A Majestic Territory.

A profound level of power that was open to all creatures as long as they met the required level of strength and a sufficiently strong core.

The ability to create a separate realm that was advantageous for the user and extremely dangerous for the target; a Majestic Territory.

For a Majestic Territory, the ranking for how strong it was wasn’t usually how powerful the boosts it gave to the user were, but how many unique lifeforms would be spawned from it.

For instance, Azila’s Majestic Territory spawned the StarGold Clusterflies which Skullius had miraculously used to level up to a standard undead.

When a Territory reached this stage, it was safe to assume that when the user used it to attack, there was ZERO chances of coming out alive unless the target was of similar strength.

Just the fact that Skullius had survived such a thing was a feat that deserved to told to the world but even the Discount Human didn’t know its worth.

“We’ll rest to recuperate our mana,” Benzard said as he sat down and took a breather.

Denille was about to complain about how dangerous this was, but she realised how futile it was to try and dissuade Benzard at this point after their little spat.

“I don’t think it’s wise. Encountering a Majestic Territory right now while we’re this deep into the forest is nothing but bad news. We can’t defend against it even if we go all out,” Reon said, trying to reason with Benzard.

Benzard remained calm. He took steady breaths as he gasped onto the mana in the air and recovered the mana in his core.

“I know it’s dangerous. However, I wouldn’t lead us to our deaths. Eobald told me about this place. He said he had records of people that had tried going in. It was only after he revealed himself that I figured out that his organisation probably tested the result of entering with live specimens. Either innocent people or with their Necromancy,” Benzard explained.

“The fact is, the guardian who is protecting the labyrinth doesn’t attack with its Territory. It merely vets who it deems to be worthy of giving the Labyrinth a try. You’d have to be hostile for it to attack you. So, going by that, we should be safe.”

Reon ground his teeth.

‘Why are you so goddamn stubborn?! You still put trust in Eobald’s words when they benefit you but disregard everything else?’ he thought.

Denille also looked disgruntled while Irlen merely sighed.

“We’re here anyway. We might as well check it out. If worse comes to worst, we’ll just use the Arcane scroll that Eobald left. You have it right, Denille?” Irlen said._.

He was referring to the scroll that had been confiscated from Skullius.

Denille nodded. At least they had some assurance. That was if they could use the scroll faster than the beast within that Territory could attack.

It was still a major gamble.

Skullius was not feeling good about this. He had lived his life in this forest while keeping an eye out for Territories and it could be said that he was the first to notice the change when they arrived here.

‘Damn it! Another Territory?! At least I’m not alone this time but still…’

Skullius had been thinking of ways to save himself. There was basically no way that he could escape before they reached the Labyrinth but maybe when they were inside, he could pull something off.

But now, there was the issue of the Territory. Depending on how much it influenced the entire area, it could be even more dangerous for him.

‘I’ll try! I can’t be erased just yet! I won’t give that bastard what he wants! I’ve survived this long, I should be able to pull off one more escape and reach Tier 1. Though… before then, I still need to be supplied with mana or else Doom Factor 1 will activate again. Damn it!’ Skullius thought before pulling up his status.

~~~

[ Name : None ]

[ Level : 1 ]

[ Experience : 1000/1000; <Pending Task> ]

[ Class : None ]

[ Race : Discount Human ]

[ Inv. Status : Still doomed ×2, Cursed ]

——-

[ Stats ]

[ Strength : 10 ]

[Agility : 10 ]

[ Intelligence : 5 ]

[ Endurance : 10 ]

[ Luck : Atrocious? ]

—–

[ Health : 30/30 ]

—–

[ Mana : 20/20 ]

—–

[ Null Life Essence : 3000/3000 ]

—–

[ Skills ]

[ Basic Mana Manipulation | Lv. ]

[ Flesh It Like You Mean It | Lv. 1 ]

[ Bitter-Sweet Hell’s Inferno | Lv. 3 ]

[ Artless Dodger | Lv. 1 ]

[ Mana Bolt | Lv. 4 ]

[ Null Extraction ]

—-

[ Affinities ]

None

….

~~~~

‘The curse is also on my invasive status. How much more of this can I take?’ Skullius thought.

This current situation really made him feel lonely. If he could somehow squeeze through it however, he knew that he wouldn’t be held back anything else.

With all that he had witnessed and experienced, he wouldn’t be the same if he managed to survive.

A few more hours passed, giving a chance for the sun to start descending down the horizon.

It was time. With everyone fully rested and recovered, it was time to enter the realm of a powerful beast.

The group walked forward until they reached the boundary and then…

They all entered at the same time, Skullius still being held by Irlen.

Skullius’ vision warped, changing from the view of the strange valley where solid rock and sand thrived to a peculiar place that made his cosmetic eyes widen!

It was like an alternate version of the forest that he had just left behind!

Large trees could be seen and long blades of runner and tufted grass all with a shade of black abounded!

The trees swayed as if there was a gust of wind that continuously blew while being outlined by what looked like a white sun in the sky.

All this was nothing compared to the bizarre element that truly made this a truly wondrous, alternate space.

Everything was upside down!

It took a second for all five individuals to realise but as soon as they stepped into the Territory, they fell… up? Down?

When their feet entered the space of the Territory, all there was a dark sky with particularly bright, white clouds under.

All the vegetation, not to mention the ground, was below!

Reon and Benzard quickly managed to steady themselves while falling and landed on their feet but the rest fell hard on the dark ground.

“Urgh…” Irlen grunted as he tried to stand up, feeling the smaller figure of Skullius squashed under him.

“This is.. some Territory,” Reon said as he looked around, Benzard already having his sword out.

“Stay close!” he ordered, to which everyone huddled while looking at the surroundings.

However, nothing seemed amiss.

At least according to the rules of this world.

[Congratulations! You have royally screwed yourself by entering a Higher Tier beast’s ‘Majestic Territory’]

‘This again?’ Skullius questioned as he saw the guidance field notification. At least there was no corresponding notifications of overpowered skills that made him feel like he was already done for.

He felt the difference in the air. This was a few notches below the Territory of Azila as far as he could tell but the realm of power was the same.

“Greetings, Challengers.”

A voice boomed from a just a few meters away, making the team turn towards the source.

Upon seeing the creature that spoke, everyone swallowed a lump of saliva and looked more cautious, prepared to fight.

What was before them was a giant white fox that swayed its tail this way and that while sitting on the ground. Its pitch black eyes that heavily contrasted its spotless, white fur gazed intently at these brave humans that had thrown themselves into its Territory.

“No need to be cautious. My job isn’t to fight. I merely want to see how capable you are,” the fox said.

Benzard and the rest didn’t let down their guard, waiting for what more the creature would say.

The creature’s left eye sparked with an orange hue as a complex symbol that looked like a Japanese kanji character appeared in its eye for no more than a second before vanishing

“I see. You barely fit the lowest requirements to attempt this place but who am I to meddle in your affairs? I’ve Iong stopped caring for how capable who wants to challenge this place is but… I shall tell you something that I tell all whom I allow to pass,” the fox said as on its mouth, an unsettling grin appeared while its eyes looked to Skullius for a split second.

“The human that owned this labyrinth was a powerful creature that had reached Divinity! He had no tolerance for morals nor sentiments and was a simpleton who sought only for power! He didn’t acknowledge the weak but he never harmed them, never putting them in his sights. He was greedy, arrogant, selfish and evil! The one to inherit the power he left behind, the Insurgent Magnus, must also abide by these!”

“He wished for the one to find this place to be someone who could open his labyrinth despite there not being a Key customly made for it. One that goes against odds and seeks strength to a demented degree! Welcome, dear humans… to the Labyrinth of the Yoke!”

The grand presentation given by the fox came to an end as did nothing to reassure them of what they would find inside!

The ground began to tremble, behind the fox that had taken back its passive expression, a massive gate appearing.

It was circular, covering the view behind the fox and giving off an imposing atmosphere that made all the trees in the soundings stop swaying and stand absolutely still while an eerie silence enveloped the world.

A grand design was sculpted upon the grand gate that was made of thick stone with a setup like that of a double door.

A design befitting of the legacy of Fulgardt the Immoral!

A design befitting of the Insurgent Magnus!