The Rise of the Winter Wolf - Book 7 - Chapter 31 - The Maze’s End

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Wolf

It doesn’t work.

Great.

I still find some of the illusions repeating.

So after failing that for a while I end up trying the other option. Killing everything but the balloons.

And that actually seems to work. None of the illusions repeat.

Yeah, I’m not sure if I would’ve ever figured this out on my own. So his hint really helped.

With that in mind, I continue clearing out all the illusions of monsters and elemental energy except for the balloons. Which I actually realize through doing this that the balloons are not illusions. They are not made of illusion elemental energy at all.

And after clearing my way through dozens upon dozens of illusions, I finally find myself at the very top of a large pyramid-shaped temple. One with a grand looking pedestal at the top.

I finally find myself grinning at the sight of what’s on top of the pedestal.

System Message

Notice. The Centurion Boss of the Centurion Floor has sent a message to the Beta Tester.

The message is as follows:

“Congratulations!!! You’ve done it!

You have finally found your way out of the maze of illusions!

Did you have fun?!

You did, didn’t you?!

I’m so happy that I gave you a fun time on my floors!

You should have a nice break before you pick up that scepter!

And I can’t wait to meet you in person!!!

You’ve been a real blast ever since I first heard of you! And I know my original is feeling the same!

Here’s to our grand meeting!”

Huh.

I can’t wait to meet him too.

So I can kill his clone.

Because this Progenitor is really getting on my nerves.

I grit my teeth as I see the message fading again. Then I move to the side of the temple’s peak and open up my expanded system store. Placing my house inside of this place.

After that I go ahead and enter the house and lie down on the couch. Only to suddenly feel Sapphire appearing in my shadow before emerging in my house.

I let out a sigh at that. But I don’t say anything to her this time around.

Because at this point I’ve largely given up on trying to stop her. And she is right about how I can revive her if she does end up dying.

That said, if she ever does die while fighting one of these Progenitors, I’m just gonna try to make a way to lock her out of the dungeon to keep her safe. After reviving her, of course.

Anyway, Sapphire goes ahead and gives me a hug since we haven’t seen each other in a while. Then she just moves over to a couch and lies down.

Only for a certain immortal wolf pup to pass through the walls of my expanded system store before just plopping down on my lap.

I glance between Sapphire and the wolf pup for a moment, feeling worried that she’ll just start attacking the pup.

But to my surprise, she actually leaves it be. In fact, she barely so much as glances at the thing.

Huh.

That’s unexpected.

I feel a smile spreading across my face.

She’s growing up.

Maybe she’s out of puberty at this point? I have been going through these floors for years now.

And she looks like she’s almost an adult physically at this point.

I turn my gaze towards the ceiling as I continue smiling.

Finally. No more teenager drama.

“By the way, I broke up with Alex,” Sapphire suddenly says, making me blink. Then I look at her. “It turns out he was just interested in me because of you.”

Excuse me, what?

She was dating someone?

Sapphire looks at my face before muttering, “Wait, I think I might have forgotten to tell you about him…” She purses her lips for a second. “Actually, forget what I just said.”

My eyes narrow.

“And just how do you expect me to do that?” I ask while sitting up, making the wolf pup flop downwards in the process.

Sapphire avoids my gaze as she says, “By forgetting.”

Uh huh…

After that I spend a few hours getting the details about what happened. Only to learn that my adoptive mother has already dealt with the issue at this point.

Although Sapphire won’t actually tell me what she did. Just that Diane is apparently rather protective.

Eventually I let it go while deciding to ask Diane about it later.

Then we spend the rest of the time until my energy fully recovers just catching up on everything that’s happened since we last spoke. Following which I finally dismiss my store home and slowly walk over to the scepter.

The scepter itself looks like a large staff tipped with numerous jewels. Most of which are purple or blue.

It also looks rather beautiful and more feminine than I thought it would.

It’s also emitting a lot of illusion elemental energy even as it just sits there on the pedestal. Floating ever so slightly above the stone.

I glance at the chat.

[Are we finally about to see it?! The next Progenitor battle!]

[PICK IT UP! PICK IT UP! PICK IT UP!]

[HELL YEAH! IT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN!]

[Welcome back Sapphire!]

[Finally, Mikaela will get his revenge on Loki as he watches Loki get beat up!]

They look like they’re having fun.

I turn to Sapphire to see her nodding her head in response. Following which she enters my shadow just in case.

Then I turn back to the scepter again, take a deep breath, and finally reach out to grab it. Only to immediately find myself being sent to the System’s Grand Hall just like with the last Centurion Boss.

Meanwhile a notification appears in my vision.

Sponsorship Announcement

All three of your sponsorship slots have been purchased by the following individuals:

XXXXXXXXXX: XXXX

XXXXXXXXXX: XXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX: XXXX

Congratulations!

You will now be transported to the System’s Grand Hall to be awarded your items and skills!

Yeah, that’s pretty much what I expected.

Three different Progenitors sponsored me this time.

Just like the last time.

And judging by the number of characters in their names, one of those four character ones is most likely Loki, and the six character one is probably Fenrir as usual.

As for the other four character one… I’m not actually sure who that could be.

Maybe Eris? Fenrir did say she was showing interest in me.

It could be her.

Well, regardless, I focus on the items at the other end of the hall.

It’s time to see what they gave me.