"Looks like we made it," Lorcan said, a broad grin spreading across his face.

Vokari chittered happily, his tail wagging with excitement. The hexasquirrel’s enthusiasm mirrored Lorcan’s triumph, a loyal companion through the perils of the labyrinth.

Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Lorcan gazed towards the exit of the hollow sphere. He had conquered the Endless Labyrinth of Fractured Space, gaining not just a prestigious title, but a profound understanding of his own abilities.

Before heading to the spatial tunnel he believed would lead him out of the labyrinth, Lorcan paused. The treasure he had salvaged resonated deeply with him. Despite being told that all treasures would be lost upon leaving the labyrinth, curiosity got the better of him. He retrieved the glowing fragment from his Cosmic Sack, trying to sense its nature. It didn’t seem consumable in the usual sense.

Vokari sniffed at the shard, then looked up at Lorcan with pleading eyes.

“You want that?” Lorcan asked.

Vokari squeaked in confirmation. Shrugging, Lorcan let the shard drop. As it fell, Vokari opened his mouth, and the fragment instantly crumbled into glittering particles, swirling into the hexasquirrel's maw. Vokari let out a satisfied belch, then folded into himself and vanished.

Before Lorcan could panic, he sensed Vokari within his spatial holding area—he had entered the space on his own! This new ability would take some getting used to. Seconds later, Vokari reappeared, again without any prompting, and began rubbing his head against Lorcan’s trousers.

As they moved towards the exit, the labyrinth seemed to shift around them, aligning its paths to guide them safely out. Lorcan felt a profound sense of closure, as if a bond had formed between him and the labyrinth. He had navigated its trials and emerged stronger.

Upon stepping through the vortex, he felt a subtle shift in reality's fabric. Time, which had stretched endlessly within the labyrinth, now resumed its normal flow. Lorcan checked his chrono-crystal, noting that only 17 days had passed since he entered the labyrinth.

He found himself drifting in space inside a force-bubble provided by the system, a beacon already signaling his Cosmic Vessel for pickup. As he waited, he checked his system messages:

[Title: Endless Labyrinth of Fractured Space - New Record Holder: 17 days 8 hours 32 minutes 3 seconds. Spatial Fragment Treasure Salvaged: 0.

NOTE: Title Permanence Awarded.

Reward: Intelligence and Wisdom +10. Intelligence and Wisdom +5%.]

Title permanence! Lorcan had hoped to achieve this most coveted title enhancement by setting a new record. He could have explored further within the labyrinth, but exiting the first sphere maintained his connection to the labyrinth’s structure. Continuing deeper would have severed this link, leaving him lost until he could find the next fragment. While more fragments might have boosted more attributes, without a record, he wouldn’t have earned permanence, and possibly not even the percentage modifier, which was invaluable for future growth. Flat bonuses would pale in comparison as he advanced to the next grade.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As his vessel approached, Lorcan felt a sense of accomplishment and anticipation.

* * *

His trustee had been surprised to see him again so soon. After showing him his title, he’d seen him satisfied for probably the first time since he’d known the merchant. Title permanence was the hallmark of a true peak title. He shoved another Dao fruit in his hands and let him go into his meditation chamber. Activating arrays, lighting medicinal incense, and rolling out his prayer mat were done in minutes. Vokari appeared and sat down across his lap. He also seemed to meditate. Or just relax. It was hard to tell. Then Lorcan entered meditation to process his experiences.

He saw himself from a few meters away, floating through corridors of light. Waving his hands imperiously to divide spatial forces and unlock interlocking dimensional walls. It was him, but also not. He remembered himself much humbler, less majestic, and much smaller.

It took some time to realize he was not remembering his memories, but Vokari’s! The hexasquirrel saw and felt space and time quite differently than he did. He felt the connection becoming deeper and his vision sharper. From his beast-friend's perspective, he understood many intricacies he’d missed inside the labyrinth. From the interconnection of time to the ripped apart fragments of space. The fundamental building blocks of reality.

Where he saw everything with scientific logic and equations, Vokari used his deep instinct to understand. Now, utilizing them together, both of them grew in understanding of each other, space, and time.

When he came out of the strangest Dao vision he ever had, he looked at his accomplishments:

Dao:

Seed of Dimensions (Peak): Vitality +90, Dexterity +25, Wisdom +5

Seed of Spatial Perception (Peak): Intelligence +90, Wisdom +5, Dexterity +25

Seed of Timing (High): Intelligence +40, Wisdom +10

Seed of Haste (High): Dexterity +40, Intelligence +10

Seed of Mammals: (Middle): Vitality +25, Endurance +5

His mind seemed to expand. He had registered his whole status and the exact differences to before in a millisecond. He had not gained a single level, but his attributes had exploded again.

Torran whistled: “This time you did impress me. That’s so short after your last epiphany, it is almost unreal. We really need to use that kind of momentum.”

“What do you think?”

“Let’s do the White Room next.”

“You did mention that you had a token for something called that. What’s it like?”

Torran sounded almost too reassuring: “Not much is known about it. I could buy a token really cheap. That’s because someone leaked the survival statistics of this trial. They’re abysmal. One in eight survives.”

Lorcan didn’t want to show fear, but he raised an eyebrow nonetheless: “Are you sure this is a good idea then?”

“Of course. I’ve studied the data. All of the survivors had above average affinity to the Dao of space or to the Dao of Wind.”

Baldy stormed into the room: “Why did nobody wake me? You said you’d take some hours!”

“Been there, done that. Already finished and planning the next move.”

“Can I come too? I could really use some limited title too.”

Lorcan turned to Torran: “Can he?”

Torran took out a data crystal and studied it: “It’s possible to bring a Dao partner with you, but that would probably reduce the title quality a bit.”

“It would enhance my chance to survive and get a title at all.”

Torran: “That’s true. Only a true companion would follow you into the trial of near certain death.”

Baldy started: “Wait… What?”