Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

As soon as I opened my eyes, I reached for my chest, feeling it.

‘It’s intact. How did this happen?’

I thought it might be a regression, as I had heard about it before.

Yes. There might be something in the system log.

[Trial challenge failed.]

[Time rewinds.]

‘The time was rewound because I failed the challenge.’

Although it was confirmed that I had regressed, there were still many questions left unanswered.

Is the number of retries unlimited?

If not, how can I find out the exact limit?

And where is Veronica, among other things?

‘That’s not the biggest problem. The most serious issue is that my body feels like trash, and I’m at a loss.’

The weakness I felt in my body was far beyond what I had experienced in the trials of lust and greed.

The first thing I did after regaining consciousness was to sit up and feel my chest.

“Cough. Cough.”

But even that small movement caused me to cough and my throat to feel scratchy.

“Ugh.”

In addition, my joints creaked, and my breath was ragged. I couldn’t even manage to say anything, and all that came out was the sound of my breath.

First, I needed to check my status window.

────

[Ahren von Yurasia]

[Strength: F] [Agility: F] [Endurance: F-] [Stamina: F-] [Magic Power: EX] [Luck: B]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Chaos Eye
Dragon’s Heart
Weak Authority
One Language
Reincarnation and Enlightenment
Broken Vessel

────

…Damn.

Not only were my abilities terrible, but all the traits I had obtained since my transfer had disappeared, except for the ones I had at the time of transfer.

Instead, I gained Reincarnation and Enlightenment and Broken Vessel.

‘As expected, the details aren’t visible.’

Although I couldn’t figure out what each trait did,

Just by their names, I could tell that my abilities had been messed up because of the two new traits.

Von Yurasia.

Now that I think about it, the assassin who killed me mentioned the Fourth Prince before Veronica.

But wait… If my memory isn’t wrong,

When Veronica joined the party, she told us about her past, and the person in her memories was the Fourth Princess, not the Fourth Prince.

‘Did my intrusion into the trial mix up the memories of the spiritual body and Veronica?’

That would make sense.

So, that’s why the assassin called me the Fourth Prince before killing me.

This cursed body probably has the traits that the original Fourth Princess had, transferred by the trial.

‘So, the situation is clear. Now, I have to move, whether I die or not.’

Creak.

“Cough. Cough.”

One step. Two steps.

I wondered how someone could survive in this miserable state without being killed.

Click. Click.

“…”

I tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. The same happened when I tried to pull it.

Is it possible that the Fourth Princess was so weak that she was confined for protection?

Even if the room is incredibly large, this is…

Knock knock knock.

I tried to speak, but no words came out, so I knocked on the door, enduring the pain in my joints.

‘It opened!’

“What is it? There’s an order to refrain from going out, so unless it’s something important, please return to your room.”

“Cough. It’s…”

“What is it? There’s an order to refrain from going out, so unless it’s something important, please return to your room.”

“…”

What, not even an NPC?

I tried to suppress my cough and speak, but all I got in return was a robotic, pre-programmed response.

Knock.

I sighed in frustration and closed the door.

“Haa.”

I lay back down on the bed, sighing in exasperation.

As I racked my brain for a solution, time passed by.

‘…I’m hungry. It’s incredible that I’m hungry even in this situation.’

But I figured they would bring food when it was time, so I silently rubbed my stomach and waited.

“I’ve brought the Fourth Prince’s meal, so please move aside.”

As expected, I heard voices arguing outside.

Click.

The door opened, and in came Veronica, dressed in a uniform and holding a tray.

I had half expected her, but it seemed like even a mouse gets its day in the sun. Good.

────

[Veronica]

[Strength: D+] [Agility: D-] [Endurance: C-] [Stamina: C-] [Magic Power: B-] [Luck: C-]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Armis Shield Sword The □ Sword
Strong Body – Armis Duel □ Request
The Sound of □□ Selestia
Halo
Challenger of Wrath
Shattered Time

────

Challenger of Wrath.

It seems this trial is about wrath.

‘What’s the censorship? Did the trial impose some kind of restriction?’

She was wearing a uniform hat, after all.

Now that I look, her traits were censored, and all but two Armis traits were locked.

I felt a bit doubtful that we could defeat the assassin who killed me in this state, but I was glad to see her and tried to speak.

Or, I tried to.

“Is that all for today?”

My words came out dry and emotionless, unlike what I had in mind.

It was as if I was in a scripted scenario, and all I could do was watch, as if a transcendent had decided it.

Then, against my will, more words followed.

“It’s so tedious. How long do I have to eat soup, cough.”

“I’m sorry. I requested meat, but the maid refused, citing your health.”

“It must be someone’s doing. Ha, I can’t even eat what I want. I can easily guess who’s behind this.”

“It’s bland. By the way, there’s a grand banquet tonight, right? Obviously, I can’t attend.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Tsk. No, take it and leave.”

Click.

I was alone again.

“Damn. I can’t think of a solution.”

Slowly, a picture began to form in my mind.

I was the Fourth Prince, with exceptional looks and the Reincarnation and Enlightenment trait, making me stand out.

In other words, if things had gone according to plan, the Fourth Princess would have been a thorn in the side of the Crown Prince, whose succession to the throne was almost certain.

So, they sent an assassin to take care of me while everyone’s attention was on the banquet.

And, at the same time, they wanted to instill a sense of despair in Veronica, who had stood up to the assassin.

‘That’s not the most important thing. The sun has already set, and if I don’t find a solution, I’ll die again!’

The sensation of a blade piercing my heart.

The vivid pain of coughing up blood as I died.

The feeling of helplessness and discomfort dominated my body, and I didn’t want to die again, no matter what the trial was.

…If possible.

.

.

.

Night fell, and it was dark.

Bang!

“Even if I take the prince and escape, I’ll be labeled a traitor and hunted down. I have to end it here.”

Veronica entered the room, bowing her head and muttering under her breath, creating a chilling atmosphere.

She hid me in the corner of the large room, as if the trial’s purpose was for her to win and protect me.

“Ahren, stay here quietly. The assassin will be here soon.”

“What… I understand. I trust you. Win and come back.”

“Yes!”

Thump.

“Hmm, it seems like you knew I was coming. Is there a rat among the fingers?”

Just as our conversation ended, a man with a black hood and piercing eyes arrived right on time.

I couldn’t speak or move my body as I wanted, but one thing worked.

Chaos Eye.

────

[Kuzran]

[Strength: C] [Agility: B-] [Endurance: C] [Stamina: C+] [Magic Power: B-] [Luck: C+]

[Possessed Traits] (Collapse)

Desert Scorpion Sword
Fourth Finger
Law of Trade
Poison Making
Black Curtain
Wind Walk

────

He’s strong.

Compared to her, his abilities were up to six levels higher.

On top of that, most of his traits were locked.

Could Veronica overcome this unfairness and pass the trial?

‘If this is the case, my intrusion was pointless. If I hadn’t intervened, the fake Ahren or the Fourth Princess could have been in my place, and it would have been the same.’

I cursed under my breath, but the battle had already begun.

[The trait ‘Challenger of Wrath’ converts the accumulated wrath of each round into intelligence as an ability value.]

[Veronica’s physical abilities increase by three levels.]

[Failed to resist. Frenzy is applied.]

One obstacle after another.

Her white eyes turned red, and the intelligence within them faded slightly.

“You bastard, this time I’ll definitely cut you down!”

Clang! Clang!

“Hmph. You’re as stupid as a pig. Go ahead and try, if you can!”

Veronica’s storm of attacks.

Clang!

Like the tail of a desert scorpion, his sword bent strangely, breaking through the gaps and severing the flow.

“Hiss!”

[Veronica casts ‘Eagle’s Soaring’.]

She took a step back for a moment.

She took a big step forward and soared towards Kuzran.

“Haha! You’re too slow! Is that the best you can do?”

[Kuzran casts ‘Wind Walk’.]

[Temporarily, endurance decreases by two levels, and all speeds increase.]

Whoosh!

Kuzran easily dodged the attack and countered with an upward slash of blue magic power.

“Huff!”

Veronica barely managed to twist her body to avoid a fatal blow to her heart.

Her white uniform was stained with blood from her wounded side.

“How about it! Let me tell you something interesting? Each of the ten fingers in the back alleys coats their weapons with a special poison.”

“Shut up!!!”

[Veronica casts ‘Flashing Light’.]

Her sword glowed with white magic power.

With anger, her blade shot out like a beam of light.

Like a flash of light, her sword seemed to cut Kuzran in half.

Flap!

“What are you relieved about? That was just my afterimage.”

Just as he mocked, the black hood he had slashed with his sword was fluttering, not his body.

“Haa. Ha.”

“The paralysis poison is taking effect, and your body is getting sluggish. Where, shall I complete the mission?”

Clang! Clang!!

Veronica desperately parried his attacks, trying to find an opportunity.

But, as he said, the poison had made her sluggish, and she eventually left an opening.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

“Noooooo!!!!”

Veronica screamed as she failed to block Kuzran’s thrown dagger.

“Cough.”

And I was there, with a dagger in my throat, foaming at the mouth.

It hurt.

The dagger in my throat. Even my heart, which had been stabbed in the previous round, hurt.

But, the pain was bearable compared to the frustration I felt.

‘I died again. I guess I’ll go back to the beginning again.’

I had prepared myself for death, knowing the huge gap between them, so the pain was tolerable.

As I watched the battle, I thought to myself.

You’re too hasty. Why are you swinging your sword like that? Don’t rush in, aim for his weaknesses!

‘If I could just convey what I saw through Chaos Eye and unlock her locked traits… she might have a chance.’

…

Thud.

.

.

.

Once again, a dagger was thrown into my abdomen.

Kuzran, hidden behind the black curtain, slit my throat.

My heart burst as his magic-infused sword struck.

Veronica fought a long battle, but eventually, she succumbed to the accumulated poison and was defeated.

I experienced various deaths and finally entered the eleventh regression.

[The Dragon’s Heart reacts to repeated deaths.]

[Acquired the trait ‘Death Resistance’.]

Finally, I saw it.

The one way to make her win.