The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 185 - 184. and 185. Leaving the Labyrinth and Reunion (2 in 1 Chapter)

Chapter 185: 184. and 185. Leaving the Labyrinth and Reunion (2 in 1 Chapter)

"We all know that these Ancient Angels did many experiments and created this Labyrinth just to expand their lifespan and live longer, right?" Little Mathilda said. She sat alongside Tyler, Lily, and the still-sleeping Astrid on top of a wall of the Labyrinth. Despite their strange surroundings, the mood felt surprisingly calm. They all held barbecued meat in their hands, with Tyler’s habit of storing nearly everything in his storage treasure once again saving the day. The group drank Blue Dew Tea, a rare tea from the Rosefall Kingdom, which Tyler had stocked up on during their last trip to the capital.

As they enjoyed their food, Mathilda continued, "This one ancient angel created the Possession technique."

"The same one Evergreen used," Lily said, her tone darkening as she remembered the recent battle.

"Yes. She used it on me, but unlike Evergreen, this soul barely had any power left. It was more like a crumbled soul that was about to extinguish. I simply squashed her and got her memories in return. That’s how I know a lot about the Labyrinth now."

Tyler nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "I’m glad you’re alright." He reached over and patted Mathilda’s head gently.

Mathilda smirked, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Oh, do you prefer young girls now?"

*Ouch.* Tyler’s swift smack to her head served as an answer, and she rubbed her head with a pout.

She continued despite the teasing, "There’s also something called the Time Chamber, used for traveling into the future."

"Traveling into the future?" Tyler asked, intrigued by the concept.

"It’s not exactly time traveling," Mathilda clarified, frowning in concentration as she tried to recall the fragmented memories. "It’s more like the time ratio is different inside. For example, someone could go inside for a few days, and months or even years could pass outside. It’s another method the ancient angels probably used to extend their lives. I don’t know where that chamber is, though. My memories of the layout are a little fuzzy."

Tyler rubbed her head again, a silent gesture of support, as Mathilda shrugged.

Lily, looking more curious than ever, asked, "What about the Life Orbs? How are they produced?"

Mathilda took a bite of her meat before answering. "The Labyrinth goes into a sort of dormant state for centuries at a time. During this period, it acts like a giant cauldron, absorbing the ambient energy in the air. It then compresses and converts that energy into pure Life Energy. From what I know, they’re using a branch of the Elves’ World Tree as a core. That tree has strong Life attributes."

"So that’s how they made the Life Orbs?" Lily asked, taking a sip of her tea.

"Yep, but it takes centuries to form just two or three of those orbs," Mathilda said. "Lily and I got lucky with the two we found. I’m not sure if there are any others left."

Tyler leaned back, unfazed by the information. ’It doesn’t really matter. I can make as many Life Orbs as we need with my Copper Pot.’ Tyler thought.

Tyler then asked, "Is there any way out of this Labyrinth?"

Mathilda nodded. "There are two ways. One, you can use the exit doorway up in the clouds. Two, you can close the Labyrinth completely."

Tyler rubbed his chin, considering their options. "Let’s close the Labyrinth. I don’t want to leave it running, especially with the citizens of Rosefall Kingdom trapped here."

"We might need to wake her up." Mathilda pointed at Astrid, her voice gentle but concerned. Her gaze lingered on Astrid, who was still unconscious, resting before the sacrifice altar. "She’s basically the master key to the Labyrinth. But I wonder how it works. How can she control the Labyrinth? It doesn’t make sense that it would work just because she has an Angel bloodline."

Lily, who had been pacing nearby, paused and crossed her arms. "Her ancestor must have been one of the researchers in the Labyrinth. It’s likely that the Labyrinth detected the same family bloodline running through her veins, triggering the connection."

They both fell silent for a moment, the tension in the air thick as they waited for Astrid to wake. The labyrinth’s mysteries still loomed around them, but none were more pressing than Astrid’s potential role in unraveling it all.

A soft gasp escaped Astrid’s lips as her eyes fluttered open.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the sacrifice Altar.

Without a word, Astrid slowly pushed herself to her knees before the altar, tears streaming down her face. She didn’t speak, and neither Tyler nor the others approached her. They knew she needed this moment—space to mourn, to process everything she had lost.

Astrid had lost more than anyone could have imagined. Her father was gone, her childhood friend was likely dead, and even the hero she had once admired had vanished from her life. The Rosefall Kingdom, her home, was in shambles, and the future looked uncertain. But despite it all, life moved forward. She had to keep moving. She reached down and touched her belly gently, a small glimmer of hope lighting her sorrowful eyes. There was still a future—a chance she could reunite with Lutz, the one she had loved and lost to time.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Tyler and the rest of the crew soon found themselves standing near the core of the Labyrinth, a massive chamber that exuded a haunting energy. Beside them lay the dormant **Room of Memories**, its once vibrant walls dull and lifeless. It was clear that something had caused the room’s functions. But they didn’t dwell on it—they had a more important mission ahead. The Labyrinth needed to be closed, and Astrid was the key to achieving it.

"Before we leave... let’s consume this." Tyler’s voice broke the silence as he produced two small, glowing orbs from his pouch. They pulsed with life force, casting a warm glow over the dark chamber.

"Are those...?" Lily asked, her eyes widening.

Tyler held them up. "Life Orbs. We don’t know if they’ll work outside the Labyrinth, so it’s better we consume them now while we can." He glanced at Astrid and Mathilda, who had already used one each earlier and were now in their child-like forms as a result. Both had gained a thousand years of lifespan, but at the cost of looking like they were no older than twelve.

After a moment of hesitation, Tyler and Lily nodded in agreement and each took one of the Life Orbs. The moment Tyler consumed his, he felt a rush of life force flood his body, rejuvenating every cell, every muscle, and every fiber of his being. It was overwhelming. The sensation of time reversing within him was surreal as his once mature, thirty-year-old form began to regress. He grew shorter, his muscles softened, and his facial features became youthful again.

When the sensation finally passed, Tyler blinked open his eyes, now standing at a much smaller stature.

"Wow," he muttered, glancing down at himself. He looked to be about twelve years old—an odd feeling, considering he now had a thousand-year lifespan ahead of him. He looked up to find three pairs of eyes staring at him, wide with amusement.

Astrid, who had been crying earlier, looked at Tyler and Lily with astonishment. Little Lily, who had just transformed into a child herself, was grinning, her cheeks flushed from the excess energy coursing through her. And Mathilda? Well, she was grinning for a different reason entirely.

"Tyler, you’re so cute!" Mathilda cried out, her voice a high-pitched squeal. Without warning, she threw herself at him, hugging him tightly and giggling uncontrollably. She was practically drooling. "I could just eat you up!"

Tyler’s face turned crimson as he awkwardly tried to pry Mathilda off him. "Mathilda, knock it off! This is serious!" But the rest of the crew couldn’t help but laugh at the scene. Astrid also let a small chuckle but it quickly faded away. They all looked like a group of twelve-year-olds now, but the reality of their extended lifespans hung in the air.

Once the laughter subsided, Astrid stepped forward with renewed determination. She placed her small hand on the glowing core of the Labyrinth, her expression solemn.

In an instant, the Labyrinth began to tremble. Light erupted from the core, spreading out in brilliant waves that enveloped the entire structure. Tyler, Lily, Mathilda, and Astrid held hands tightly as the light bathed them, a strange warmth filling their bodies.

The massive walls of the Labyrinth shimmered before slowly sinking into the ground, as though being swallowed by the earth itself. It was like watching the entire place dissolve into an illusion, the ancient stones and halls disappearing into nothingness.

It took an entire day for the Labyrinth to fully vanish, leaving behind crumbled ruins and remnants of what once was. When the dust finally settled, they stood in a desolate landscape. Pirates, Federation soldiers, and citizens who had been trapped within the Labyrinth were now scattered across the land and sea, some stranded on small islands of rubble, others desperately swimming to shore.

Armies of armored soldiers descended from the skies, swooping in to rescue those floating in the sea. The soldiers brought them to what was left of the Rosefall ex-Capital Island. Among the crowd, some pirates wasted no time fleeing with their loot, eager to escape the chaos while they could.

Above them, an imposing figure—an army commander—floated in mid-air, his presence commanding. He raised his voice, addressing the survivors. "Please, stay calm! I know you’ve endured years of torment inside the Labyrinth, but the White Crown Army is now in charge. We will do everything in our power to aid you."

His words sparked confusion among the crowd.

"Years?"

"White Crown... what?"

The army commander scanned the island, his sharp eyes locking onto Tyler’s group. His expression shifted, and he murmured to himself, "There they are... but they look so young."

Without hesitation, the commander activated his communication charm, sending a message to someone. Moments later, a fast-flying boat shot through the sky, stopping right in front of Tyler and the others.

"I can feel it... it’s Mana," Tyler said with a grin just before a familiar presence wrapped him in a tight hug from behind.

It was Mana, her arms encircling him as if she never wanted to let go. "Mana missed you," she whispered, her voice filled with relief.

Then, another figure stepped off the boat. A tall girl, towering over Tyler and the others, walked toward them. She had long white hair, pale skin, and an ethereal presence. She looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, with long, pointed ears.

"Silvia? Why are you so big?" Tyler’s first question broke the silence.

Silvia blushed, glancing away as she peeked shyly from behind Lily. "Why are you so small... and cute?"

Before Tyler could respond, Mana added with a puzzled look, "She’s grown up really well in five years."

Tyler’s confusion deepened. "Five years? It’s only been a few months since we entered the Labyrinth!"

Little Mathilda, still hugging Silvia, looked up thoughtfully. "Tyler, I think I understand now... I know where that Time Chamber is... The whole Labyrinth was the Time Chamber."

Tyler and others where dumbfounded.

Not even a Month passed in Labyrinth. But Five Years passed in outside world.

─── End of Volume 3: The Rosefall Kingdom Arc ───

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