Lord Of The Lost

The players selected for the Lost Labyrinth expedition were no less talented than the Forum Master or Metatron.

The only difference?

Circumstances.

Each player had their own unique growth curve, shaped by the opportunities and challenges they encountered.

So far, the strongest players had all taken part in the Shadow Castle raid—

A venture that made them rich overnight.

The Forum Master, leveraging this success, solidified his control over Border Town and skyrocketed his reputation.

But Shadow Castle was a one-time deal.

There was no second chance to enter.

Now, the Lost Labyrinth had emerged as a far greater resource hub.

Keeping it a secret would create a massive power gap—

Turning it into an exclusive treasure trove for the five of them.

But William and his team chose to open it to all players.

---

The Announcement That Shook the Forum

Using his moderator privileges, the Forum Master posted an official announcement—

Revealing the existence of the Lost Labyrinth.

The forum exploded.

"This is exactly what we needed!"

"A new high-level dungeon? I was just waiting for something like this!"

Then came the reality check—

"Wait… the entry fee is 1 gold coin???"

"Bro, that's robbery! Who can afford that?"

For most players, this was a gut punch.

At this stage, less than ten players even had a single gold coin.

And for those who did—

Every spare coin went into buying skills, weapons, or armor—not hoarding.

---

A Brutal Truth

Metatron was blunt:

"If you can't afford one gold coin, you have no business going to the maze. You'd just be walking into your own grave."

The Forum Master agreed.

"We barely made it out alive—and we were the strongest team."

He reminded them—

They had encountered a Sequence 8 monster.

If William hadn't intervened, they would have been wiped out.

If even top players barely survived…

What chance did less experienced players have?

The forum turned into a wave of frustration and despair.

"So we just sit here and rot?"

"There's no way forward if we don't take risks!"

---

Hope in Desperation

The resources in Border Town were scarce.

Not enough to sustain everyone.

It was like a desert, with the last oasis drying up.

Players were starving for opportunity—

Desperate to venture beyond and find new sources of power.

The Lost Labyrinth was their best chance.

And now, they needed the top players to break through first.

Just like how William and the Forum Master had once led the charge against the thieves on their magic warhorses—

Now, all eyes were on them once again.

Players passing by even shouted words of encouragement.

Because this wasn't just about a single team's success.

This affected everyone.

---

The First Five

William made the announcement.

"We have chosen five players to accompany us into the maze tomorrow."

He listed their names:

Maoche (Cat Car – Resurrection After Death)

Junai (Time Manipulation – Subjective Slow Time)

Yiko (Healer – Life Sharing)

Chu Kuangren (Stat Growth – Overlord)

Leng Feng (Executioner – Beheading)

For those selected—

Pure euphoria.

For those left out—

A harsh reality check.

But after a moment, they realized something—

These five were all high-level players.

Even the Forum Master's closest allies weren't included.

This meant one thing—

This was only the first wave.

More would follow.

---

Why Only Five?

It was simple.

Dumping too many players into the maze at once would destabilize it.

Attracting far greater threats.

This was why even the Magic Kingdom had never fully developed any labyrinths.

William himself had barely survived when he first entered—

Facing a Sequence 8 Gargoyle almost immediately.

A full-team wipeout had nearly happened the moment they stepped inside.

If the first batch survived and paved the way—

More players could follow safely.

To ease the transition, William made one final decision—

"Players entering the maze for the first time will have their teleportation fee waived."

A small gesture—

But for many, it was a beacon of hope.

The Lost Labyrinth expedition was officially underway.

The Announcement That Moved a Community

The players were on the verge of tears.

"Big Brother is too kind!"

"I hereby declare William a GOD!"

"Do you really need to state the obvious? Who do you think you are?"

Even those who weren't in the first batch of explorers knew—

Their turn would come.

Getting a free pass into the maze?

That was huge.

For now, no one dared to be ungrateful.

Even the usual sarcastic troublemakers kept their mouths shut.

Why?

Because the Forum Master controlled the forum.

If someone ran their mouth too much and didn't get banned?

It would only mean that the Forum Master had lost control.

But for now, everything was in order.

The forum had existed for just over ten days, and so far—

No large-scale hacker attacks.

Everything was set.

When the agreed-upon time arrived—

William logged into the Sequence Game.

---

Meeting Hercules – The Giant in the Making

Border Town – Forum Master's Temporary Office

William arrived to meet the man with the [Giant Bone] talent.

His in-game name?

Hercules.

After receiving word from the Forum Master, he had rushed over immediately.

At 2.2 meters tall, with a massive frame, he looked like a living mountain.

Compared to the average person, he already resembled a small giant.

And since a player's real-world physique affected their in-game body—

This meant Hercules was probably this huge in real life too.

Despite his intimidating size, he had a simple, honest demeanor.

Sitting down, he looked like a grown man awkwardly perched on a tiny stool—

His knees bent, his posture well-behaved.

---

No Ceremony, Just Power

William didn't waste time.

He retrieved the complete Giant Path characteristics—

And casually tossed it over.

Hercules fumbled to catch it, his face full of shock and disbelief.

He had expected—

An interview

Some kind of test

Maybe a discussion

Instead, he just got the power.

It was like someone had handed him a bag of gold and told him to walk away.

---

Hercules: "Wait… You're giving it to me now?"

William's expression remained calm.

"I don't have time to waste."

Hercules hesitated.

"Uh… should I swear loyalty to you?"

William raised an eyebrow.

"Is that what you want to say?"

Hercules nodded awkwardly.

"I mean… I'm taking something huge from you for free. It feels like I owe you. Won't this be a burden in the future?"

William turned to leave, then suddenly paused—

Looking over his shoulder, he said flatly:

"Your loyalty means nothing to me. But if you ever disappoint me… I will take back this power."

Hercules froze.

Then, as if realizing the weight of his new destiny, he slammed his massive fists against his chest—

The ground trembled slightly.

"Understood! Big Brother, just say the word—I'll crush whoever you want! I'll never let you down!"

William barely reacted.

"Good. You have one day to complete your transcendence into the Giant Path."

"Tomorrow, meet the captain at the Magic Castle and prepare to enter the maze."

With that, William transformed into a black crow and flew off with the Forum Master.

---

An Unexpected Encounter

The moment they left Border Town's airspace—

William's wolf's premonition flared.

Someone was calling him.

Looking down, he spotted a small figure standing alone in the wilderness.

A young girl waved frantically at him.

William adjusted his wings, descending in an instant.

Like a gliding shadow, he landed before her—

His Black Crow's Wings folding in, leaving only a few phantom feathers drifting to the ground.

The girl's face paled, first with nervousness, then with shock.

She had expected him to ignore her.

She had imagined the scene in her head—

Calling out to him… but the distant eagle never looking back.

Maybe, if she were lucky, he'd glance at her once before fading into the sky.

That would have fit the image of a legendary master.

Instead—

He was right in front of her.

---

William: "Why did you call me?"

Hearing her address him as "Brother", William narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I have a strong perception. Did you want to talk to me about something?"

The girl—Matatron—fidgeted nervously.

She hadn't expected this.

Now that she had his full attention, her carefully rehearsed words vanished from her mind.

Her plan had gone off-script.

Now, she had to figure out what to say… fast.

A Reckless Gamble

Matatron's heart pounded in her chest.

Oh no.

She had really screwed up.

Had she just shouted randomly and now accidentally triggered a death flag?

William's subordinates were all high-level players.

If he thought she was wasting his time, he could literally have her erased with a snap of his fingers.

As his eyes narrowed, her already pale face somehow lost even more color.

Her eyes darted around, looking for an escape route.

She lowered her head and whispered,

"I just… want to enter the maze."

The last few words faded to the volume of a mosquito's buzz.

She wasn't expecting anything.

Just wishful thinking.

If William's hearing wasn't so sharp, he probably wouldn't have even caught it.

Honestly, she barely believed she'd said it aloud.

It was a ridiculous request.

Her body wasn't even strong enough to serve as a snack for a high-level monster.

William's expression remained unreadable.

"Your name?"

"Matatron." She muttered, head down, already regretting everything.

---

A Plane Crash-Level Miscalculation

Matatron wanted to scream.

What the hell was she thinking?!

All the top players were out here breaking through dungeons, trying to reshape the entire game world—

And she was out here wasting William's time.

If the other players found out, they would spit her into oblivion.

She stood on the ground and shouted—

And then, somehow, a goddamn plane actually crashed right in front of her.

That probability was lower than drawing a random talisman and summoning an ancestor's spirit.

She wanted to slap herself.

"Don't shout for no reason, idiot!"

"Your mouth is your worst enemy!"

She wanted to change her situation—not become every player's enemy.

---

William Recognizes Her

Looking at the girl, William suddenly realized—

He knew her.

Not personally, but from the forum.

She was basically the community mascot.

Whenever Matatron spoke in the forum, someone would immediately post:

"Matatron, did you die again?"

"Are you in the ICU?"

Most of the time, it wasn't malicious—just running jokes.

She was the perpetual underdog, the walking disaster case of the player base.

She cried.

The others laughed.

That was her role.

William, however, didn't really care.

He had been through it himself.

No one sympathized with him back then.

Because in this world—no one shared each other's pain.

---

"You're Too Weak."

William cut straight to the point.

"You're too weak."

Plain and simple.

Even if all 900 players were thrown into the maze, she wouldn't qualify.

Some truths were just too brutal to sugarcoat.

Matatron bit her lip.

Her shoulders sank.

"Oh… I see."

She looked down, her disappointment visible.

For some reason, William felt compelled to ask one more question.

"What's your talent?"

She hesitated, then spoke softly.

"Purification."

William paused.

Silence.

---

An Internal Struggle

Inspiration: Cultivate her.

Brain: That's a waste of time.

Inspiration: Doesn't matter. Do it anyway.

Brain: You literally just told her she was too weak.

Inspiration: And now we change the narrative.

---

A Talent With No Answers

William's voice was neutral when he asked,

"What does your talent actually do?"

The way he said it made it sound like an interrogation.

Matatron tried to smile but ended up with something that looked worse than crying.

"I… don't know."

Unlike most players, whose talents at least gave them an edge in something—

Matatron had no clue how hers worked.

She wasn't just weak—

She was directionless.

William bit his knuckle, his mind racing.

---

The Demon Wolf's Intuition

William's Demon Wolf instincts were screaming at him.

The Demon Wolf Path wasn't just about strength.

It was about sensitivity.

This mutation had given him an extraordinary ability—

To sense danger, opportunity, and the deeper essence of things.

It had already proven itself before.

In an abandoned mine, when he walked away,

He suddenly had a premonition.

A flicker of the future.

He knew that one day, Deliora's eyes would open again.

And right now—

That same premonition was telling him something about Matatron.

Something he didn't fully understand yet.

But he had learned one thing—

Trust the instinct.

A Gamble on Potential

Every player had a unique talent, but very few ever had the opportunity to grow to Level 10.

If Matatron's talent was truly rare, then it was worth the risk.

William made his decision.

"Alright. I'll take you to the maze."

---

Matatron's World Turns Upside Down

"Huh—?"

Before she could even process what was happening, William grabbed her by the collar.

The next thing she knew—

A powerful gust of wind kicked up, sweeping the grass from the ground.

And then—

WHOOSH!

William took off, soaring high into the sky.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!"

Her scream echoed through the heavens.

---

Magic Castle – Rooftop

On the rooftop of the Magic Castle, Metatron was already waiting.

Beside him stood the five new recruits.

When William landed gracefully, everyone immediately noticed—

There was an extra person.

Metatron raised an eyebrow.

"Who's she?"

William replied calmly:

"The sixth member."

The five players exchanged glances, their expressions uncertain.

Someone finally spoke.

"Wait… wasn't it supposed to be just five of us?"

William turned his gaze toward the speaker—

A tall, sharp-eyed man with a majestic presence.

Among the five recruits, William only recognized Junai and Cat Car.

The others? Strangers.

William answered flatly:

"The plan changed. We're adding one more."

The tall man frowned slightly but remained composed.

"I have no issue with adding another teammate…"

His gaze lingered on Matatron.

"But if the maze is as dangerous as you say, then we need to be careful. Adding someone weak could be a liability."

---

The Question of Weakness

He wasn't wrong.

He knew Matatron.

Everyone did.

She was infamous in the forums—always the one dying, struggling, and getting mocked.

And now?

She was about to enter one of the most dangerous places in the game.

His concern was valid.

Once inside the maze, they wouldn't be able to stick together the whole time.

They would split into two teams:

William's group – The elite fighters.

The new recruits – Junai, Cat Car, and the others.

This split was intentional—

It would reduce their chances of running into high-level creatures.

But now?

Matatron's presence changed the balance.

If monsters attacked, they would prioritize the weakest first.

Protecting Matatron meant increased risk.

In a life-or-death situation, the rational choice would be to abandon the weakest link.

The tall man knew this—

Which was why he spoke up before it was too late.

---

William's Decision

William's gaze was sharp as he looked at the man.

"So… what are you saying?"

The man hesitated, then said firmly:

"Five people are enough. We don't need a sixth."

William nodded.

Then his next words shocked everyone.

"Then you can leave."

The tall man's face stiffened.

William's voice was cold, unwavering:

"You withdraw. Matatron stays."

The tension escalated instantly.

The man clenched his jaw, his face twitching.

---

The Forum Master Intervenes

Sensing the growing conflict, the Forum Master coughed lightly.

"That's not what Chu Kuangren meant…"

He spoke diplomatically.

"It's just that the death rate in the maze is high. He's worried about unnecessary risks."

It was a fair concern.

Even if they hadn't officially entered yet, they all knew—

The maze was a brutal place.

Bringing a weak player increased their chances of failure.

And more importantly—

If a monster attacked and they were forced to make a split-second decision,

They couldn't afford to protect a weak link.

In a worst-case scenario—

They'd have to let Matatron die.

---

William's Authority

That was exactly why Chu Kuangren had spoken up early.

He wanted to avoid this dilemma altogether.

And honestly?

He wasn't wrong.

But the Forum Master and Metatron understood one thing about William—

He wasn't the type to compromise.

Normally, William was easygoing.

But when he made a decision—

That was it.

No discussion.

No debate.

If the team disagreed, that was fine—

But they would still follow his decision.

William wasn't officially the leader—

But everyone knew he was.

Even the Forum Master had accepted this reality.

That was why he had never asked William to join the [Senluo Wanxiang] Guild.

Because William didn't follow others.

Others followed him.

The Power Dynamic & Decision Making

If my team leader joins my guild, does he become my subordinate or the true boss?

That was the unspoken question when it came to William.

Even if the Forum Master or Metatron disagreed, they wouldn't stand against him.

Not because he was tyrannical, but because—

He was always right.

William wasn't stubborn—on the contrary, he was open to reason.

He listened to whoever made sense, and he never micromanaged or obsessed over control.

But when he made a decision, that was final.

And the team had learned:

William didn't argue over resources.

He contributed the most, but never hoarded rewards.

Everything gained in the maze went into team funds, benefiting everyone.

By all logic, William could have claimed three-fifths of the loot—he had done the hardest work.

But in reality, he never demanded a cut.

Instead, they pooled their resources:

Some went to logistics.

Some went into strengthening players.

Some covered entry fees for first-time explorers.

This system meant future players could enter the maze for free—

A cost of five gold coins per batch.

At this point, the expenses were mostly coming from William.

---

Why William Didn't Care About Gold Coins

For most players, gold coins meant:

Better weapons.

Learning new combat techniques.

Buying powerful magic.

But for William?

Gold coins were becoming useless.

His fighting intensity had outgrown normal weapons and skills.

At this stage, only rare items could meaningfully enhance his power.

Ordinary upgrades weren't worth his time anymore.

That's why he didn't mind footing the bill.

---

The Debate Ends

Everyone understood this dynamic.

So when William made his call, they didn't argue.

They simply accepted it.

Matatron was in.

The Forum Master briefly considered that Chu Kuangren might not realize who he was arguing with.

Twice now, he had opposed William's decisions.

If William wanted him out, it would take a single word—and it wouldn't even cause a ripple.

But William wasn't petty.

Kicking someone out over one disagreement was pointless.

Instead, the Forum Master stepped in to smooth over the tension.

---

A Brutal Suggestion

Leng Feng—a battle-hardened player with a soldier's presence—spoke up.

"Can we use her as bait?"

Silence.

William's expression turned icy cold.

"No."

His voice was sharp, cutting through the conversation.

"You will take her with you. You will help her level up. And if she's the first one among you to die, then forget about ever entering the maze again."

The message was clear:

This was not up for discussion.

Matatron wasn't disposable.

If they wanted the privilege of exploring the maze, they had to take responsibility for her survival.

---

The Cat Car's Backup Plan

Mao Che, the cat car, chuckled.

"That works for me! If she dies, I can bring her back. No big deal."

His talent—[Resurrection from the Dead]—was unique.

At level 3, he could revive once per day.

At level 9, his abilities had grown significantly:

More resurrections per day.

The ability to grant others a temporary 'extra life.'

Self-revival in perfect condition.

However, resurrecting others wasn't as clean.

The higher the player's level, the worse their condition after resurrection.

Right now, he still couldn't revive a full-fledged Transcendent.

But for a low-level player like Matatron?

She would come back good as new.

That meant—

Even if she died, it wouldn't end her journey.

William nodded slightly.

This was good enough.

The team would adapt.

And Matatron?

She was officially part of the expedition.