True to its name, the Wolf Fang Labyrinth was home to many magical beasts centered around the glass wolf. Goblins were the only demi-humans present. The first underground floor’s passage varied between nine to eleven yards wide, just as I had read in the guild’s library. We walked in a formation where I led slightly ahead, and Ashley followed behind. While maintaining vigilance, I asked Ashley about general labyrinth exploration methods. She explained that many parties either placed a scout or two shield-bearers at the front.
“Three beasts are approaching from beyond the curve ahead. Stay a bit further back, Ashley.”
“Yes. Please be careful.”
The approaching footsteps from the front were likely glass wolves—I could recognize the rhythm of their steps. I’d heard it countless times before. I disengaged the safety on my P90 and knelt about twenty-two yards before the right curve. I aligned the crosshair with the iron sights. After a brief wait, the head of a glass wolf emerged from around the curve.
I pulled the trigger as soon as I saw its head. The safety selector was set to full auto. I fired three to five shots, then released the trigger. This was a technique known as “tap shooting” or “burst firing.” The bullets shot through the glass wolf’s head.
I did the same for the second and third wolves as they appeared, smoothly sliding the crosshair over them and firing. Thanks to the suppressor, the shots were barely audible, only making a soft tat-tat-tat sound. Within seconds, my first labyrinth battle was over.
“Very impressive, Schwarz. Beginners usually struggle in these wide passages with just one glass wolf.”
“My Arms Skill makes my fighting style based on mid to long-range combat. When I can take the initiative, I can eliminate glass wolves before it even becomes a battle.”
Despite saying this, I kept my P90 ready as I slowly approached the fallen beast. The wolves were enveloped in a black mist, and they seemed to sink into the labyrinth. Small magic stones were all that were left from their cores.
“Wind magic stones,” Ashley explained. “They’re a common attribute obtained from glass wolves.”
“I’ve been thinking that perhaps the labyrinth suits me. Without a tool bag, I can’t carry back materials from beasts, but collecting magic stones doesn’t require that. Plus, the passage width makes it difficult for enemies to dodge my attacks.”
I picked up the wind magic stones and placed them in a pouch hanging from my magazine belt.
“Are you choosing the path of an explorer, Schwarz? You could earn a substantial income, even without magic, but there are many cases of severe injuries or disappearances. It’s too dangerous to go alone.”
“Yeah, but no one wants to party with a dud like me. My fighting style requires teaming up with someone who has similar attack methods. Teaming up with someone focused on close combat would only put them in danger. There’s no need to look so concerned, Ashley. Don’t worry. I can manage.”
I gave Ashley a reassuring smile. Her expression remained tense, but I had no choice but to continue. I needed attribute-free magic stones to fight and survive in this world. Sure, there might be safer ways to live, but what else would I do? I felt as if I had been placed in this world to fight.
“Let’s move on, Ashley. The exploration has only just begun.”
“Yes, let’s move forward.”
We kept moving through the passage and I continued listening for monsters’ footsteps, waiting for them to approach, shooting them on sight, and then collecting their magic stones. We came to the first large room about halfway through the first underground floor.
“There should be about ten monsters in there. How do you plan to handle them?”
“Is it true that they won’t attack unless we enter the room?”
“Yes, beasts in large rooms are usually resting rather than guarding the passage. Demi-humans have even been found gathered around campfires in there.”
Interesting. So, that would be a challenge in future explorations. I would have to deal with the large number of beasts or higher species lounging within large rooms. Labyrinths consisted of passages and small and large rooms. While passages and small rooms typically contained up to five creatures, large rooms contained at least ten, sometimes with a higher species mixed in. As an explorer, the constant challenge I’d face with such large groups would be determining what the most efficient tactics were to reduce the numerical disadvantage.
“I have a tool I want to try, but it makes a loud noise. Cover your ears when I use it, and don’t look at it when it goes off. It might affect you, Ashley.”
“A loud noise? What does that do?”
“It’ll induce a status effect that causes panic. It’ll destabilize the enemies before my attack.”
“A status effect with sound?”
It was a special grenade called the M84 flashbang. I always carried two as part of my basic equipment, and since I had been playing PvE before falling into this world, I still had them equipped. However, I hadn’t used them in natural environments before. Knowing how many enemies were confined into the large room, it seemed like a good time to test its effectiveness.
The M84 flashbang temporarily incapacitated targets by overwhelming their vision and hearing with a loud bang and flash. In VMB’s PvP, goggles and audio sensors automatically shielded against such attacks, so it was only effective against avatars without head protection. Enemies in VMB didn’t wear headgear, so these grenades were highly effective for ambushes in confined spaces.
“Yes. It’ll make sense once you see it in action. Well, don’t look at it, though—it emits a strong flash along with the sound. It could impair your vision if you look at it.”
I explained the M84 flashbang more to Ashley as we approached the large room. I could already hear from within the strange cries of several demi-humans. The large room’s entrance was on the right side of the passage and not aligned for a straight entry. That was convenient. I left Ashley waiting behind the entrance while I leaned in to peek inside.
I counted eleven regular goblins in total and confirmed that their numbers matched the light points on the map. The map showed the entire large room, about twenty-two yards on each side, with goblins clustered in the center. They made loud noises like they were conversing. I carefully retreated back to Ashley and informed her of the eleven goblins and reminded her to cover her ears at my signal.