take one last break.

Phew, nothing comes easy.

I sighed, but strengthened my resolve. Thinking back to the hopeless situations I'd been in in the past—goblin traps, psychopaths, the Blood Citadel, the Witchwood, Lord Floor, and so on—I erased my thoughts and wrote only one goal:

Survive.

If possible, all together.

"Bjorn, we're here.

When my thoughts reached this point, Rothmiller stopped running.

There was a dead end in front of us.

We were at the corner point at 11 o'clock, closest to where the boss's room was. Simply put, this was the place where the second intermediate boss was.

*Click, grind*

As Rothmiller set the mechanism in motion, the wall moved away, revealing a hidden space.

*Whoosh*

As soon as we entered, the stone chamber was illuminated by torches.

The only difference was that Baphomet appeared in the corner at 7 o'clock.

"Phew, it seems that it was better in the last place.

The stone chamber was filled with piles of corpses with eyeballs torn out instead of a goat's skull. I squeezed through the stench and dripped a drop of blood onto the magic circle.

[The devil in the labyrinth felt the blood].

Okay, there is.

***

[You killed Argos. Experience +5].

[High-Class Mutant Kill Bonus. +1 XP].

***

In addition to the intermediate boss rooms, Larkaz's Labyrinth had many hidden places. Each of them had its own awards. They can contain disposable consumables or rare monsters can appear in them.

But I needed something different.

Another failure?

After defeating Argos, we scoured the area and focused on finding the hidden rooms. Not only was there not enough time to catch another intermediate boss, but I also needed to find a certain room for my plan.

Nevertheless, we found them quite well.

With Rothmiller at the forefront of the search for secret rooms, we discovered them one every two hours. This was due to the Sixth Sense stat, which increased dramatically after the Dragon Slayer team entered the game. Those rooms that we would not have noticed before and accidentally passed by, Rothmiller found without missing.

The problem was that the room I needed had not yet appeared.

[05:30]

And so the time passed until the 12 hours promised to me came to an end.

"Wait, stop. I feel something strange.

Rothmiller stopped the group, probed the walls around us, and discovered a secret room.

*Shuuuuh*

It was a stone chamber measuring 10 by 15 meters, in which there was no monster or hidden treasure.

After checking only the inside, I closed it again.

Found.

Finally, all the first preparations for the implementation of the plan were completed.

I stopped the team and called a break.

"That's it, take a break. I'm on duty.

"A break?" What kind of room is this?

"If we survive, I'll explain everything. So just do what I say.

— ... Ok.

Even the dwarf left his doubts behind when he heard my resolute voice. No, most likely, he did not refuse the question, but decided to trust me and not ask.

"Phew...

When my tired colleagues closed their eyes, I let out a long sigh. There were no problems with the rest of the guys, but lying to Rothmiller was already starting to give me a headache.

Ever since I summoned the intermediate boss by dripping blood on the magic circle, and until now, saying that I had read it in a book, I would not be able to explain everything.

Anyway, I'll think about it later...

I took another long breath and put the future out of my mind.

I was sure that I could somehow lie, if only I returned alive. I decided to focus only on the present moment and organized my thoughts one last time.

"I think you said that there could be a portal in the center of the map? Are we not going there?" asked Rothmiller.

The reason for refusing to go to the portal was simple. He will still be there for these 12 hours. If we go there and Vagos thinks we're trying to escape, the 12 hours we've earned will have been wasted. I decided that it would be better to start preparing at this time.

Probably, he has already begun to look for us.

The promised 12 hours are over. Fortunately, the first preparations were completed on time. Thanks to this, I was able to rest until he came, but the situation was still bleak.

The success rate is less than 10%.

This was the greatest probability that I could calculate with a cool head.

Out of all the essences that this bastard possessed, only six were known. Two or three unknown essences remained variable, and the biggest stumbling block was High Priest Karui.

I took out a shiny red pearl and held it in my hand. I swallowed him as a hostage, but once we were safe, I used [Gigantization] to vomit him. This was the last reward of the Labyrinth of Larkaz and an item that the notorious criminal under the alias Dragon Slayer must have been desperately looking for.

"Pent-up desire".

I didn't want to use it now if possible. For maximum effectiveness, this item must be applied to a rank 4 Guardian essence. But if I die, I still won't be able to use it.

I don't seem to have any other choice.

I made a decision. I did not know how events would develop in the future, this subject cannot be used otherwise than now.

—…

This silence, like the calm before the storm, will soon end. It was better to prepare in advance, if possible. Even if I wanted to use it later, I wouldn't have time for it.

A little wasteful, but...

I gripped the jewel tighter.

*Crackle!*

It shattered, emitting a bright red light.

[You used "Pent-Up Desire"].

[You will be transported to the Room of Balance].

When I came to, I was standing in an unfamiliar space.

***

*Ears!*

A lone flame rose and lit up the space.

*Top*

I took a step and looked around. It was a stone chamber that resembled the Heavenly Tower.

The flames hovering in the air flickered with a bluish light, illuminating the three stone gates at the edge.

Interesting.

So, this is how everything looked in reality. In the game, you just had to manipulate the keyboard and make a choice.

[Select the essence you want to replace].

I carefully examined the unique frescoes painted on each stone gate.

They were not colored, but it was not difficult to recognize them.

*Top*

The first was a terrible monster with rotten arms and legs moving in a disorderly mass.

It must be the Corpse Golem.

Next was something in the form of a man with sharp fangs and sharp claws, with red eyes studded with red jewels.

It's a vampire.

And finally, a muscular warrior roaring against a giant banner.

It must be the Orc Hero.

Each door was an essence that I had already absorbed. There were no instructions, but it was clear what to do.

If you open the door, the corresponding essence will be replaced.

Pent-Up Desire was a gacha* type item that replaced a 4th or lower rank essence with a random essence of the same rank.

___

"Gacha" is a Japanese term that refers to the mechanics of games in which players can obtain random items or other game items through a virtual vending machine called "gacha-pon."

___

*Top*

Without hesitation, I headed for one of the doors. I had already decided what to choose.

An orc hero.

Obviously, not this one. He was only rank 5, but it was the core essence that belonged to my final combination.

Corpse Golem.

Pain's resistance was surprisingly helpful, but it didn't help me much in terms of ability. I've saved it for wiping it off later when the essence slots are full, but it hasn't come to that yet. Why would I do something as wasteful as applying Pent-Up Desire to a rank 7 essence?

Vampire.

Soon I was standing in front of a stone gate on which the figure of this monster was painted, and I stretched out my hand. He had skills and stats suitable for a tank. In addition, since it was obtained by killing the Rift Keeper, it was a rare essence with all three skills. However, thanks to this, I did not doubt my decision. There was a hidden effect in Pent-Up Desire.

[You've chosen the Vampire Essence].

[Guardian Essence Discovered]

[The rank of the selected essence has increased].

If you offered a Guardian Essence, the rank of the essence that could be chosen would increase. Simply put, by offering a rank 4 Guardian essence, one could obtain a rank 3 essence.

That bastard must be thinking the same thing, because he's come all this way for this one thing.

I did the same when I played the game.

When I was absorbing the Guardian essence, which was of a high rank but didn't suit my character, I would go to Larkaz's Labyrinth and look for a gacha item. I had no idea that I was using it on an essence that suits me.

"Oh...

I chased away the surge of regret and walked through the open door.

Before I had taken a few steps, the direct passage ended, and the flames broke out, illuminating three stone gates.

*Ears!*

Since the item had a balance concept, each of the three stone gates had a physical, magical, and spiritual type monster painted on it. Up to this point, things weren't as bad as usual. But what is it?

[This is an essence that no one currently possesses].

[The Keeper of the Balance has recognized its rarity and is introducing a new version to match its value.]

I froze in the middle of inspecting the fresco. The first option was a Skeleton Mage, holding a staff in one hand and a box containing a red jewel in the other.

A rank 4 monster, Lich.

It was a typical super-strong monster with a passive skill [Soul Receptacle] and several destructive active skills. So far, there have been no problems, I just did not understand what kind of jewelry was built into the door.

... Rainbow?

Previously, there was a black stone above the door of the Corpse Golem, and a green stone above the door of the Orc Hero. So I assumed it meant the color of the essence.

But rainbow?

Wasn't it the same color as the jewels on the door of the Vampire, who was the essence of the Guardian?

So this is really a different Guardian essence?

I quickly checked the other door.

There was a rank 4 monster, the Soul Colossus, a spirit-type monster that didn't have the same stats as Strength or Agility. All of his metrics were focused on the Spirit. The color of the gemstone also indicated the essence of the Guardian. Of course, it could just be luck.

Very often, the Guardian Essence would pop up as an option.

But...

This cannot be a coincidence.

After confirming the last option offered to me - a monster of the physical type, I confirmed it. It was far from lucky. There were still elements in this game that I didn't know existed.

*Ears!*

The gem reflected in the flickering flames was red. In other words, it wasn't the essence of the Guardian. But what did it matter in this situation?

*Top*

I walked to the door as if possessed. Incredibly, the fresco on the door meant only one thing.

*Top*

It was a rank 3 monster, and a boss-level monster that acted alone. Simply put, it was a monster that could only be defeated through raids made up of rank 3 and 4 explorers. It was a monster that had the best stats among the monsters of the overworld in terms of physical abilities.

Ogre.

Without hesitation, I opened the door.

Hallelujah.