Chapter 171: Trapped

Running all the way back to the prison, Greg looked back, and seeing that they were not chased he started to slow down.

"It seems we are fine for the time being.", said Greg calmly as he looked at the stairs.

A small while later however he turned his gaze at those carvings on the walls and ground and started to think.

"Strange. I could use my wind and fire elements, yet I couldn't utilize my earth and darkness powers. Is there a reason behind this?"

Thinking back the moment he activated his powers, suddenly Greg's eyes widened in surprise, and thought, "If I'm right, the carvings only lit up, when my powers got into contact with them. Should it be that these carvings nullify any powers that touch them?"

With that in mind, Greg waved his hand, and in instant golden flames appeared around his hand.

Seeing that the flames didn't vanish by the carvings Greg felt like his idea was true and without any hesitation, he fired his flames at the carvings.

Knowing just how powerful his flames could be, Greg felt like even if he couldn't destroy the ground, his flames should at least leave a few cracks on it.

However, if his idea was right, those carvings will protect this place no matter what.

And this is what exactly happened. The moment the flames got into contact with the ground, the carvings lit up and immediately they made the flames to vanish into thin air.

"Just as I have thought.", said Greg and without wasting any more time on this matter he turned his gaze at his friends.

"Maybe we are fine for the time being, but it seems we won't be able to escape from here either. Those carvings... I don't know what are they, but they have a special power to nullify anything by contact. Just like my demon mask, it has very similar powers."

Joe looked at the carvings and a while later he too fired a small thunderbolt at the ground, but just like what happened with Greg's flames, his attack was negated by the carvings under a second.

"So what is our plan now? We can't stay here forever.", asked Mila as she looked at Greg calmly.

Greg looking at her and started to think.

"We are truly in a dire situation. We have no food and water, so if they want us dead they can simply wait until we starve to death. Also, there is that unknown creature. If it decides to come out, we are as good as dead."

Thinking about possibilities, Greg looked at the only exit and thought, "But still... Is there really only one way out of here?"

As he thought about this, Greg turned his gaze toward the entrance into the maze, and a small while he asked Jay, "Under how much time will it take for you to scout the whole place?"

"Huh?"

Jay looked at Greg with surprise, not understand g why he did ask that question.

"I mean, can you explore the full interior of the maze?"

Jay turned his gaze toward the maze and after thinking for a while he nodded and said, "Well, I can yes, but the question here is not whether I can or not, but what about that thing inside there. It's exactly my power's nemesis as I can tell from the last accident, so it would be a huge risk for me to do try exploring that place again."

"I see.", said Greg and looked at Joe and suddenly an idea popped up in his head.

"Do you think it's feasible with our fastest speed to explore the full interior?", asked Greg from Joe suddey.

"Eh? Well... It is possible yes, but what if we get lost? There are way too many paths, so remembering all of them is completely impossible."

"Hmm..."

Greg frowned slightly knowing Joe had a point, but suddenly another idea popped up in his head.

Instantly, he turned his device on and looked at one of his Soul Creature's data.

{Shapeless}

• Race: ???

• Rank: Calamity

• Type: Weapon(s)

• Powers: Metamorphosis, Home of Attributes, Size for Price, Duplication, Durability Tempering

¤ Requirements for the next rank: (Unknown)

"I knew it.", said Greg and thought back the moment he broke through into the Soul Grade. 

The moment he succeeded in his breakthrough, he felt as a familiar power inside him broke through at the same time, however, because Joe was in a dire situation, he didn't have time to watch what it was.

But this time, watching Shapeless's data on the screen knew what that familiar power really was. It seemed the requirement for making Shapeless reach the next rank was himself.

The instant the owner, who currently was him, broke into the next rank, this weapon will follow suit. Or at least this solution was the most obvious that Greg could remember currently.

"Durability Tempering... So the reason it didn't break under Netherclaw's attack was because of this ability. Nice!"

As he thought about this, Greg made shapeless to change its form.

Instantly, from a black staff what appeared in Greg's hand was a skein of black rope.

Joe, Mila, Emma, and Jay looking at the rope in Greg's hand looked quite confused, but Greg started to explain.

"I will use this rope to help me remember the path I have already took. With this, I won't be lost."

"With that? But it's not longer than a few meters. How do you want to use that?", asked Jay with a frown, not understanding just what Greg was thinking.

"That is true, but this Soul Creature of mine has a special ability.", said Greg and put the rope down to the ground.

Grabbing one end of it, he stopped moving, and waiting for a while he started to walk around.

Jay and the others seeing this looked confused, but the next second their eyes started to widen in surprise.

The rope, which was only a few meters in length in a few moments ago, suddenly started to become longer and longer without any sign of stopping.

When the rope reached almost a hundred meters, Greg stopped using the ability and said, "My Soul Creature has the ability to expand in size at my will and what is even greater that it has no limit. Only at the beginning do I need to stay motionless for a few seconds, but after that, I can change its size freely."

"That's... That is a bit overpowered, no? And also if you have such a great Soul Creature, why didn't you use its size changer ability against Netherclaw?", asked Mila with surprise.

Greg turned his gaze at her smiled and asked, "Maybe I can change its size freely, but I can't control its weight. If I try to change its size while it is in the shape of a sword, the weight could become insanely hard to fight with. Against a monster like that, it would be only a suicidal move."

"Oh... I see.", said Mila instantly, understanding what Greg meant.

"However if Shapeless is in the form of a rope, it's no matter how long I will make it, its weight won't matter."

"I see. That is a great idea. But what if you meet that thing inside. You will just die alone in there.", said Jay calmly.

"Who said I will go alone? Joe will come with me.", said Greg with a smile.

Hearing what Greg said, Jay looked at Greg and asked, "Huh? Why him?"

"Because you are on the God rank, aren't you? asked Greg with a calm smile.

"!"

Listening to this, Emma, Mila, and Joe looked at Jay with a surprised expression, not believing what Greg has just said.

"How did you know?", asked Jay with a stunned expression.

"It was only luck. It was when you used your power to make that blood clone. At that moment your God rank presence got leaked. Naturally, only for a millisecond but that small amount of time was enough for me to notice it."

"Ah... I see... Haha, well yes I'm on the God rank yes, but doesn't this mean I have a bigger reason to go with you?", asked Jay with a bitter smile.

"No. You need to stay here and there are three reasons why. First, as you said that creature feed on blood, so your power is the exact nemesis for you. We would only die if we make even a small mistake. Secondly, we still don't know if our enemies will come after us or not, so your power should be a larger help here than inside there. Lastly, out of the five of us, we have the fastest speed, so if we need to run, we are the most likely to make it back alive."

"That is logical.", said Jay, and a small while later he nodded and said, " Sure. Let it be like this. I will remain here with Mila and Emma until the two of you explore the interior."

As he said this, Jay crouched down and after grabbing the end of the rope he tied it around a solid iron bar on the side.

Greg seeing this nodded and after glancing at Joe he said calmly, "Let's go. We don't have time to waste."