Lord Of The Lost

William recommended the cat car for one reason—team survivability.

His resurrection talent gave the squad a critical safety buffer.

But it came with limits:

The cat car regenerates one resurrection charge every four hours.

He can revive himself up to five times in a row.

High-level players like Chu Kuangren or Leng Feng? Three resurrections max—and their stats would be cut in half after revival.

Low-level players like Yaoyao? Up to nine revivals.

However, there was a downside.

The cat car's resurrection ability was a rare, high-value resource.

Wasting it on a low-level player meant sacrificing a potential game-changing revival.

Yet, everyone accepted the decision.

Because keeping Yaoyao alive was still better than losing a main combatant.

---

Yaoyao's Rollercoaster of Emotions

At first, Yaoyao felt like an ant standing among giants.

She was so stunned by her sudden inclusion that she could barely process it.

But when Chu Kuangren objected, her moment of hope nearly shattered.

She snapped back to reality.

Of course they'd be against it.

These were the strongest players in the game.

Even the weakest among them ranked in the top 100.

Logically, even elite players had to earn their spot—why should she get special treatment?

She hadn't just gotten on the bus late—

She was welding a whole new backseat onto it.

And that made her a liability.

People resent those who get in through connections.

It was normal that someone voiced their dissatisfaction.

But—

This wasn't just about an adventure.

This was her one and only chance.

Her only chance to stand among the strongest.

Her only chance to break free from her cursed status as a joke.

If she lost this opportunity, she might never escape her current life.

But in the end—

It wasn't up to her.

She could only leave it to fate.

She had already prepared herself to be sent away in disgrace—

To walk off like a humiliated ugly duckling.

---

William's Decision Changed Everything

Then—William spoke.

Firm. Unwavering. Absolute.

He didn't just allow her to stay—

He set ironclad rules to ensure it.

For the first time in her life, someone stood up for her.

Her eyes welled up with tears.

No one had ever gone this far for her.

Sure, players had helped her in the past, but those were small gestures.

None of them truly changed her life.

None of them actually lifted her out of the mud.

But William—

He reached out his hand and pulled her out.

Without hesitation.

Without caring about the dirt on her.

She turned her gaze toward him.

The golden light of the sun shone through the mist, casting a soft glow on his face.

A bold, confident youth.

A figure so resolute, so unshakable, it seemed to shine.

Her heart surged with emotion, gratitude, admiration—

So many feelings she couldn't even name them all.

She only knew one thing.

At this moment—

She deeply admired him.

And she would never forget how he looked on this day.

---

Into the Maze – A New Battlefield

A dozen figures emerged from the portal.

The golden archway dimmed slightly behind them.

As soon as they landed—

They split into two teams, heading in different directions.

Then—

A blinding beam of light shot out!

A gargoyle's heavy wings flapped, sending a deep, bone-chilling howl through the dark forest.

The Pavilion Master narrowed his eyes.

"That gargoyle is level 28."

Now that he had become a transcendent, he could identify creature levels more accurately.

This gargoyle was even stronger than the harpy they had barely escaped from.

By his estimate—

The harpy was only around level 26.

---

A Reality Check

One of the players asked,

"Can we kill it?"

The gargoyle was too close to the portal, making it feel like an immediate threat.

William shook his head.

"Not anytime soon."

Their level alone wasn't enough to judge.

A creature's extraordinary traits were far more important.

For example—

Elite werewolves were only level 22.

But their werewolf characteristics gave them:

Superhuman strength (comparable to level 26-27).

Higher defense.

That meant fighting a werewolf was as tough as fighting a level 26 opponent.

The same logic applied to gargoyles.

The maze guide even had a specific warning about them.

This wasn't just a battle of numbers.

This was a fight for survival.

The Gargoyle's Strength & A Search for the Holy Grail

The gargoyle was an absolute tank—its defense was monstrous, making it nearly immune to both physical attacks and magic.

No matter how sharp the blade or how powerful the spell, cracking its stone-like hide was nearly impossible.

William turned to Sophia, their key to finding the Holy Grail buried within the maze.

"Can you sense it?"

Sophia frowned. "No."

The maze was chaotic, filled with distorted energy, darkness, and ancient horrors.

The Holy Grail's presence was completely swallowed, as if it had sunk to the bottom of an endless sea.

Even for a witch, tracking it was almost impossible.

"Then we take this one step at a time." William exhaled. There was no other choice.

---

A Deeper Dive into the Maze

Last time, they had only scratched the surface.

This time, they planned to go deeper, where even greater dangers lurked.

Sophia had chosen to join this expedition, ready to undergo the most grueling test the maze could offer.

Her combat skills were exceptional, rivaling even William—making her a valuable asset.

With more players reaching transcendence, the maze itself seemed to respond, increasing in difficulty and unpredictability.

But Sophia's presence shifted the balance.

Unlike most players who struggled against higher sequences, she could stand her ground.

Her abilities blurred the line between different supernatural paths.

She fought at long range with devastating magic, drawing attention with unparalleled control over the elements.

For those who didn't know her true nature, she was indistinguishable from a high-level magician.

---

The Magician's Power

The Magician Path had four defining abilities:

1. [Mana] – Mastery over one's energy, enabling faster and more powerful spellcasting.

2. [Meditation] – The ability to recharge magical energy at an accelerated rate.

3. [Calm] – Extreme mental resilience, granting immunity to most negative effects.

4. [Wisdom] – A deep understanding of magic, allowing one to develop new spells.

A Sequence 9 Magician could already wield all basic magic.

The Witch Path, in contrast, had its own variation of spellcasting.

Witches used [Magic] instead of [Mana].

Though they seemed similar, their essence was fundamentally different.

At its core—

Magic was exclusive to witches.

Mana was exclusive to mages.

Despite this difference in nature, both abilities enhanced control over energy, spellcasting speed, and magical power.

Which meant—Sophia could cast all basic magic as well.

---

Understanding Magic: The Language of Power

Magic functioned like a language—a system of words, sentences, and literature passed through generations.

Basic Magic = The vocabulary (individual spells, like "Fire" or "Wind").

Intermediate Magic = Complete sentences (structured spells, like "Blazing Firestorm").

Advanced Magic = Poetry and prose (complex, refined spells, passed down as forbidden techniques).

Forbidden Magic = Classic literary masterpieces (legendary, world-altering spells like Space-Time Manipulation).

Every basic spell was a building block.

Any being capable of wielding energy could use basic magic, just like a parrot mimicking human speech.

But—

A parrot can imitate words, but it can't hold a real conversation.

Likewise, a warrior could learn the word 'fire,' but couldn't craft advanced spells like a true mage.

For this reason, paths like Warrior and Knight were not meant to explore deep magic.

Their internal energy wasn't structured to construct higher-level spells.

They could memorize specific magical phrases, but never develop their own spells or tap into true magic theory.

---

Levels of Magic Mastery

1. Basic Magic – The foundation.

Example: "Fire."

Whether it becomes a tiny spark or a raging inferno depends on the user's skill.

2. Intermediate Magic – Structured spellcasting.

Examples:

[Raging Fire] – A controlled, expanding blaze.

[Blazing Firestorm] – A large-scale inferno sweeping across the battlefield.

[Flight] – A spell for aerial movement.

[Underground Escape] – Phasing through solid terrain.

3. Advanced Magic – Deep mastery and refinement.

Examples:

[Space Teleportation] – Instantly shifting between locations.

[Soul Reflection] – Extracting deep memories from another's consciousness.

At the highest level, magic was no longer just a tool—it became a force of reality itself.

Sophia: The Close-Combat Mage

Sophia was no ordinary spellcaster.

Unlike traditional long-range magicians, she thrived in close-quarters combat, casting explosive spells at point-blank range.

Most Sequence 9 magicians were fragile, relying on magic to reinforce their defenses—but Sophia?

She turned offense into defense.

As her hands ignited with fire, a sudden blast erupted, the shockwave tearing through the battlefield.

The last head of a two-headed monster detonated into a shower of flesh and bone.

Standing atop the fallen creature, Sophia crossed her arms, one foot pressed against its lifeless form.

Her chin lifted proudly, a smug grin playing on her lips.

William and the Pavilion Master exchanged glances—

This reminded them of the three black magicians who had ambushed them.

But if it had been Sophia facing them instead?

Not even one of those magicians would have stood a chance—let alone three.

---

The Mystery of Magicians

The Magician Path was unfamiliar to most.

Unlike Knights, Warriors, or Assassins, magic followed a different set of rules.

Even though players had access to magic, true mastery remained elusive.

It was the one high-level supernatural path that Border Town lacked entirely.

For most, the full potential of magic remained a mystery.

But Sophia knew better—she had been raised in it, steeped in ancient magical knowledge.

She smirked, arms still folded.

"Don't you know? Excluding that freak of a disaster in the wilderness, Calcifer is the strongest magician."

She snorted at the mention of Calcifer, clearly unimpressed.

The Pavilion Master frowned. "Are early-stage magicians too weak?"

If magicians were only as strong as the three black magicians in Shadow Castle, they weren't worth investing in.

Sophia turned, eyes narrowing.

For a moment, it looked as if she was staring at an absolute idiot.

"You wouldn't say that if you had seen the Kingdom's Magic Army."

Metatron's curiosity piqued. "What was it like?"

Sophia paused.

Her usual confidence wavered.

"Of course, it's… um… really powerful."

She stammered, avoiding direct eye contact.

William smirked. "You've never seen them, have you?"

Sophia's face flushed red.

With an angry huff, she kicked William hard on the shin.

"You're so annoying!"

"The Magic Legion is the strongest force in the Kingdom! Anyone who knew too much about it is dead!"

"The black magicians are just filthy rats! They've been hunted and crushed by the Kingdom—they're not real magicians at all!"

William rubbed his leg, the sharp pain still lingering.

Why did she kick him instead of the Pavilion Master? He was the one who brought it up!

---

A Ruin in the Maze

After two hours of searching, they finally stumbled upon something ancient.

A ruin, swallowed by time.

As they stepped closer, a chilling message flashed before their eyes:

[Warning: You have encountered Contaminated Bodies.]

[Contaminated Shells: Adventurers who perished in the labyrinth, their corpses reanimated as empty husks.]

William's expression darkened.

When someone died in the maze, their soul and supernatural essence faded, leaving behind an empty vessel.

The maze itself—twisted and alive with dark forces—corrupted these remains, reviving them as mindless wanderers.

The ruins were infested with dozens of these wretched creatures.

Their armor was in tatters, their eyes hollow, but their strength was terrifying—

Each Contaminated Body was as powerful as a Sequence 9 Knight or Warrior.

That meant one thing.

They were on the right track.

The deeper they ventured, the stronger the monsters became—signaling that they were nearing something important.

They were heading toward the heart of the maze.

The lost capital of the dwarves.

A place once ravaged by the war of the gods.

If the Witch Clan's Holy Grail had survived, it would be there.

But that also meant—

They weren't the first to take this path.

Many before them had tried and failed.

Would they meet the same fate?

William and his team fought through the ruins, cutting down the contaminated corpses one by one.

The battle was grueling, but in the end—

The ruins belonged to them.

And with it, the treasures of the past.

Treasures of the Fallen Dwarf Warrior

The ruins weren't completely empty.

Among the decayed bones of a fallen dwarf, William and his team uncovered a trove of rare items—

Eight magic gold coins.

A significant find considering how scarce they were in the labyrinth.

Yet, the real treasures lay not in the coins, but in the dwarf's remains.

---

[Life Amulet] – The Ancient Healer

A finely crafted talisman of excellent quality, forged from magic steel.

Its surface shimmered with etched runes, known as the Secret Language of the World—a script lost to time.

Its effect?

A slow but powerful regeneration, gradually restoring the wearer's physical and mental attributes.

Without a priest in the team, this amulet was a godsend, serving as a portable healing relic.

The Pavilion Master had a Lightning Amulet, but this one was rarer.

Sophia, ever the scholar, fixated on the inscription.

The Secret Language of the World was the key to understanding the fundamental forces of magic.

In the age of legends, only the greatest magicians could inscribe such runes onto metal, crafting powerful artifacts.

But now?

Such magicians had long vanished.

No one forged amulets anymore.

This meant that every existing amulet would only decrease in number—a relic of a lost art.

The fact that this dwarf had carried one was a mystery in itself.

---

[Sun Brooch] – The Shield Against Darkness

Another extraordinary find, discovered beside the amulet.

Originally a rare artifact, but time had weakened it to excellent grade.

Yet, its effects remained.

The brooch provided protection against evil—

Warding off spirits, curses, and dark sorcery.

Considering the labyrinth's corruption, it was a miracle that this item had survived.

Perhaps, it was this very brooch that kept the dwarf's corpse from reanimating into an undead monstrosity.

Unlike the Contaminated Bodies they had fought earlier, this warrior had retained his dignity in death.

A small but profound mercy in a cursed world.

---

[Fury Helmet] – The War God's Crown

A battle-scarred helmet, once a rare artifact, now degraded to excellent grade.

Its hidden power could only be unlocked by someone on the Warrior Path.

This meant the dwarf had likely been a Sequence 8 warrior—an elite combatant.

His story, though lost to time, left behind clues:

He had entered the labyrinth fully armed—either seeking something or retracing the history of the Dwarven Kingdom.

At some point, he was attacked by monsters and fatally wounded.

He retreated to these ruins, using the last of his strength to sit against a stone pillar—where he died alone.

A warrior's end.

Silent. Unyielding. Forgotten.

---

A Bag of Rare Ores – The Dwarven Legacy

Near the dwarf's remains, a tattered package lay half-buried.

When opened, mithril and adamantium tumbled out—precious ores used in forging extraordinary weapons and armor.

This discovery proved something long suspected—

The Blacksmith Path had originated from the dwarves.

Only certain magical ores could be crafted into enchanted weapons.

However, the strongest supernatural beings had another method—

They could infuse ordinary objects with their own extraordinary characteristics, granting them supernatural abilities.

The tradeoff?

Such weapons could only carry abilities from the wielder's path.

A true master blacksmith, however, could craft multifunctional weapons, embedding them with versatile magic.

This explained the massive difference in quality among items of the same grade.

For instance:

Dragon Scale Armor—so strong that it could withstand direct hits from rare artifacts.

Low-tier Berserker Axes—which granted a 30% power boost for five minutes, but left the wielder fatally weakened afterward.

The dwarf warrior had likely sought the lost techniques of his people.

Yet, in the end, he had perished, his weapons and treasures forgotten—until now.

---

Final Thoughts

William carefully collected everything.

A warrior's final possessions—now in new hands.

Perhaps, in a different timeline, this dwarf might have been a friend, a mentor, or an ally.

But in this cursed labyrinth, only the dead remained—whispering their stories in silent, forgotten ruins.