Two days later, they reached the area around the labyrinth. Before they could enter, they needed to fight off the monsters that exited the portal, which would allow them to go inside.
The wolves and wargs would be the ones to handle them, being monsters from the top floor of the labyrinth. They wouldn't be strong and would give, at best, laughable experience to the heroes or Logan's strongest monsters.
Ms. Claire used this chance to order the wolf-riding wargs into battle and have them listen to her instructions. Her words for the lower-leveled beasts were law, and with them, they were able to wield greater power. Enhanced by Alma's songs, they were probably just as deadly as the first demons that attacked Logan's town. Within minutes, many of the monsters were dealt with, leaving only mana crystals behind.
"So they don't leave bodies but mana crystals?" Logan asked, wondering why this was.
"Yes, the labyrinth creates these monsters from crystals, so they only take the form of the monster designed by the core. That is why the closer one gets to the core, the stronger the monster they have to face," Lisa explained as she picked up the small shard that was once a monster a warg had killed near them.
"Well then, how do you think we should enter? Should we form groups or should we just go in all together?" Logan asked while looking at the portal near them.
"I think we should make three groups, and one to stay in the camp," Ms. Claire said as she tried recalling how the class did their dungeon run a few weeks ago.
"Alright, who will go with whom?" Logan asked, wondering which of his monsters should join him.
"I think… Kai, Ms. Claire, the wolf, and the wargs should form one group. The heroes—Lisa, Alma, Serana, and her group—should make another. You should go with Ruri, Sting your Scorpion, and Darvo for today. Tomorrow, you should take Luna and Voltar. I think with three, you should be able to handle it," Chloe pitched in, and everyone present nodded in acceptance.
"I guess it's a good lineup. It will let me have Sting and Darvo handle the weaker levels while tomorrow, with Luna and Voltar, we can tackle the stronger lower-floored monsters," Logan nodded while putting his equipment on.
Everyone else did the same, getting ready to enter the portal that would lead them inside the labyrinth. With everyone ready, Logan jumped into the portal. It was a strange experience, like jumping into water that did not wet you. As soon as he got to the other side, he saw a long passage that was dim, with only a few crystals lighting the way forward.
Logan did not stop walking after entering the portal. He asked his monsters, who entered after him, to keep moving forward so the others coming in wouldn't hurt themselves.
"Looks creepy. This is not how a usual labyrinth looks like, it's a bit primitive," Kai said while waiting for everyone to get ready.
"True, it's a little too dark, so we might have to use our own light source," Lisa said, taking out some crystals she had prepared using her magic and began handing them out.
"So then, I think we should go forward. As soon as we spot a chamber that divides us, we will start separating to search for the entrance to the second floor. Make sure you communicate using your device when you find it and don't go down alone," Chloe instructed as each group formed and began walking. Logan led the group so his new tamed beasts could get stronger, while the wolves and wargs walked like trained soldiers with the help of Ms. Claire.
"There is the first corridor. We will see you later, Logan. Be careful," Ms. Claire said as she waved towards Logan. So far, they hadn't met any monsters, which was great, but also meant they didn't know how strong they would be.
Logan had Sting in front of them, while the lazy monkey Darvo used his power to keep his body floating behind him. It was strange, but he didn't get as tired as Logan would think for a nearly one hundred-pound monkey who used mana to keep himself up.
Sting, on the other hand, was able to see clearly in the dark and led them around to find an exit. Its claws would sometimes hit the labyrinth walls, as its body was not used to such narrow passages. Then the scorpion stopped moving; its eyes sensed beasts ahead.
"Go, Darvo, help Sting defeat those beasts." Logan cast Eclipse Cloak, Regal's magic, to make himself invisible. He didn't want to join this fight, so he watched from a distance.
As for the two monsters, they rushed forward. Sting used the element of surprise and began using Infernal Shadow, which created a clone of itself to go forth and attack.
Darvo, on the other hand, prompted Logan to check his stats to see what skills he would use.
Name: Darvo / Species: Telek Gibbon / Level: 31 / Blood Mark: Center of Left Palm / Loyalty: 9/100] Str: 36 / Agi: 26 / Dex: 27 / Con: 28 / Int: 38 / Char: 25
Mindwave Pulse - Unleashes a powerful wave of psychic energy that can disorient and damage opponents within a certain radius.
Telekinetic Grip - Uses telekinesis to grasp and manipulate objects or enemies, allowing for powerful throws or restraining movements.
Mental Barrier - Creates a protective psychic shield around Darvo or an ally, reducing incoming damage and blocking mental attacks.
Precognitive Vision - Allows Darvo to foresee and predict the immediate future, enhancing his agility and reflexes for a short duration.
Being in his second evolution, the monkey needed to work hard to reach its next form. Darvo ran forth using Telekinetic Grip to grab sharp stones and hurl them at the goblins made from mana. Each goblin was weak individually, but soon the four goblins, acting like real monsters, called out for more.
Within seconds, ten goblins emerged from nearby areas, and then twenty. Despite their numbers, the small creatures were no match for Logan's beasts. Both Sting and Darvo dealt with them with ease.
"That was a good warm-up, huh?" Logan approached his scorpion, who hissed and stomped in frustration at not having food. The crystals dropped by the goblins were earth stones, meaning Sting didn't benefit from them.
"I know, I know. Here, have some dark stones…" Logan sighed, noticing that his beast still had anger issues to work out.
"Mine?" The monkey suddenly appeared beside him, extending one hand.
"Here… yours too." Logan handed Darvo light elemental stones—not the best he had, as he was holding onto those for emergencies.
"Now let's keep going after I gather all these stones. We need to find the next floor and progress as far as we can today." Logan used tendrils of darkness to collect each stone to not waste time.
It wasn't long before they had to stop. Logan's group was in a dead end, and they would need to go back, which was probably the most boring part of being in a labyrinth. Luckily, the monsters kept coming, as it was a new, never-explored labyrinth with a lot of mana to keep creating monsters.