Surely enough, after walking for less than 5 minutes, the first branch appeared in front of us. It is understandable though, because if a maze can be walked through without any obstacles, then it wouldn't be a maze, but rather a catastrophe.
However, in this maze where there are no visible landmarks, besides the faint structures or stairs that can be seen in the distance, it's impossible to know which way to go. After all, the reason why there is mist everywhere is still unknown, and it gives off a feeling similar to Silent Hill.
The small map doesn't show the location of the exit at all. Really, at least give us a map or a navigator, otherwise how are we supposed to play this?
"Let's go left here, we might be able to see something over there," I suggested.
"No, right is the correct way. Don't you think that typical maze designs always give the illusion that the goal is right in front of you, but in reality, it actually requires going around in circles?" Aliyah immediately disagreed.
"This place is too cold, I don't want to stay here any longer," she said.
"..."
I sighed and took out a bearskin coat from my ring.
"Put this on."
"Did you... become a clothing store?" she asked.
"You're saying that... you think clothes are not expensive?"
"..."
Aliyah looked at it, then accepted the coat and put it on.
"Are you not cold?" she asked after putting it on.
Ever since I learned ice magic, it seems like I don't feel the cold as much anymore.
I didn't choose the occupation of an ice mage, but the feeling of not feeling cold isn't fake. Could it be that as long as you learn magic, you become resistant to the cold?
"Well... okay then, if you want to go this way, let's go," Aliyah suddenly said.
"Alright, we don't really care about time, do we?"
"Indeed, after all, we don't have a time limit for survival," she said.
With that, Aliyah started walking towards the left.
"Why are you standing there?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm coming," I quickly caught up.
"But, what do you think? Is this maze-like structure something that exists in this world or is it something from our world?"
"Our world?"
Aliyah looked at me strangely.
"Do you think this thing comes from our world?"
"Well, I don't know if you've met Dell before. We previously entered an underground maze together, which allowed me to directly come to the academy from the Kingdom of Chelfa. Inside, we encountered a maze that looked like a hospital."
"A hospital?"
Aliyah looked puzzled, then pondered with her chin resting on her hand.
"Hospital... While I can't reference the hospitals in your school, I have been to real hospitals in this world. They are mostly very simple, considering that magic can solve many problems in this world."
"No no no, even if it's simple, the hospitals in this world wouldn't have words like 'emergency exit', right?"
"'Emergency exit'? It's indeed peculiar for these mazes," she said.
"... "
While walking, I suddenly noticed something ahead.
"What's wrong?" Aliyah asked when she saw me stop suddenly.
"Um... This... it really is a maze..."
"Huh? What are you talking about? What else would this be if not a maze?"
"No, look. What's that thing by the corridor over there?"
I pointed in that direction.
At the corner of the hallway ahead, there was a golden chest lying quietly.
That's right, a golden chest, the kind that is often seen in mazes, shining with gold.
My goodness, can there really be such a lovely thing here!
Before I could express my astonishment, Aliyah suddenly rushed towards the chest, then skillfully flipped it over!
"Hey hey hey, don't take everything!"
I hurriedly rushed over, but when I arrived next to the chest, I saw it flicker and then disappear into thin air."Dear God, at least leave me a little bit."
"Oh my God, just two bottles of blood potions."
Aliyah directly took out a blood potion and threw it at me.
"What do you think it is, something good?"
"Seriously...only two bottles of blood potions in such a big treasure chest, such a disappointment...but this is not a good thing."
"What's wrong, you don't think blood potions make money?"
"No, usually the place where they give blood potions is a place to fight monsters."
"..."
Just as I finished speaking, a loud noise came from the front corridor, followed by a series of footsteps that shook the earth, and then, a monster that looked over five meters tall appeared at the other end of the corridor.
"A maze, isn't it a good place to level up by fighting monsters?"
Aliyah directly drew out her dual swords, and the red flames wrapped around the dual swords.
"Otherwise it would be boring~"
"Although that's what you say, but the opponent is a level 25 monster..."
"A low level, how can it give much experience?"
After saying that, Aliyah accelerated and rushed towards the monster!
Indeed, it's time to level up!
Ice Guardian - Onya, Ice Elemental·Magic·Physical, LV25
A low-level guardian of the Ice Abyss Maze, responsible for guarding the maze, with strong defense.
I really don't understand why this guy, who looks like a land dragon, has such a cute and lovable name like Onya. Clearly, it is a four-legged land dragon with rough blue scales all over its body and four eyes that shine with a cold light.
It makes me feel like I want to beat him up when I see him.
!
The sound of metal collision kept ringing out, and Aliyah had already started fighting with that guy.
The two flaming swords continuously chopped on the blue scales, and the jumping sparks splattered like raindrops.
Although the damage was not great, Aliyah's quick footwork made it impossible for Onya to attack her.
Well, since you're so good, I can't waste any more time.
"The grand ultimate skill - Cross of Judgement and Destruction!"
A huge red cross slowly appeared in the air, accompanied by the sound of church bells.
"Pierce!"
The cross directly penetrated Onya's body, and the scales of the opponent's armor slowly disappeared as if melted.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Aliyah bent down and crossed her dual swords in front of her chest.
"The ultimate skill - Purgatory Cross Strangle!"
A red shadow flashed by, and Onya's body was cut in half.
Ice Guardian - Onya, Eliminated, Experience gained: 100000, Obtained Ice Dragon Scale (Low-level)
"So you can use fire magic too?"
As soon as the battle ended, Aliyah ran over to me and stared at me.
"Yeah, my occupation is a mage, but it doesn't specify which element."
"You...you can still do something like this? So convenient!"
"Not as convenient as you think...but our troubles aren't over yet."
I pointed behind her, not far away, where two Onyas were staring at us eagerly.
"Hmph! Let's go!"
"Of course!"
