Chapter 7. Verdant Secrets

As Harry arose for his shift on watch during the night, he found an unexpected warmth nestled against him in the form of Ginny and Tessia. With each change of guard, he figured a different girl snuggled in close. By morning, as he stirred to the sounds of the camp being efficiently packed away and noticed Daphne held close against him, he realised that, at some point throughout the night, all three had sought comfort against him which brought him a warm feeling.

The group eventually ventured up the large staircase, ascending the labyrinth to the next floor. The staircase wound its way upward within the heart of the colossal tree that formed the Labyrinth. Crafted from the tree's own massive roots and branches, the stairs appeared as if the ancient tree had intentionally grown them to guide explorers onward toward its mysterious canopy.

Each step was a wide, flat slab of gnarled bark, smoothed over time by the passage of countless challenger's feet, making Harry wonder just how popular the Labyrinth was, or if the elves were the ones to traverse the floors. The railing was a fusion of twisting vines and sturdy limbs, which offered a strong grip for those allowed to ascend. Soft, verdant moss carpeted the edges of the steps, while delicate, bioluminescent flowers illuminated the path with their ethereal glow.

As the staircase spiraled upwards, the branches overhead intertwined to form a canopy that filtered the artificial sunlight, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the steps, making Harry wonder if they'd reached the upper floors and this was a short labyrinth. The air was rich with the earthy scent of the tree and the faint fragrance of the blossoms, adding to the enchanting ambiance of this natural wonder.

The staircase ended and as they looked around it appeared that the floor was still dense with trees, foliage and undergrowth, and thankfully unaffected by the corruption that Voldemort had unleashed on the lower floor. More of the bioluminescent flowers populated this zone too, bathing it in a soft light.

"This floor is as beautiful as I remember it." Tessia spoke in a hushed tone, "But danger fills every corner, step lightly." Harry, Ginny and Daphne all nodded in response to Tessia's warning.

Heeding the warning, Harry checked his Sense Presence skill. It was a fruitless effort though, as Survival Instinct ensured he always had it on in places like Labyrinths.

"It's so pretty." Ginny said, agreeing with Tessia's assumption of the floor. The younger girl then blushed and looked over to Tessia with a frown. To Harry it was obvious she wasn't a fan of the elven girl, but Harry wasn't sure why exactly.

"This floor is home to Treants." Tessia warned. "They blend in well and are hard to detect."

"Lead on then Tessia." Daphne intoned, giving the girl a slight nod. While it seemed Daphne wasn't as openly hostile to the elf as Ginny was, she was still frosty toward her.

The group had been exploring the floor for hours, Tessia leading them on a winding path through the forest acting as their guide. While she stated she didn't know the floor very well, she did have a knack for routing through the trees.

The path however led to a dead end. "Is this where the ambush is?" Ginny asked heatedly, her hostility toward the elf bubbling over.

"T-the— what?" Tessia responded in shock, her eyes wide.

Harry looked around, it seemed they were surrounded by rock faces, and there was a boulder blocking the path ahead.

As Harry assessed the dead end, the tranquillity of the area seemed at odds with the frustration of reaching an apparent impasse. The moss-covered rock faces encircling them formed a natural barrier, their soft green hues providing a deceptive sense of comfort. A small waterfall trickled down one of the rock faces, feeding a murmuring creek that snaked through the forest floor. Its gentle melody, though soothing, felt almost mocking in the face of their predicament. As his gaze settled on the boulder obstructing their path, Harry couldn't help but feel that something was off about it. It seemed out of place in the otherwise harmonious scene, and he couldn't ignore the nagging suspicion that it was more than just a simple obstacle. The group, despite their internal tension, had found themselves in a hidden, picturesque corner of the labyrinth that masked an underlying challenge.

"Um… Harry?" Tessia said nervously as she eyed Ginny who was glaring at her. Daphne placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder attempting to calm her. Harry nodded to Tessia who looked back at him with a blushing smirk again. "Could you please stab your swords into that rock? It's a rock troll that's blocking our path, it should run when you attack it. After this, I don't know much more about this place." She again looked over at Daphne and Ginny nervously before looking back to Harry with a pleading look in her eyes.

Harry merely nodded, activating his stealth skills and stepped up in front of Tessia and the other 2 girls, making his way to the would be rock. As soon as he was by its side, he activated his Assassination skill, Execute. In a flash, he sliced the monster vertically, nearly in two. A lance of shadow erupting outward from his sword, extending the blade depth further into the monster, ensuring a single shot stealth kill.

A mana core nearly the size of his head dropped out, surprising him. "That was a powerful monster?" Harry said softly as he picked up the core and handed it to Tessia, the girls having made their way up to him. Tessia looked surprised, and Harry realised that she hadn't seen the skill yet, so he touched her shoulder causing her to jump. "This is my stealth skill." He explained, "I am an Assassin job wizard so I have a lot of skills revolving around stealth and quick kills."

"I'll keep that in mind." Tessia responded demurely, "It also helps you're powerful too."

"You can absorb that mana core if you want." Harry noted, having disabled all of his stealth skills except Hide and Sense Presence again.

"Harry, are you sure we can trust her?" Ginny intoned, a hardened expression and steely eyes watching Tessia's every move.

"I have Deception Detection Ginny." Harry chided softly, "she also could have let that beast kill us."

"Or that Voldemort thing." Daphne pointed out, to which Harry nodded in agreement.

"Excuse me, what do you mean by absorbing this thing?"

"You can absorb it into your own mana core by pressing it into your chest, increasing your own potential, gaining levels and stats." Harry explained, "You can also use it for other things, like potions and crafting."

"You quite obviously are magical," Daphne stated, to which Tessia nodded in response. "So absorb it, as you haven't done it before, the pain and the rush afterward will be quite intense, but you'll be more powerful for it."

"Levels, stats… What are these?" Tessia asked in confusion, Harry pulled out his status plate and showed Tessia.

"We can get you one of these later if you want, all witches and wizards get one when we start school. Us three, we sort of left, we were getting treated like crap, but not before getting these." Harry's plate read the following :

Harry Potter – Age: 14 – Male – Level: 105

Job: Assassin

Strength: 610

Vitality: 780

Defence: 480

Agility: 1650

Magic: 2200

Magical Defence: 1300

Skills: Mana Manipulation, Accelerated Growth (Self-Healing, Regeneration), Night Vision, Sense Presence (Hide Presence), Intuition (Deception Detection, Survival Instinct), Physical Resistance (Poison Immunity, Phoenix Cleansing, Hardened Body), Quick Step (air-step, Leg Strengthening), Apparition, Stealth Field (Area Silence), Mind Fortress, Shadow Blades (Shadow Swords, Shadow Daggers), Shadow Armour, Shadow Manipulation (Master of Shadows), Blood Lust (Intimidation, Terror).

Job Specific Skills: (Assassination, Execute -Assassin Only-)

Limit Break Skills: Berserk

Affinities: Fire Magic, Shadow Magic, Sword, Dagger, Stealth, Armed Combat

"And these skills are good?" Tessia pointed at his status plate, looking up to him for confirmation.

"Harry has the most inflated stats and overpowered skills of anyone I have ever seen." Daphne said with an air of authority. "Even mine and Ginny's now far exceed a normal adult wizard's."

"We should keep moving." Ginny said grouchily. "Absorb the damned thing and let's get moving."

The four continued through the area, having made their way through the Labyrinth forest. Tessia called the group to a halt, quickly calling her bow and crouching down. "There is a deer ahead, near a treant."

"Treant?" Daphne's tone worried.

"Sentient trees."

"How do we kill them?" Harry said with a frown. He'd been punched and thrown through a couple of trees, but doubted that worked with killing Treants. "And what are you concerned about the deer for?"

"Meat, for the next few days." Tessia responded as though it were obvious.

"Oh, you are so teaching me how to hunt." Ginny imposed herself upon the elf as she moved up closer.

"Ok." Tessia said with a smirk, obviously seeing this as a way to get on the fiery redhead's good side. "Harry, Daphne, if you kill the closest Treant with fire, the others should flee. Ginny, I will loose an arrow at the same time as the fire spells go out. We want to stay downwind of the deer as we are now, and make as little noise as possible, and aim for centre mass for a clean kill."

Ginny was nodding with a small smile taking it all in. It seemed that there was an attraction to hunting for the diminutive witch that Harry wouldn't have picked up on, he silently wondered if there were days at the Burrow where she'd not been able to eat and had wished for the ability to hunt. Even Harry was paying attention, keen to get a muggle bow of his own and have a go at some point.

"Ready guys?" Daphne said softly, keeping her tone at the same level as Tessia. She got a nod in response. "3 2 1 now." Harry and Daphne let loose their 'Incendio' spells, while Tessia launched an arrow at the deer.

Harry and Daphne added a little too much power to their spells, and set fire to what seemed to be 3 treants and some surrounding trees and undergrowth. Ginny meanwhile ran forward with Tessia to drag the deer away.

Tessia, showing an interested Ginny and Harry, strung the deer up from a tree and bled it, while Daphne collected the mana cores and fire wood (some still on fire) from the dead treants.

"Meat always tastes better when bled properly, but if you are in a rush you can get away with not doing it." Tessia explained, she then went through the gutting, skinning and butchering process. Daphne looked a little white when Harry looked over his shoulder at her, however Tessia and Ginny were actually bonding over a deer carcass. Harry smirked at the oddity of it all.

Harry marvelled at how much food they now had thanks to a single deer. Tessia and Ginny had put the remaining meat and skin under a preserving charm for later, and the group continued exploring the floor of the Labyrinth with a notably less hostile Ginny.

The quartet, after several sleep cycles of exploring the floor and battling treants, finally stumbled upon a large, enchanting grove. The grove was a serene haven, with lush, vibrant green grass blanketing the ground and delicate pink flowers dotting the landscape, adding a touch of whimsy to the scene. Ancient stone structures and pylons stood like silent sentinels throughout the area, hinting at a long-forgotten civilization that once flourished within the depths of the Labyrinth.

A small, crystal-clear creek meandered gracefully around the perimeter of the grove, its gentle babbling providing a soothing soundtrack to the picturesque scene. The water sparkled as it caught the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy overhead, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere within the grove.

From their vantage point, the group noticed an immense and ancient tree at the heart of the grove, which appeared to be more than just an ordinary part of the forest. As they watched in awe, the tree moved with a slow, deliberate grace, its gnarled and twisted roots shifting beneath it as it walked to a different location within the grove. It tenderly tended to another non-sentient tree, as if acting as a caretaker of the grove.

The sheer size and presence of the tree suggested that it was, in fact, a Tree Guardian and the boss they had been seeking on this floor. The group observed the Tree Guardian from a distance, marvelling at its unexpected actions and trying to discern its intentions.

Harry glanced at his companions, knowing that they needed to discuss a battle strategy before engaging the Tree Guardian. "Alright, we've not fought a real boss monster together and need a plan before we confront this thing," he said, looking at each of them in turn. "Any ideas?"

Tessia, who was more familiar with the creatures of the Labyrinth, spoke up first. "The Tree Guardian, if it's like a Treant, is likely to have strong regenerative abilities and rely on melee attacks. All we can do is stop its healing and keep it away from us."

Daphne nodded in agreement. "Ginny and I can handle the offensive magic. Fire spells like the other trees. Ginny, can you use your soul magic to target areas that are regenerative? Let me know and I'll hit them with Overpower"

Ginny, eager to prove herself, nodded in with nodded too, also keen to show her worth to the group. "I'll do my best to assist with debuffs in between attacks."

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before adding, "I'll stealth in first and get its attention."

Tessia nodded, happy with the strategy. "That sounds like we have a plan."

"Just remember, all plans can go out the window really fast." Harry said softly, getting ready to move. He activated his Shadow Armor, Sword and Stealth related skills before heading into the centre. Daphne knew when to start, and the other two girls would follow her lead.

Harry struck the first blow quickly with his Execute skill, what he didn't expect was to take both of its legs clean off at what would be its waist. "What the fuck?"

The beast collapsed and roared at him. A moment later a fire spell hit it, then a hail of arrows.

The beast was dead in an instant, a large mana core exposed itself from its flaming corpse. Harry drew his wand and levitated it out, still in shock.

Tree roots wound their way down from the centre of the roof in a circular fashion, creating a staircase. The girls stood on the outskirts of the grove, still expecting a fight, watching him as he just stood there. Harry then looked up to the other 3 and shrugged, they eventually made their way over to him.

"Er, Harry." Daphne asked softly. "Really? Practically one shot a boss?"

"No– I mean I dont think it was me…"

"I did cast a Soul Shatter skill spell on it before you hit it." Ginny stated softly, staring at the corpse.

"You debuffed it? That much though?" Daphne asked.

"Show me your plate Ginny." Harry said, both disbelieving and remembering he hadn't actually seen it since he'd rescued her from Azkaban. It read the following:

Ginny Weasley – Age: 13 – Female – Level: 52

Job: Banshee

Strength: 95

Vitality: 450

Defence: 80

Agility: 110

Magic: 1550

Magical Defence: 1250

Skills: Accelerated Growth (50% experience gain), Banshee Scream, Soul Manipulation 4/5 (Soul Shatter), Shadow Manipulation 2/5, Quick Learning, Magical Resistance, Spectre Evasion, Empathy

Job Specific Skills: (Sonic Scream -Banshee Only-)

Affinities: Soul Magic, Shadow Magic, Defensive Magic, Magical Combat

"Hmm…" Harry said as he looked over her plate, she'd come a very long way in a very short time, however that boss still died far too easily.

"What did you do Harry?" Tessia asked, looking for an explanation as to why they'd effectively killed a boss in seconds, something her people had never accomplished.

"I used my Execute skill." Harry said softly, handing Ginny back her plate. "Do we ask someone somewhere how to look at exactly what each skill does?"

"Err Harry… you tap it... on the plate there..." Daphne said as though she'd been doing that the whole time.

"What?"

"No… you really didn't know?" Ginny laughed. "You've seriously just been using your skills willy nilly?"

"Well… yeah?" Harry shrugged. "I mean I tested them all out first… But… yeah?"

"Oh bloody hell, you're an overpowered genius and an idiot." Daphne giggled out loud before she tapped on Ginny's Soul Shatter skill. 'Causes enemies to take 40% extra damage for the duration.'

Harry pulled out his plate and tapped on various skills:

Berserk: 'For every point of damage taken, your skills increase exponentially. Bonus effect falls away after damage has not been taken for 5 minutes.'

Execute: 'Targets vital locations, damage is increased by 200% when behind an enemy, another 200% if stealthed and is the first attack. If the enemy is the victim of a debuff effect, that effect is doubled. If the enemy is below 20% health, this skill instantly kills them. Can only be used once, in combat.

"That Execute skill looks mighty powerful." Tessia pointed out.

Daphne began to laugh even harder at Harry's expense as she read the Execute skill over his shoulder. "Nearly 500% damage, you're such a cheat character!" She laughed out loudly.

"500%." Tessia exclaimed softly, while looking at Harry appreciatively.

Harry meanwhile was tapping through his skills reading about them more and more, he would find new and more inventive ways to utilise his skillset.

After the group agreed that Tessia and Ginny should share this core, they made their way onward to, up the staircase made of root system, to the next challenge.

The group began to make their way through floors at a breakneck pace, beginning to realise they were considerably overpowered for the Labyrinth. The fights did begin to get far more difficult the further they ventured, however they were easily able to handle it. It was roughly a month later when the group found themselves facing the floor boss of the 49th Floor of the Great Tree Labyrinth.

A Hydra. Its massive, serpentine body was covered in thick, bark-like scales, which provided it with exceptional camouflage within the Tree Labyrinth. Each of its numerous heads, adorned with gnarled, twisted horns, swayed menacingly on long, sinuous necks. A pair of fierce, glowing eyes stared out from each head, casting an eerie glow on the forest floor. Its wide, gaping maws were filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, capable of tearing through the toughest of adversaries. The hydra's body was adorned with a myriad of twisting, vine-like appendages that seemed to possess a life of their own, writhing and reaching out towards its prey.

The Hydra's lair was shrouded in a massive clearing encircled by ancient, towering trees. The intertwining branches overhead formed a dense canopy that allowed only the faintest shafts of sunlight to pierce through, casting a surreal glow throughout the grove. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the lush greenery that surrounded the area. The ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves, making it difficult to discern the true size of the hydra as it slithered through the underbrush.

Upon laying eyes on the formidable hydra, Harry couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement course through him. He had been yearning for a challenge, something to truly test the limits of his overpowered group, and it seemed that this creature would provide just that. A feral grin spread across his face as he watched the hydra, its multiple heads swaying menacingly, seemingly taunting him to approach.

"It's true, the legends of a Hydra being in here…" Tessia whispered as she watched the boss watching them from a distance.

Daphne looked over to their elven comrade quickly, then back to the boss. "What can you tell us about it?" To Harry it appeared she didn't want to take her eyes off the imposing beast.

"Four heads are elemental, then one is a healer." Tessia explained softly. "I don't know what the black one is, it's not in the stories." Inclining her head to the blackened one, seemingly wreathed in shadow.

"Harry…" Ginny said softly. "The black one is dangerous, I– I can feel it. You need to hit it with Execute off the bat, then hit the healer head as quickly as you can. The rest of us can take on the other ones until you've got them two sorted."

Harry looked at Ginny, who looked worried, then Tessia who nodded to Daphne who smirked at him. "We're ready when you are." Tessia said softly, the other two nodded.

Harry activated all of the skills he could and then used Quick Step to get into the midst of the boss room as quickly as he could, dodging the vines that splayed off of it's body, ready to defend. Without slowing down he made his way over to the location where he would have the best chance at taking out the two heads as quickly as he could. Bringing out his Shadow Swords, he launched quickly.

Execute on the black head took it off in a single blow, but the healer was fast, seeming to begin to work on restoring it immediately. A hail of light arrows came down on the Hydra, some finding marks within the beast's hide, others bouncing off the shell.

Harry meanwhile worked on the restorative head, while the arrows were coming down. He didn't see the head of fire turn and blast him until it was nearly too late. He blocked the blast with one of his swords, the other still swinging at the healer head while he did so, mangling it so badly that it eventually fell sideways and went limp.

The other 3 heads, in conjunction with the fire head, realised he was the immediate threat and launched their attacks. He was hit with a burst of air, then a water spout, which was turned to steam in an instant by the fire, then a boulder seemingly came out of nowhere and slammed him into the wall.

Harry gasped for breath, the crushing weight of the boulder sending waves of agony through his body. His vision blurred as he fought to stay conscious, knowing that his allies needed him right then.

Harry's oversight had left him badly injured, and pinned by the boulder. He recognised one of his legs felt wrong, like it was broken badly and his right shoulder sat at an odd angle. His Survival Instinct forcefully activated his Regeneration and Self Healing skills as he watched from the sidelines helplessly.

Tessia shot down into the fray at a speed Harry wouldn't have thought possible. She was wielding what appeared to be dual crescent shaped blades of light as she did so.

Daphne was launching lightning from her wand at the water head, it shot a burst of water at Tessia who deftly dodged the blast, while Daphne used the distraction and water to her advantage. The lightning travelled up the water spout and into its mouth, frying that head and rendering it useless.

Ginny meanwhile was launching spell after spell at the Air Hydra head. Her spells weren't visible like Daphne's, however they made a cacophony of pressure waves as they hit their mark, and indents in the shell and hide of the Hydra, all the while her eyes glowed with a Violet fury as she launched curse after curse.

Tessia had utilised her time wisely, a blade of light slammed into the remaining two Hydra necks, she tore both blades sideways causing both heads to writhe and twist in agony. She then ran up one neck, when the fire head launched a blast at her, she jumped away from the earthen neck she was running on, onto the fire one. She was using her position to get them to damage each other.

As the elf reached the top, she leapt up into the air, both heads were tracking her now, having been taunted and badly damaged by each other and her on the way up. The heads hadn't counted on Daphne and Ginny though. Both launched their own curses at the heads that they'd learnt from the depths of the last Labyrinth.

"Shadow Explosion!" They roared together.

The shadows from underneath the Hydra's body erupted with such a force that the shell was visibly ripped in half, the remaining heads mangled and the ground beneath torn asunder.

Tessia landed with an agile grace that even Harry himself couldn't have matched. The three girls celebrated their win quickly before they made their way over to Harry.

As they caught their breath, the ground beneath the defeated hydra shifted and trembled. Harry's heart raced as he spotted a glint of gold through the debris, a new head emerging from the wreckage. What they couldnt see that Harry did however was a final head, golden emerging from the shattered shell. As it raised itself to full height it reared back, a golden light gathering in its mouth.

"No." Harry gasped in pain, his left arm free, his stats highly elevated from his injuries; Harry threw his left shadow sword at the beast with every ounce of strength he possessed. What he didn't expect was the sword to hit with such force that the head quite literally exploded, the golden light spilling around the grove, starting fires everywhere that grew at a tremendous rate.

"Daphne, get the core!" Tessia shouted, "Ginny, help me with the boulder!"

Daphne quickly ran over to the now thoroughly defeated monster and levitated the core away. Looking out over the forest fire that was growing around them.

Tessia and Ginny worked together to get the boulder off of Harry, Ginny using every last bit of her Mana to levitate the boulder, while Tessia dragged Harry clear. Once it was clear Tessia and Ginny picked him up and the group made their way to the staircase that descended from above.

The fire was spreading, sweat visibly beaded on the girls' foreheads, and their lungs burned with each gasping breath, the oppressive heat and the crackling roar of the flames filling them with dread as they raced up the staircase, Ginny and Tessia carrying Harry slowly but surely up the steps.

The heat washed over them as they climbed. Even with Harry's self healing skills active, his legs were useless having been crushed by the boulder the whole time. Ginny then levitated Harry and the 3 girls ran as fast as they could up the staircase and beyond the threshold, not looking back at the devastation that was now the 49th floor as the passageway sealed itself off behind them.

It took a week of self-healing before Harry could walk again. Even then, he wasn't fit for combat. The girls' panic was evident when they reached the final floor, worried the boss would appear. It never came, however they did not venture far as they didn't want to activate it. Harry knew they were on the final floor of the labyrinth, as there appeared to be a wooden cottage in the distance, built high up a tree.

The final room of the Tree Labyrinth was an awe-inspiring sight. The colossal chamber was filled with massive trees, each with thick, gnarled trunks that seemed to have grown together, creating a natural tapestry of intertwining wood. The canopy above formed a verdant ceiling, where sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting spotted patterns of light and shadow upon the forest floor. The air was alive with the scent of fresh growth and the gentle rustling of leaves, as though the very essence of nature and regeneration permeated every corner of the room.

At the heart of the chamber, a majestic tree, far larger than the others, stood proudly. Its immense trunk and branches stretched outward, offering support to the charming wooden cottage nestled within its boughs. The cottage itself seemed to have grown organically from the tree, with the wood appearing to have been shaped and moulded by some unseen force, rather than cut and assembled by human hands, from what Harry could see of it anyway. Ivy and moss climbed the walls and roof, giving the cottage a sense of being one with the environment.

Another stream meandered through the room, its waters sparkling which they utilised for cleaning and quenching their thirst. Patches of colourful wildflowers and lush ferns sprouted alongside the stream, creating a natural mosaic of hues and textures. The overall atmosphere was one of serenity and harmony, a powerful contrast to the chaotic battle they had endured on the previous floor.

Despite the beauty and tranquillity of the scene, an undercurrent of tension hung in the air. The group knew that they were on the brink of another confrontation with the final boss, and the idyllic setting only served to heighten their sense of unease.

"How are you today Harry?" Tessia asked softly sidling up to Harry who was standing at the edge of their camp looking out over the 50th level before him. She placed a hand on his shoulder that he covered with his own. The girls were increasingly worried about how long it was taking Harry's body to recover from the last fight.

"Sore, but fine."

"Fine my arse." Ginny said as she joined them and placed an arm around his back on his other side. "You're not healing well at all, are you?"

"I caught you looking at your stats last night." Daphne came up and pressed against Harry's back. He felt the softness of her arms surrounding his middle, her breasts against his back and the rest of her body pressing against his. "Your Berserk skill is still active isn't it."

Harry sighed and nodded, looking at his current stats, they were massively elevated from his berserk skill being active for the entirety of his recovery time.

"I did have an idea on that after you told us Daphne." Tessia said softly, looking back to the group. "We have Harry stealth and use Execute on the final boss. He'll one shot it with his current stats."

The group looked at her in astonishment, it was a valid plan, however… "I take damage while walking, so my stealth won't stay active."

Stealth Field: Shrouds the user to all eyes. Stealth will be removed upon taking damage, or after attacking.

"Bugger." Ginny said lightly.

"What if Tessia starts the fight with her blades, then Harry runs in and uses Stealth and Execute as quick as he can?" Daphne said into Harry's back, not happy with the plan, but the group knew they needed to get out of here.

"You've stopped healing, haven't you Harry?" Ginny said softly, her brown eyes peering into his.

"Yeah, a few days ago. It feels like it's blocked, so it might be a part of the Labyrinth, enemies can completely recover but we can't. Although my leg isn't shattered anymore, it's still quite painful… A barely healed fracture I think."

"Bugger." Tessia said softly, mimicking Ginny.

"I guess we have no choice then." Daphne said so softly that the others barely heard her. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow." Harry said, still staring into the distance. He wondered if he would be of assistance to the group in his current state. His stats may be high due to the Berserk Skill, however he wasn't able to move very fast with his remaining leg injury. "I won't let this hold me back. This labyrinth is my enemy, and my enemies die."

Tessia looked at Harry closely, and he remembered she hadn't known what happened to him and the other girls. He resolved himself to ensure that she knew just exactly what the darker side of humanity had done to all 3 of them.

"You're sure about this Harry." Ginny whispered, staring at him.

"I'll be fine, we can get this done." Harry said softly, touching her cheek in reassurance.

"Y–You'll be careful?" Ginny whispered.

"Are you preparing him for the boss, or asking him for a quick shag first?" Daphne broke the sombre mood as she walked over to where the other two were standing. Tessia took that moment to appear near them also, quite hurriedly too Harry thought to himself, she had a heavy blush adorning her pale features which contrasted rather nicely with her silver hair. "If you're not Tessia will." Daphne laughed out.

"Let's go." Harry shook his head and said firmly as they then made their way out toward the centre of the 50th floor.

As the group cautiously approached the heart of the floor, they noticed a subtle change in the atmosphere. The leaves above began to tremble and rustle, and the air grew heavy with an almost palpable energy. Suddenly, a flurry of movement caught their attention as the canopy of the central tree seemed to come alive.

The green leaves shifted and swirled, revealing a majestic bird hidden within. Its vibrant green plumage had perfectly camouflaged it among the foliage, allowing it to observe their every move undetected. With a powerful flap of its wings, the colossal bird swooped down from its perch, landing gracefully in front of them. The final boss had made its appearance, and the group braced themselves for an attack, however none came. The bird merely stood there eyeing them.

The bird that now stood before them was an awe-inspiring sight, resembling a colossal, green version of Fawkes the Phoenix. Its vibrant emerald plumage glistened in the dappled sunlight, shimmering with an otherworldly beauty that captivated the group. The creature's powerful wings, when spread wide, displayed an impressive wingspan that seemed to cast a shadow over the entire area. Its piercing, golden eyes seemed to hold an ancient wisdom, as if the bird had seen and known the secrets of the ages.

The bird's proud, curved beak and razor-sharp talons hinted at the power it possessed and the ferocity it could unleash. A trail of iridescent green tail feathers cascaded behind it, gently swaying with each movement the bird made. As it tilted its head, observing the group with a keen, calculating gaze, they couldn't help but feel humbled by the magnificent creature that now stood as the final challenge between them and the completion of the Tree Labyrinth.

Harry, seeing as the bird wasn't issuing a challenge to them, took a precarious step forward. The instant he did, the bird he mentally dubbed as Mega-Fawkes emitted a deep resonating cry, with a powerful flap it kicked up a gust of wind, sending debris and sharp gusts that could cleave a tree.

Harry raised his swords in front of him, while the girls raised magical shields. Spying the bird now high in the sky, casting shadows across them, he waited warily keeping an eye on his enemy.

The Green Phoenix dove toward them, wings wide, talons outstretched, preparing to strike.

Harry dove to one side, the girls to the other as the bird passed them by. As it did, the ground cleaved, splitting a wide chasm, showing nothingness within its depths. Tessia was the first to attack, sending arrow after arrow at the magical beast.

Daphne and Ginny, not to be outdone, also sent volley's of spells.

Harry, now back on his feet, assessed the situation as the girls continued their onslaught. The Green Phoenix, agile and powerful, managed to evade most of the attacks with ease, its movements almost a dance in the air. However, the sheer volume of arrows and spells began to take its toll, occasionally landing a hit on the massive creature.

Seeing an opportunity, Harry decided it was time for him to join the fray proper. Despite his leg still not being fully healed, he pushed through the pain and started sprinting toward the Green Phoenix as it swooped low to the ground, planning another strike.

Tessia, noticing Harry's intentions, focused her arrows on the bird's wings, attempting to slow it down and create an opening for Harry. Daphne and Ginny followed suit, bombarding the bird with a barrage of spells targeting its wings and body.

As Harry approached the Green Phoenix, he activated his Stealth ability, hoping to catch the creature off guard. However, the pain in his leg caused him to wince, immediately disrupting his stealth. Knowing that his window of opportunity was closing, Harry leaped into the air, swinging his swords with all his might toward the bird's outstretched talons.

The Green Phoenix, caught off guard by the sudden direct attack, tried to pull away, but not before one of Harry's blades sliced through its talons. The creature let out an agonised screech, momentarily faltering in the air, its green plumage now marred with a crimson stain.

Seizing the opportunity, the group continued their assault, determined to bring down the formidable foe before it could recover and retaliate. Harry, grimacing in pain as he felt it once more slash through his leg upon landing, spun and prepared himself for the next phase of the battle, knowing that their victory was far from assured and he would have to press himself to assure them of the win.

Tessia, seeing the Green Phoenix fully focused on Harry now, quickly switched tactics. She summoned her light blades, their ethereal glow casting an otherworldly light across the battlefield. With swift, precise movements, she danced around the massive bird, her blades slashing through the air as she leapt at it, drawing its attention and redirecting its focus ro her. In response, the bird attempted to swoop down at her, its massive wings generating powerful gusts of wind as it attacked.

Harry, taking advantage of Tessia's provided distraction, activated his Air Step skill, propelling himself high into the air and landing deftly on the creature's back. He gripped its feathers tightly with one hand, and activating Execute, used his other to swing his sword fiercely, slicing away one of the bird's wings. The Green Phoenix let out a pained screech as its wing was removed, causing it to plummet and crash land.

As the bird impacted the ground, Harry was thrown from its back, feeling his leg snap once again as he landed. Meanwhile, Tessia, filled with rage at seeing Harry fall and not get up, charged the fallen creature. Ginny shouted, "I'm going to maintain Soul Shatter. Keep it up!" as Daphne continued to cast spells at the bird, her spells striking it repeatedly, some impacting, some deflecting off of the obviously magically resistant plumage.

Tessia deftly dodged the bird's feeble attempts to counterattack with its remaining good wing and talon, her blades glowing as she closed in on the weakened beast. She spotted an opening and, with a swift and decisive motion, plunged her sword through the Green Phoenix's eye, putting an end to its reign over the Tree Labyrinth.

Harry just lay there, pain radiating through his body, he raised an arm with a thumb up, congratulating the other 3 on the defeat of the bird.

Tessia wordlessly created Harry a splint for his leg with some branches and a tent rope, while the other 2 girls removed the mana core from the beast. "Come Harry." She said gently when she was done, lifting him to his feet. "We'll get you healed up a little, then take you to the elven capital. I will have you healed properly there."

Harry merely nodded in thanks, accepting her help as they slowly made their way to the base of the tree where the house in the tree was located.

After what felt like hours of slow moving, the group eventually made it to the base of the tree. Looking up, Daphne was the first to speak. "How do we get up there?" As soon as she did there was a crunching creaking sound that emanated from the gigantic trunk before them.

"A portal!" Ginny said excitedly as she stepped forward.

"Wait!" Harry spoke up, causing Ginny to halt immediately. "We don't know exactly where it goes, we need to be cautious and move forward as a group." Ginny merely nodded and walked back to him and Tessia, taking up his other arm and placing it over her shoulder.

Daphne got in close behind, and without another word, the group moved through the portal.

As Harry and the girls stepped through the portal, they found themselves in a single-roomed cabin that seemed to be the cottage they had seen in the tree earlier. The interior was sparsely furnished, with only a few pieces of wooden furniture scattered about. In one corner of the room, there was a large magic circle etched into the floor, its intricate designs suggesting that it held great power, just like the previous Labyrinth.

A balcony extended from one side of the cabin, offering a breathtaking view of the entire 50th floor of the labyrinth. As Harry glanced around the room, he couldn't help but let out a breath of relief, that they had defeated this Labyrinth and he would now have time to recuperate from his injuries that refused to heal.

"Daphne and Ginny, you girls use the magic circle first." Harry said softly, not wanting to disturb the calm. "Tessia, you go with them." Harry made his way over to the bed and laid down. The pain had all been a bit too much over the last week, so in the safety of the only people he trusted in the world, he allowed the darkness to claim him.

Submerged in the inky depths of unconsciousness, Harry drifted weightlessly, his senses detached and distant. Gradually, he ascended through the layers of darkness, elusive whispers rippling through the void from above like a faint call to return to the waking world, slowly getting louder as he rose.

"You do it Ginny, you have the best affinity." Harry heard a soft voice before him whisper.

"While he's sleeping? Are you sure?" He heard another.

"You're healing him, not sucking him off…"

"Daphne! I know, it's just…"

"Then just do it!"

Harry awoke the 3 girls standing over him, Ginny casting something with a green glow, the other 2 looking at his leg intently. He felt a slight pop as his leg seemed to shift slightly, however whatever magic Ginny was casting had made that move painless, as he felt his body restoring to new.

Harry groaned softly and attempted to sit up. Tessia's firm, yet gentle hand on his chest prevented it, with a smile in glowing relief.

"The magic from this Labyrinth is healing, Harry." Daphne said, the relief also evident on her face. "Or restoration magic I should say, anyway Ginny has the best affinity for it, because it's a type of soul magic."

"Oh," was all Harry could say in response as he watched them. He didn't fully realise until now, but all 3 of the girls seemed to be more than just relieved, and showing emotion that had been absent in the last days. Ginny had tears running down her cheeks as she healed his various breaks.

"She's happy, Harry." Tessia's soft voice drew his attention to her. "We all are. We– we've been so scared that–" Tessia didn't finish, she just placed her head on his chest, facing away watching Ginny work.

Harry was touched by the worry that all 3 of his girls had been carrying for him with his injury over the last week. He gently laid a hand in Tessia's soft, silvery strands. Daphne too leaned into Harry, clutching his hand tightly, her relief evident.

"You were all so much more worried about it than I thought." Harry said softly. Tessia merely nodded against his chest, otherwise unmoving. Ginny meanwhile stopped, the green light emanating from her hands fading from existence.

"All done Harry." Ginny whispered, not wanting to disturb the tranquillity of the moment. Tessia shifted to his side and Daphne climbed up onto the bed beside him on the other, meanwhile Ginny laid her head on Harry's stomach and laid down atop his now healed legs. "Please just hold us Harry." She begged softly. "Just for now."

Harry couldn't deny them the small amount of comfort they required.

Some hours later, a more refreshed and happy group awoke and looked around the small room. While the girls had viewed the memories, and been cleared for access to the chest, Harry had yet to enter the magic circle.

"So, what happened when you entered it?" Harry asked softly. His question aimed at Daphne, whom had cleared 2 Labyrinths now and would be able to provide him with a comparison.

"It was much the same as the first magic circle we used. It tested me, but at the end, it gave us the Restoration magic skill. It's called Soul Mending." Daphne explained patting Ginny's head. "While we can all use it, Ginny having the affinity makes the effect far more pronounced, and effective."

"The magic circle even said I could re-grow some limbs!" Ginny stated proudly, smiling up at Harry.

"Let's not test that out." Harry chuckled before his grin once more making itself to his features. "I suppose I had better have a crack too then." Without delay, Harry entered the circle, the relief of his steps being pain free was evident as he made his way forward.

As Harry stepped into the magic circle, he felt a sudden pull and was transported into the same shared mental realm that Daphne and the others had experienced earlier. The space was filled with swirling memories, emotions, and thoughts, but unlike the previous time where he had been spat back out of the metal realm, Harry found himself in the presence of a beautiful young-looking blonde elf. She had a serene and wise aura about her, and her eyes were filled with an aged wisdom that belied her youthful appearance.

"Welcome, Harry Potter," the elf said, her melodious voice filling the space. "I am Lirael, the creator of this Labyrinth."

"Lirael huh?" Harry replied, still trying to grasp the situation. "I didn't expect to meet someone here. What's going on?"

Lirael gave him a gentle smile. "I have seen your progress through the Labyrinth, and I have deemed you worthy of the knowledge and power hidden within. But first, I must tell you something important."

Harry narrowed his eyes, his demeanour shifting to a more guarded stance. "Why should I trust you? And why do you want to tell me anything? Shouldn't you just be a memory?"

Lirael's expression remained calm, her eyes holding Harry's gaze. "I understand your mistrust, but I assure you, my intentions are pure. I am an imprint of my original soul with limited knowledge and power. I have been waiting for someone like you to come along, someone strong enough to withstand the trials and capable of understanding the gravity of the knowledge I hold. Someone with a mindset that cannot be so easily swayed."

Harry's suspicion was still evident, but he decided to hear her out. "Alright, tell me what you want then."

Lirael nodded, her expression turning grave. "You must know that the one you call Voldemort sought the magic within this Labyrinth for his own dark purposes. He was after the power of Soul Mending to achieve eternal life."

Harry clenched his fists, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "I know the prick was here. But how does this involve me? Why have you been waiting for me or whatever?"

Lirael sighed. "Voldemort sought to defy death through the creation of Horcruxes, dark magical objects containing fragments of his soul, something I discovered when he attempted the completion of this Labyrinth. You have already encountered one of these Horcruxes on the ground floor, spreading corruption and taking control of the elves. It even took physical form as a Shade of Voldemort, torturing your friend, one of my kin, Tessia." The elf lowered her head and looked away from Harry, "I also saw in Ginevra's memories a Diary, I believe this was a Horcrux too, he planned for 6 when he was here. This has happened many times in the past, it is why my power was left here."

Harry's eyes widened, connecting the dots. "Those things are called Horcruxes? And it was responsible for the corruption and Ginny's suffering? And Tessa's?" Harry felt his rage and bloodlust building, causing Lirael to raise her hands to calm Harry. 'It would do no good to destroy the messenger, she is not my enemy.' Harry chided himself before he nodded to Lirael to continue.

"Yes," Lirael confirmed. "He is vile and must be destroyed, I have seen you are referred to as the Boy-Who-Lived. I implore you to look into ensuring that he does not return to life."

Harry gritted his teeth, his anger growing. "Sure, he's been trying to kill me my entire life, but why should this be my problem?"

Lirael nodded solemnly. "It is a heavy burden to bear, Harry. But do you not think it important to note that you have survived his wrath multiple times already, both direct and indirect? I believe you may have more to do with this than we know."

Harry's eyes flashed with fury. "I will not seek him out, he is not my problem. I don't care what anyone says or calls me. But if he does face me as an enemy, I will kill him. I kill my enemies."

Lirael met Harry's eyes worriedly "I know you do Harry. Just please consider the innocents he may hurt along the way."

"I will protect my loved ones, those girls out there, first and foremost." Harry growled, "I don't care about anyone else."

Lirael nodded sadly at Harry's declaration. "I see you are unable to be swayed, one of my reasons for selecting you so I would be disappointed if you had been, but if you do have the opportunity to destroy him please do not hesitate to do so."

"I'll consider it."

"That's all I can ask." Lirael reached out and touched Harry's temple, her soft fingers leaving a cold impression on his skin as he momentarily felt a pain in his mind. "I have given you the Soul Mending skill, please use it to protect those girls you cherish. I beg you, do not harden your heart any further. It may only bring sadness to the smiles you wish to protect. Farewell"

Harry merely nodded and was ejected from the magic circle, forcibly stepping backward. "That was interesting."

"Harry! You were in there for ages." Ginny declared worriedly as she ran up to hug him.

"Oh we're grabbing him any chance we get now?" Daphne teased. Ginny just poked her tongue out at the girl before stepping back from Harry.

"Yeah, she wanted a bit of a chat." Harry said, looking at the girls who merely looked confused.

"She?" Tessia spoke softly, "We didn't interact with anyone Harry."

"Oh, well Lirael, the Labyrinth creator spoke to me–"

"What!" Tessia exploded, running up to Harry and staring in his eyes. "She is thought of as the goddess of the elves, tell me everything!"