Chapter 678: Endless Labyrinth
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When this familiar feeling first appeared, Lin Li thought it was a misconception. After all, in this labyrinth where s.p.a.ce and time were completely blurred and misplaced, it would be difficult for one not to have a false impression of something. However, when he stopped to think, the familiar feeling did not disappear, and instead became much clearer and more intense.
Could it be that this labyrinth that I’m in really is the one that I remember? But that’s impossible, and there is absolutely no reason to explain it! Lin Li thought as he shook his head helplessly. In any case, he decided that he had no choice but to verify his speculation, since he really couldn’t think of a way to solve this maze.
Lin Li raised the Helios’ Scepter in his hand and quickly chanted a spell in the language of the High Elves. As the spell ended, the gem on top of the Helios’ Scepter radiated a soft light that enveloped his body in the blink of an eye. It was not a defensive spell, but Legendary-level magic that would cause time to speed up.
As a Legendary-level spell, the Time Accelerator was not very popular, because this magic could only act on the caster himself and cause time to accelerate in his own body. For most people, this magic was simply a self-mutilating one because the consequence of the accelerated pa.s.sage of time would be an accelerated pa.s.sing of life.
However, in order to verify his guess, Lin Li had no choice but to use this self-mutilating magic. If he guessed right, he might be able to leave this place, but if he didn’t, he might have to be trapped there forever, and that would be worse than dying.
As the time accelerated over him, Lin Li discovered that the pa.s.sage of time in his body did not speed up, and instead slowed down a lot. Although Lin Li had prepared himself mentally, the results of this verification surprised him because it proved that the labyrinth was really the one in his memory—the Endless Labyrinth.
d.a.m.n it, how is this possible? Why would the labyrinth appear here!? If it weren’t for the verification, Lin Li wouldn’t have believed that the labyrinth that he was stuck in for seven whole days and nights turned out to be the Endless Labyrinth that shouldn’t have existed in this world.
In fact, Lin Li had always thought that the Endless Labyrinth only existed in his imagination. Lin Li was not spouting nonsense; no one knew the Endless Labyrinth better than he did, because the concept of the Endless Labyrinth was one that he came up with in the first place.
The idea of the Endless Labyrinth came up when Lin Li was interacting with some of his friends in the Endless World who were keen on exploring the labyrinth. Not all gamers liked slaying monsters to level up. Some liked concocting potions, some liked to forge equipment, and some even liked to dig and excavate mines. His friends who were keen on exploring the labyrinth were also enthusiastic about creating a variety of traumatic labyrinths. They believed in going about their own paths and driving others to a dead end.
At that time, Lin Li and those friends had a long discussion about how they should create the most insidious and harrowing labyrinth. Lin Li suggested the idea of the Endless Labyrinth, while his friends put forward various ideas to continuously improve the basic concept of the Endless Labyrinth that Lin Li brought up.
Since they were just discussing and exchanging opinions, everyone spoke their minds aimlessly. The labyrinth enthusiasts came up with all the conceivable methods while adhering to the Laws of the Endless World. They suggested for there to be countless insidious traps, countless misleading instructions that seemed legitimate, and the unrestrained incorporation of the two major Labyrinth Laws into the Endless Labyrinth. As a result, the Endless Labyrinth seemed rather crazy.
Of course, that crazy idea only remained in their imagination because no one could create such a labyrinth. Lin Li couldn’t, the labyrinth enthusiasts couldn’t, and even the G.o.ds of the Endless World couldn’t.
Since it wasn’t feasible at all, Lin Li simply kept the crazy concept of the Endless Labyrinth in his memory after perfecting it. However, he did not expect to see the Endless Labyrinth that he had imagined to appear in this world of Anril. The horror that this caused him was definitely no less than what happened in Andoine’s cabin.
The idea of the Endless Labyrinth was only known to a very limited number of people. Even if they were all blabbermouths and spread the word around, it was impossible for anyone in Anril to know. If it were a coincidence, that would be too ridiculous.
Lin Li could not help but be reminded of the Immortal King’s appearance. Why does he look so similar to me?
However, it was not the time to think about these issues now. Lin Li immediately stopped exploring the maze after knowing that he was very likely to be in the Endless Labyrinth. He slowly got a grip on his feelings of irritation, and the frown on his face seemed to ease up as well. Lin Li put on a calm expression and took a seat on the ground before closing his eyes and allowing his mind to turn blank.
Lin Li remained seated for an entire day and night, turning as motionless as a sculpture. His breathing had become so slow that it was almost hard to detect. When the sun rose again, Lin Li finally opened his eyes, which no longer contained any confusion or doubt. Instead, he looked firm and enlightened. After an entire day and night of pondering, Lin Li knew that he was not that far from the truth.
The Endless Labyrinth was indeed inexplicable. As the main brainstormer, Lin Li knew that very well. However, he also knew that the labyrinth was only unsolvable to others. If he were in the Endless Labyrinth that was similar to the concept he imagined, the near-perfect labyrinth should have a tiny loophole.
Although it was called a loophole, it was not a flaw of the Endless Labyrinth, but a back door that Lin Li had reserved for himself in his conception, for Lin Li wanted to use the Endless Labyrinth his own private territory at the beginning. Hence, he naturally had to leave an alternative path for himself, which was now going to come in handy.
It now seemed to be the time to verify what the Endless Labyrinth had to do with him and why the Immortal King resembled him that greatly. Lin Li got up from the ground and took a step back without hesitation, although he was staring at the path in front that would never change.
One step, two steps, three steps… In Lin Li’s field of vision, the constant road in front suddenly rushed towards the front as if every step he took backwards was extremely long. Everything in front of him seemed to be becoming blurry.
All of a sudden, everything around him came to an abrupt halt. There were no longer any flying scenes, and everything came to a standstill once again. Lin Li could clearly see that he was standing at the gate of the Pantheon with one foot outside the door. He looked in to see that it was still the scene of the world of the giants. Everything was surprisingly and ridiculously large, and even the oil lamps on the walls seemed like hills. Looking behind him, he noticed that the skies were gray and the sun was crimson like blood. The countless footprints extended into the distance and towards the desert.
Seeing this, Lin Li knew that he was right. However, he was still feeling increasingly doubtful and puzzled. A coincidence could no longer be used to explain everything. Otherwise, why would the back door left by him still exist in this Endless Labyrinth of another world?
Lin Li turned around and stepped out of the door of the Pantheon. At this moment, the surrounding scene also changed again. The boundless desert and the majestic Pantheon disappeared at this moment, leaving behind only a straight road that led directly to the clouds in the sky.
And at the end of the straight road, a huge figure stood on the cloud, which was the shadow of the Immortal King that had sent Lin Li into this world. However, the Immortal King’s shadow was staring at Lin Li who was on the other end with an unfathomable smile on his face. It seemed to be personable yet full of relief and other emotions.
Lin Li took a deep breath, and decided to address his own doubts after leaving this place. When it was time for him to know, he would definitely find out. Hence, there was no point in wasting his energy on speculating aimlessly. At the thought of this, Lin Li moved away and quickly walked along the path towards the clouds.
Endless Labyrinth? Those labyrinth enthusiasts will probably never know that the so-called unsolvable labyrinth only seemed like one because their eyes were playing tricks on them. Lin Li went straight along the road and recalled the scene of him discussing the concept of the Endless Labyrinth with his friends. He then muttered something while feeling amused.
When he finally reached the end of the road, Lin Li stepped on the cloud, and the huge figure that stood on it had already disappeared. Everything returned to the state that it was in when he’d first arrived. Standing on top of the cloud, Lin Li looked down at the world beneath him to see that the t.i.tans and the Wyrms were continuously engaging in battles again and again. Every battle would end with both parties severely injured. However, none of them wanted to stop. In the cracks of the war between the two major races, countless prehistoric magical beasts continued to wreak havoc in every corner of the mainland.
A ma.s.sive yet refres.h.i.+ng aura of life attracted Lin Li’s attention, for it reminded him of the Tree of Eternity that had begun growing some new branches after hibernating for countless years. With the awakening of the Tree of Eternity, a new race was born in the world of Anril, but compared to the t.i.tans and the Wyrms, the so-called High Elves were really weak and vulnerable.