Lord Of The Lost

He wasn't wrong.

He knew Mataron.

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?

Mataron's presence changed the balance.

If monsters attacked, they would prioritize the weakest first.

Protecting Mataron 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. Mataron 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 Mataron 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.

Mataron 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.

Mataron 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 Mataron?

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 Mataron?

She was officially part of the expedition.

The Cat Car's Role: A Safety Net for the Team

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 Mataron? 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 Mataron alive was still better than losing a main combatant.

---

Mataron's Rollercoaster of Emotions

At first, Mataron 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.