Ryo was on the ground, hatred burning in his eyes.
He had been defeated by Zalauria twice, and she didn't even do anything—just the pressure from her aura alone was enough to crush him.
Her mere presence was enough to overwhelm him.
Ryo:
"Damn it…! Am I really this weak…?!"
System:
"Note: You could have used the Continent's Oath skill to control her body."
Ryo (looking like a complete fool):
"What do you mean?! She's on a higher level than me!
If we were on the same level, she wouldn't have humiliated me with just her aura!!"
System:
"You're right!"
Ryo (sighing):
"I really thought I had a chance to win… but I guess that was impossible after all."
System:
"Maybe you should actually train. You've never trained in your life. Also, you're currently an eight-year-old child — you need to strengthen your body a lot more if you ever want to defeat her."
Ryo (visibly angry):
"Shut up! Don't remind me! My power levels have dropped so much!
One hand's been cut off! And this child's body can't even use my skills at full strength.
My stamina and energy have fallen too…
All my power levels are in the dirt now!!
And on top of that, because of my missing hand, I can barely activate the Eternal Field for even a few seconds?!
What a joke!!"
System:
"I understand, but don't worry. There are plenty of people who've lost a part of themselves and are still incredibly powerful!"
Ryo (yelling in rage):
"Those people!!!
Aren't kids!! Their bodies can handle power — mine can't!
They can withstand the pressure of mountains!
Not like me!!
Don't you get it?!"
The system said nothing.
Ryo (calming down, sighing):
"Sorry… I overreacted. My bad."
System:
"Just go train."
Ryo:
"You're right… There's an enemy. No… maybe not just one, maybe an entire organization.
You saw it — in the palace, she was communicating with someone.
There might be many who are just as strong as her…
I have to train."
Ryo (firmly):
"System… I'll isolate myself for two weeks inside the void I created around the tree. Maybe it'll enhance my abilities!"
System:
"Do you even know what void means?"
Ryo (raising one eyebrow, confused):
"What do you mean? The void is the void… it's nothing!"
System:
"Even after your intelligence evolved, you still don't think…
I mean — the void has no oxygen.
How are you going to breathe?!"
Ryo:
"Oh… right. I forgot about that."
Ryo:
"Wait a minute… I totally forgot!
Those two girls in the maze — they probably want to get out by now! I completely forgot about them!!"
System:
"Good thing you remembered.
They've probably rotted in there or gotten eaten by monsters!"
Ryo:
"I don't think they've rotted. In there, time moves slowly —
a century for them is just a few seconds here."
System:
"Now I understand why — even after evolving to higher levels — your energy still runs out quickly!"
Ryo:
"Really?! Then what's the reason?!"
System:
"Life is an adventure…
Figure it out yourself."
Ryo:
"Whatever. I'll figure it out eventually.
Also, I'll head back to the maze… and bring some food.
Those girls must've run out by now!"
System:
"You're telling your friends you're leaving, right?"
Ryo:
"Don't worry. They trust me a lot.
Besides, I go off to places all the time without telling them."
The system said nothing.
Ryo (sighing and spreading his wings):
"The journey of training… and rescuing those girls has begun!"
---
Ryo flew toward the capital, grabbed all kinds of food and supplies, then returned to the forest.
Ryo (looking at the maze with curiosity):
"So this is the maze? The one I created…?
It's changed a lot. Looks like a forgotten training ground from another time.
...Well, that doesn't matter."
Ryo entered the maze, searching for the girls — but he faced a problem.
The maze had started to change with every floor.
It no longer had a fixed form —
it was constantly shifting, evolving… as if trying to protect itself.
Ryo:
"What's going on?! I can't find the girls like this!
Then… I'll just change the maze structure to make it easier to find them!"
System:
"You can't.
Yes, your full energy was unlocked…
But because your body shrank, your energy output dropped—
Not slightly… A LOT.
You can't reshape the maze anymore."
Ryo (his eyes practically popped out of his head in shock):
"Tell me you're joking!!
Do you know what this means?!
It means… I have to explore the maze myself until I find an exit!
But how?!
How can I find an exit in a maze that doesn't have a set form and is constantly changing?!"
System:
"I don't know."
Ryo:
"This is a disaster!!
I'll have to find those girls now and figure out how to escape later.
If I stay in this place, it could take me four years or more just to get out!"
System:
"Also, we don't even know if the girls are still alive…
Your whole effort might end up being pointless!"
Ryo knew that…
But still, he continued deeper into the maze.
To be continued...