Ancient Labyrinth City, as the name suggests, is a city with a layout primarily maze-like.
Main structures are all square or rectangular walled buildings. For unknown reasons, these buildings have very few doors and windows, and their areas are small.
Notably, the construction materials include an unknown, hard metal. Thus, the Labyrinth City's buildings have stood on the Dark Continent for a long time.
The outer walled buildings connect continuously, similar in height and volume, forming a high wall against dangerous Dark Continent's creatures.
So, arriving at the city's outskirts, one would see the structure as a high wall. In fact, even if it functions as a wall, its essence remains a building.
Beyond this high-walled building, internal structures share square or rectangular appearances but differ greatly in height and footprint.
The tallest building is over three times higher than the shortest… the largest footprint is about three times that of the smallest.
These differences are evident everywhere when viewing the Labyrinth City from above.
Before this magnificent city built by ancient humans, humanity lacks even the qualifications to be research or archaeological experts.
Even obtaining the Herb under Brion's watch is an extremely difficult task.
Thus, humanity knows nothing about the Ancient Labyrinth City.
How did ancient humans build such a great city?
What was ancient humans' original intent behind this layout?
Why did ancient humans arrange buildings disorderly and scattered?
Many questions remain mysteries.
But before these mysteries, the Herb for All-illnesses is more important.
As one of humanity's repeatedly failed exploration sites, this International Permit Agencies' team is determined to succeed.
No saying of 'succeed or die'… only the conviction to succeed!
Giles, wearing black tight-fitting combat gear, turned to the team and said gravely, "Support teams establish basic defenses here. Main combat teams check equipment. Enter the ancient city in ten minutes."
"Yes!"
Tense atmosphere enveloped the team… everyone moved with nerves taut.
Plant Weapon Brion… an unknown metal sphere capable of replacing a target's head. To obtain the herb near the Labyrinth City's center, they must first deal with Brion.
Not avoidance, but elimination!
Because, based on intel, Brion numbers in the city are vast.
If quantity had a rating scale, the Chimera Ants that once ravaged the Six Continents would be B, while Brion guarding the Ancient Labyrinth City would be C.
Considering Chimera Ants' reproduction, Brion's quantity rating is only one level lower.
On this basic info, the most troublesome aspect is Brion, sharing plant attributes, guarding the herb like treasure-hoarding dragons.
Thus, to obtain the herb, they must confront directly, and any clever tricks are useless.
Ten minutes later, Giles led a five-hundred-person team into the Labyrinth City. Every combatant was fully armed, equipped with five different functional firearms.
If not for Nen Users' superior physical attributes, carrying such heavy gear would exhaust even elite special forces within an hour, let alone exploration.
This five-hundred-person team was humanity's most luxurious lineup in voyage history.
"Stay absolutely vigilant!"
Giles, as the team's strongest combatant, naturally took the lead.
Unlike soldiers with various functional gear, he carried only a peculiarly shaped metal rod.
The rod was thick, and only a palm like a broad leaf could grasp it. One end was oval-shaped with numerous holes.
Kincaid closely followed Giles… his five bodyguards were also there.
The Labyrinth City's internal buildings were densely distributed, creating the maze layout.
Walking inside, one might encounter a wall ahead, with passages allowing only four or five people side-by-side on left and right.
These 'gaps' left by densely arranged buildings were the main cause of the maze layout.
Considering ancient humans' perspective, no matter how one thinks, the motive behind this layout is elusive.
'Could it be that initially, ancient humans first built a high-walled building on the outermost edge, 'drawing a circle to confine oneself'?'
'Later, ancient humans didn't anticipate the population growing, so more buildings were added. Material sources weren't infinite, leading to varying heights and footprints?'
Kincaid slightly shook his head, dismissing useless thoughts, focusing on the surroundings.
Weeds grew everywhere, gravel visible.
Faint yellow walls on both sides emitted a distinct metallic scent, engraved with firm lines intersecting in dozens of patterns.
Every stretch revealed half-open doors and windows on walls, darkness seeping like smoke through gaps, obscuring the interior.
When passing half-open doors, the team's alert level was highest.
"Plant Weapon Brion has two types: parasitic wandering and continuous growth. The former uses prey as carriers for mobility, while the latter stays fixed, growing continuously as plants."
"Parasitic wandering Brion can appear anywhere in the ancient city… suddenly emerging from half-open doors or jumping from windows above. Everyone must stay highly vigilant."
Kincaid constantly reminded team members. As a non-combatant, his knowledge of the Labyrinth City was unparalleled.
"Right, then straight about two hundred meters."
At a corner, Kincaid determined the direction.
Giles turned right, leading the team forward.
After less than a hundred meters, Giles and Kincaid suddenly stopped… simultaneously, Giles raised his right fist.
Following team members halted, entering combat readiness.
Ahead of Giles and Kincaid were still low weeds, but with white powder traces staining green weeds, conspicuously.
"Parasitic Brion likely nearby," Kincaid said gravely.
Giles nodded, looking back at team members, saying, "Prepare for combat."
Hearing Giles, every member showed seriousness.
Then, the team continued, but speed noticeably slowed.
After the remaining hundred meters, turning left revealed a passage about ten meters wide.
Then, the team stopped again.
A 'human' with a metal sphere for a head, naked, stood facing the team, motionless, utterly silent.
"Indeed parasitic Brion, but the host is... human!"
Kincaid showed horror… the human body showed no signs of decay.