The labyrinth was like a series of ascending steps; each layer passed was akin to stepping onto a new stairway, leading into the depths of the unknown.
The Lord of the Furnace led his army directly into the fourth layer, smoothly advancing along the path toward the depths.
However, Lynn was entirely different.
He started from the first layer of the labyrinth, climbing upward step by step from the very beginning.
A flash of light swept past, and Lynn's figure appeared in an unfamiliar space.
The surroundings were not the same first-layer labyrinth he had previously encountered, the one enclosed by dense, bizarre forests.
Instead, he found himself in what appeared to be a grand library.
To his left and right stood towering bookshelves, neatly arranged and filled with books. The atmosphere was quiet and solemn, exuding an air of dignity.
In this library-like labyrinth, Lynn had only two choices: moving forward toward the light or retreating into the darkness behind him.
This was another labyrinth where the only way out was forward.
"Every time I enter, the scene is different..."
Lynn pondered as he surveyed his surroundings.
Recalling his previous experience in the first-layer labyrinth, a hint of caution flashed through his eyes.
"However, this time is much better. Last time, when I first arrived, I couldn't make any sense of that forest... but now, it's a place resembling a library. Perhaps I can find some clues in the form of text or illustrations."
His gaze landed on the bookshelves. At the top of each shelf, a plaque was embedded, covered in intricate text yet he couldn't understand a single word.
He guessed that the plaques likely served as classification markers for the books.
Instinctively, Lynn reached out, trying to pull a book from the shelf to examine its contents.
As expected, the books did not budge, as if they had been welded firmly to the shelves.
When his fingers brushed against the book spines, he could feel their texture, yet no amount of force could remove them.
Lynn remained calm.
With a flick of his robe, he retrieved Little Green from his spatial storage.
Utilizing the effects of Yfgríd, he connected his aura with Little Green's.
Sure enough, in the next moment, the oppressive force surrounding him faded like a receding tide.
Lynn immediately felt much lighter, and even the cold chill raising his hair vanished without a trace.
He lifted his hand and effortlessly pulled a book from the shelf.
Compared to the earlier resistance, it was now as easy as lifting a feather.
Opening the book, his gaze lingered on the title page for a moment before he began carefully reading through its contents.
The writing on the pages was ancient and eerie a script he had never seen before, resembling cryptic symbols that radiated an inexplicable depth.
These characters bore no resemblance to any of the languages in his extensive knowledge. They were completely alien to him.
Despite his efforts to decipher their meaning, he soon noticed something strange his mental energy was depleting at an alarming rate.
A sudden realization struck him, and his expression turned sharp and vigilant.
"An extraordinary language..." Lynn muttered, his tone serious.
"It requires the consumption of mental energy to be deciphered and read. And yet… the Furnace's library contains no record of it whatsoever."
The Furnace's library had been a critical source of knowledge for him, covering an immense range of topics not only detailing mainstream supernatural languages like Draconic and the language of wizards but also systematically cataloging the tongues of lesser races such as goblins and slimes.
However, this high-level language, which drained mental energy to comprehend, was entirely absent from its records. Not a single mention.
This was highly unusual. A high-tier language implied the existence of a high-tier civilization, and powerful wizards would never overlook such a phenomenon.
Unless… this language was completely outside the scope of wizarding civilization.
A chill ran down Lynn's spine.
His mind raced, piecing together possible conclusions.
"The Furnace's library was constructed by a Fourth-Level Morning Star Wizard. It might lack some of the most profound arcane knowledge, but when it comes to fundamental information, it encompasses nearly everything known to wizarding civilization."
"If this language isn't documented even there, then the only possibility is wizards have never discovered it."
"In other words..." Lynn took a deep breath, an internal alarm ringing in his mind.
"Where exactly is this place? Where does this language come from? Could it truly originate from an undiscovered civilization, unknown even to wizards?"
The mere thought sent a shiver through him.
Lynn would have preferred to be wrong about his hypothesis. Because if he was correct, then this library and the entire labyrinth could be concealing a deeply dangerous secret.
And everything the Lord of the Furnace had announced and proclaimed… without a doubt, would all be false.
Had he truly come here to rescue Aestry?
Or was "rescuing Aestry" merely an excuse to persuade the apprentices and wizards of the Furnace to willingly accompany him into this place?
"What kind of secret is so significant that even a Morning Star Wizard would conceal his true intentions and mobilize the entire Furnace?"
Lynn's brow furrowed as he tightened his grip on the book.
However, fear stemmed only from the unknown, and as a rational wizard, Lynn understood this well.
If any other apprentice had arrived at this labyrinth, they would likely be blindly searching for a way forward, eager to pass this level.
But Lynn had a chance to unravel everything.
And that was by mastering this mysterious supernatural language.
For a wizard, learning a new supernatural language in a short time was not impossible.
But there was one prerequisite it required a structured learning process.
The current environment lacked such a structured approach.
However, Lynn possessed a talent for relentless perseverance. No matter how complex or difficult the knowledge, as long as he was willing to invest the effort, he would inevitably grasp it!
"I originally planned to speedrun the first three layers… but with this discovery, it seems I can't afford to rush."
Muttering to himself, Lynn swept his gaze across the library, determined to absorb as much of this language as possible in the limited time available.
Yet, just as he was momentarily distracted, he caught something in his peripheral vision.
The darkness behind him was slowly creeping forward.
Like an encroaching tide, the shadow moved silently yet radiated an ominous presence.
"Time is limited. It seems the labyrinth enforces strict constraints on how long I can linger here..."
Lynn's expression hardened.
He understood that he had to make every second count before the darkness swallowed everything and forced him forward, he had to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
Without hesitation, he turned back to the book, his eyes scanning the cryptic text with increasing speed.
He could feel his mental energy draining, yet he remained completely focused, engraving each symbol deeply into his memory.
"I just hope that when I finally master this language… I won't be in for an unpleasant 'surprise'..."
Lynn whispered to himself, yet his fingers moved even faster, turning page after page.
The darkness continued to creep closer, but Lynn's gaze remained steady, fixed intently on the words before him.
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