Lord Of The Lost

The King's Guard is an elite force composed of over a hundred extraordinary knights.

The structure is as follows:

- One Sequence 7 leader (Helka).

- Several Sequence 8 knights.

- A majority of Sequence 9 knights.

But these aren't ordinary knights. Each member of the King's Guard is an exceptional individual, far surpassing their peers.

In battle, this difference is striking. For instance, ten Sequence 9 knights charging together were able to behead three Sequence 8 elite werewolves head-on, a feat far beyond the capabilities of ordinary knights.

When it comes to killing Sequence 9 werewolves, these knights make it look effortless, like slaughtering livestock.

The Forum Master attributed this power to a unique characteristic of the Knight's Path: [Declaration].

Upon becoming a transcendent of the Knight's Path, a knight's extraordinary characteristics are fully awakened, and their final entry [Declaration] takes effect.

[Declaration]: "You have your own code of chivalry. When your actions align with that code, your three-dimensional attributes are enhanced."

This characteristic transforms knights into living embodiments of their ideals, strengthening their resolve and making them far more powerful in combat.

It's this synergy; between the strength of their code and the abilities of their path; that allows the King's Guard to achieve such awe-inspiring feats, reinforcing their reputation as an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

The Knight's Path revolves around one core feature: the Knight's Oath.

Once a knight becomes transcendent, they take an oath, a vow that shapes their identity and powers over time. For most knights, this oath is built on ideals like humility, integrity, sacrifice, or honor.

But for the elite Royal Knights, like Helka's force, their oath is entirely different. They swear by a single, absolute principle: [Royalty].

"I am the king's shield! I am the king's spear!"

This singular devotion defines the Royal Knights. Their very existence revolves around their extreme loyalty, their purpose forged in the fires of unwavering protection for their king.

---

When William heard about this, he asked the Foru Master, "So, are you planning to make your knights swear oaths like the Royal Knights?"

The Forum Master smirked. "Of course not. That would turn them into cannon fodder loyal to someone else, not me."

Unlike the king, the Forum Master didn't have the charisma or authority to convince twenty high-level players to sacrifice everything for him. That kind of blind loyalty wasn't realistic.

Instead, he planned something different.

"My knights will swear an oath to 'share weal and woe, never betray, and fight their way out of desperate situations.'"

---

Unlike the Royal Knights, whose oaths bind them to the king, the Forum Master's oath would strengthen his group's unity. The Knight's Oath works gradually, embedding itself in the knight's very being.

If a greedy knight swears to generosity, they will gradually become generous. If they act against their oath, their extraordinary powers will falter, and they will lose everything they've built.

The Knight's Path is one of the most flexible extraordinary paths, capable of adapting based on the nature of the oath. Even thieves can become scouts, but knights are especially malleable. This adaptability is evident in the Royal Knights themselves, whose oath of loyalty redefines their strength.

The Forum Master's oath, however, was clever. It wasn't about blind loyalty to him but about creating a unified, unshakable group.

This new band of knights would become a cohesive force, bound by shared hardship, mutual trust, and an ironclad commitment to never betray each other. Their oath would solidify their bond, turning them into a team that could face any challenge together.

Given the Forum Master's position, he would naturally lead them. The final part of their oath 'fighting out of desperate situations' clearly referred to their ultimate goal: confronting the main boss.

In essence, it worked similarly to William's [Desperate Situation] trait as a Demon Wolf. When cornered, they would tap into hidden reserves of strength. However, the [Declaration] feature of the Knight's Path made this strength more communal, less personal than William's raw, individual power.

The Forum Master smiled. "I'm calling them the Knights of Despair, the first members of my All-Seeing Guild."

---

William didn't respond immediately. Instead, he opened a group chat titled "Big Brother Fan Group", which had twelve members.

Inside, the group was buzzing with activity.

Captain: "I heard Wallace got ten job transfer slots for warriors. Anyone interested, go talk to the Forum Master."

The group exploded in replies:

"Holy crap, big bro's a legend!"

"Big brother Wallace, the one and only!"

"Our god-tier brother is back in action!"

William glanced at the enthusiastic chatter and allowed himself a small smirk before typing:

"If you want a slot, sign up soon. Don't waste my time."

And with that, the conversation heated up even further. William knew he didn't need to say much, the group was already scrambling to take action.

The discussion group erupted into cheers, excitement surging through the chat.

William watched the chaos for a moment as players scrambled to claim their spots.

Talented members like those with [Rage], [Weapon Master], [Divine Power], [Fusion], and Yuna with [Beast] quickly signed up for the warrior path. Opportunities like this were rare, and they all knew delaying would only make things harder.

At Level 8, progression slows to a crawl, and breaking past that point without a job transfer is nearly impossible. For them, switching paths now was the smartest move.

However, not everyone was a good fit for the warrior path. Six players' talents didn't align, leaving them in a bind.

For example, [Hit] was better suited for the Shooter or Ranger paths, though job transfers for Rangers were rumored to only be available in the Elf Forest. Others had unique talents like [Arson] and [Subjective Slow Time], the latter being particularly rare.

[Subjective Slow Time] allowed its user to manipulate time within a 10-meter radius, slowing everything inside it. Even a highly agile werewolf would move sluggishly in the affected zone, often without realizing their time had been altered.

Jackie, one of the group members, chimed in. "Do you think I can switch to the warrior path? I really want a path that fits my talent. Any ideas?"

William responded bluntly, "No."

Unfazed, Jackie pressed on. "Then when are you going to give me the [Puppet]? And how am I supposed to use a meteor hammer as a weapon without it?"

William sighed. She had a point. Leaving her with just a meteor hammer was borderline useless. It felt like he'd been roped into being her babysitter.

Returning to the group chat, William messaged Metatron.

"When you get the chance, go to the magic house and find a magician named Calcifer. Ask him about the Lost Labyrinth."

Metatron responded, "The Lost Labyrinth? I think I've heard of it. Isn't it a forbidden zone full of dangers?"

"Yes," William confirmed.

Both Calcifer and Iris had directed him toward the Lost Labyrinth, rumored to hold endless treasures. Border Town could no longer sustain the growth of its players, what was once a shallow pond for beginners could no longer nurture dragons. The Lost Labyrinth, however, offered an opportunity for transformation and advancement.

Metatron quickly understood the significance.

For Sequence 9 transcendents, the Lost Labyrinth was no playground. They only had basic self-defense abilities, and exploring it solo would be suicide. Teaming up was the only viable option.

Alex, usually quiet, surprised William by speaking up. "Are you planning to explore a new dungeon?"

Seeing his interest, William invited him. "Join us. We'll need you."

This wasn't going to be an ordinary run. The challenges ahead required teamwork, and their talents were too valuable to waste. No single player could realistically take down the main boss; not when it was the size of a small mountain, with vitality that made even elite werewolves look fragile.

Even Helka, with all his might and the combined strength of the King's Guard, had only managed to force the boss back into the earth. Killing it outright was another matter entirely.

For now, working together was the only way forward.

William sighed as he glanced at his login panel, still grayed out from the death penalty. His untimely death had cost him half a day of progress, leaving him stuck on the sidelines while the others prepared.

But as soon as the penalty lifted, he'd be ready to join them and push deeper into the unknown.

William wasn't rushing. He took his time, carefully recovering his strength and focus, determined to return to his peak condition.

Hours later, a message from Metatron appeared.

"Calcifer says teleporting to the Lost Labyrinth costs one gold coin per person. But there's no return trip included."

"He can set up a fixed two-way portal for us, but it'll cost extra."

William raised an eyebrow. "What's the price?"

Metatron replied, "He wants either Mutu's Wolf Claw or two rare items, like the ones we got in Shadow Castle."

"And the portal has a limit: it can only transport up to one hundred people."

William frowned. Calcifer wasn't known for making unreasonable demands, but this seemed steep. Two rare items just to support a small team's ten round trips? It was hard to justify.

"We don't have a choice," Metatron added.

---

The Forum Master, taking charge, logged off the game and turned to the forums.

"Hand over the [Human Skin Book] and the [Bloodline Magic Book]. We need that portal," he announced to the group.

The stakes were too high to risk being stranded in the Lost Labyrinth. For top players like them, death wasn't just inconvenient, it came with a heavy penalty.

Among the rare items they had, [Death Symphony] was the only one they actively used, so the other two could be sacrificed without much regret. Mutu's Wolf Claw, however, was a different matter. It was incredibly valuable; a Sequence 7 material capable of crafting rare-grade items, with the potential to even create silver-quality equipment.

Still, they couldn't hesitate. Calcifer might be aloof and cold, earning his title as the Prince of Magic but he was unmatched in magical expertise. Constructing a two-way portal was simple for him, but his insistence on payment showed his rigid, almost inhuman nature.

After a quick discussion, the group decided to meet Calcifer's terms. If the Lost Labyrinth truly held the treasures they sought, the cost would be more than worth it.