IRHHAC 12

Episode 11 – Labyrinth of the Minotaur (2)

Kim Jun carefully observed his surroundings as he kept his detection skill active.

Waves of blue mana rippled throughout the labyrinth like tides. He closed his eyes and focused on those currents.

The strongest vibration came from the left passage.

“That way.”

He followed it.

Though the corridor branched repeatedly, he moved without hesitation, always choosing the path where the mana pulse felt strongest.

After passing the tenth fork, he reached a dead end.

Unlike the others, this wall had a faint crack.

Through the crack, blue mana pulsed like a heartbeat.

Kim Jun brushed his fingers across the surface.

At that moment, blue light spread across the wall, thinning into thread-like strands.

The strands floated into the air—

And wrapped around his wrist.

“Ariadne’s Thread.”

[Item Acquired: Ariadne’s Thread]

[Rank: A]

[Unique Skill: Guides the wearer along the correct path]

An A-rank artifact.

An item that reveals the path to a desired destination.

Even in his previous life, it had helped him countless times—not just in labyrinths, but on other floors as well.

Shhhhhh—

The thread extending from his wrist stretched endlessly, mapping the labyrinth.

Then, it went taut.

“Found it.”

Floor 10. The Labyrinth of the Minotaur.

An ecosystem in itself.

The outer areas were barren, while the deeper regions had abundant food and water.

Naturally, the strong occupied the center, and the weak were pushed outward.

And the ones blocking Kim Jun now…

“GROOOOAR!”

Starving eyes filled with rage.

Minotaur clones pushed to the outskirts, starving for days.

Like wild beasts descending from the mountains.

Slice—

[Minotaur Clone Defeated]

[+150 EXP]

Kim Jun cut them down one after another as he advanced.

The outer labyrinth was nearly a desert.

The light above—whether it was a sun or not—burned just as hot.

Dry winds blew between stone walls, heating even his armor.

I need to go deeper.

He followed Ariadne’s Thread.

One hour.

Two hours.

The environment began to change.

Moss grew on the walls.

Water could be heard.

The air became humid.

The clones grew larger.

Unlike the 2-meter ones outside, these were over 2.5 meters tall.

Stronger. Faster.

But it made no difference.

Fwoosh—

Flames swallowed them.

One. Two. Three.

He kept moving.

Another hour passed.

Now small ponds appeared.

Vines crawled along the walls.

Strange fruits hung from them.

The clones now exceeded 3 meters.

About halfway.

His gaze fell on something white near a pond.

Clatter—

Bones.

Human skulls and ribs scattered along the edge.

Old. Very old.

Decades… perhaps centuries.

Remains of challengers who had failed.

Thud.

Kim Jun knelt briefly.

Though he didn’t believe in gods, he still prayed—

That this was not their end.

“…Rest in peace.”

The deeper he went, the tighter Ariadne’s Thread became.

The clones changed further.

Now nearly 4 meters tall.

“Die!!”

They spoke.

Kim Jun muttered as he swung his blade.

“If you hadn’t met me… you might have become king.”

Thrust—

Floor 10 was fundamentally different.

There was no single boss.

Instead, thousands of Minotaur clones constantly devoured each other, evolving.

Only the final survivor earned the right to sit on the throne at the center.

The moment it ascended—

The Crown of the Half-Man, Half-Bull would be placed upon its head.

And it would become the true Minotaur King.

If the king died?

Another would rise immediately.

Unlike other floors, where the boss stayed dead—

This one never ended.

An eternal cycle.

Kim Jun knew all of this.

And this time—

He intended to break that cycle completely.

A labyrinth without a king would become a hunting ground for hunters.

After passing the final corridor—

A breathtaking sight unfolded.

A massive circular arena.

Like an ancient Greek amphitheater.

White marble seating rose endlessly.

The central sand was dark red—soaked with blood.

But instead of spectators—

Thousands of skeletons filled the stands.

Silent, eternal witnesses.

At the center—

A black basalt throne.

And seated upon it—

“HAHAHA! A new prey!”

The Minotaur King.

Over 5 meters tall.

A muscular human body with a massive bull’s head.

Scars covered his entire body—each one a mark of victory.

And most striking—

The Crown of the Half-Man, Half-Bull.

Bronze and gold, shaped like horns, with a crimson gem glowing like blood.

“I have ruled this throne for 400 years. Thousands have fed me.”

He slowly rose.

“Sorry—but you’ll be my experience.”

“Khahaha! I like your arrogance!”

BOOM—

Each step shook the arena.

Skeletons rattled, as if cheering.

[Boss Appears]

• Minotaur King (Absolute Ruler of the Labyrinth)
• Level: 53
• Skills: Authority of the King, Berserk

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

“Challenger! Dance your final dance upon this glorious stage!”

The king raised both arms.

“Authority of the King!”

Rumble—

The ground trembled.

Hands burst from the sand.

One after another—

Minotaurs emerged.

All those who had died here.

From 2-meter grunts to 4-meter elites.

Hundreds revived at once.

“Bring me his head, and I shall grant eternal resurrection!”

“ROOOAR!”

“Kill him!”

But to Kim Jun—

They were nothing but moving experience points.

Slash—

One strike severed dozens of heads.

Second slash—

A crescent flame cut through dozens more.

Third. Fourth.

Each swing killed tens.

Each rotation—hundreds.

The arena filled with screams.

But his expression remained calm.

Then—

Rumble—

A different tremor.

Stronger.

Kim Jun turned.

Massive figures appeared.

Minotaurs wearing crowns.

Over 5 meters tall.

Covered in scars.

The former kings.

“Fifteen kings who ruled this throne over a thousand years.”

They surrounded him.

Axes. Spears. Maces. Blades.

Each wielding their weapon.

But Kim Jun smiled.

“Let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Are you stronger than all of them combined?”

The king’s eyes flashed.

“Of course. I am absolute.”

“Then prove it.”

Kim Jun rested his sword on his shoulder.

“The one watching from the throne now… is me.”

Silence fell.

The king’s face twisted in rage.

“How dare you.”

Thump!

Kim Jun’s heart pounded.

No—

The Dragon Heart.

Crimson mana surged through his veins.

Then he spoke—

In dragon language.

“Answer my call.”

The arena trembled.

“GROOOOAR—?!”

The Minotaurs turned.

Not toward Kim Jun—

But toward the throne.

“What is this?! Kill him!”

But they didn’t.

Before dragon authority—

They were nothing.

Even the revived Minotaurs turned.

“ROOOAR!”

The first king charged.

Then the second.

Then all of them.

“This… impossible!”

“Go on,” Kim Jun said calmly.

“Show me if you’re truly the strongest.”

“Ha… haa…”

The Minotaur King gasped.

His body was shredded.

He had been beaten by countless former kings and his own army.

His crown lay cracked on the ground.

His body was drenched in blood.

“Impressive.”

Kim Jun clapped slowly.

“You killed them all.”

“You… human…”

The king tried to rise—

But failed.

“I…”

“Rest.”

Thrust—

The red greatsword pierced his heart.

“Aaaa…!”

The massive body collapsed.

[Quest Complete: Defeat the Minotaur]

[EXP Gained: 10,000]

[First Clear Reward: “Minotaur Horn” acquired]

[“Key of Choice” acquired]

Kim Jun picked up the cracked crown.

Magic still lingered.

“This is the end.”

BOOM—

[Hidden Condition Achieved!]

[Fall of the Thousand-Year Minotaur Kingdom]

[Hidden Rewards Granted!

[Title Acquired: “Ruler of the Labyrinth”]

[“Crown Fragments” x15]

[Skill Acquired: “Authority of the Fallen Royalty”]

[All Stats +10]

[Skill Points +20]

Kim Jun’s eyes gleamed.

Authority of the Fallen Royalty…?

[Skill Info]

• Authority of the Fallen Royalty (C-Rank)
• Passive Skill

Effects:

• +30 Initial Favorability with all NPCs
• Increased respect from high-ranking NPCs
• Special shop discounts
• +10% Quest Rewards

More useful than I expected.

In a tower where NPC relationships mattered, this was extremely valuable.

Especially on higher floors.

Crown fragments could be used for crafting.

And 20 skill points…

A massive boost.

Kim Jun muttered with satisfaction.

“Return—Thebes.”

Shhhhh—!