Lord Of The Lost

As they passed through the towering gates and stepped into the castle, a heavy darkness enveloped them. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, as if the night itself had taken root inside the stone walls.

Though the entirety of the castle remained shrouded in shadows, hints of its grandeur became apparent as they ventured further.

"Wait a second," the gambler said, his voice a mix of surprise and confusion. "Didn't they say the Death Knight trampled this place? It looks... untouched."

William nodded, scanning the scene. The structure appeared remarkably intact, with no signs of damage or decay, though it bore the marks of abandonment. Dust danced in the dim light, hinting that years had passed since anyone had cared for this once-magnificent castle.

Metatron shook his head, his expression pensive. "It's difficult to explain. This place holds a peculiar power."

In response, William produced an invisibility cloak, and with a nod, they all donned the magical fabric. Together, the five of them slipped into the castle hall, their forms blending into the shadows.

"Get ready!" William whispered just as they stepped inside.

In an instant, the hall erupted in bright light, illuminating every corner as if the castle itself had awakened to greet them. The sudden brightness startled everyone; they instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.

William was the first to adjust, quickly surveying the room. Metatron remained composed, indicating that the sudden illumination had been anticipated.

As William's vision cleared, he took in the expanse of the hall. It was vast and opulent, its high dome stretching upward, supported by intricately carved pillars. Five floors loomed above them, each towering more than ten meters high.

At the center, a magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, embedded with five radiant magical gems that bathed the room in an almost ethereal glow. Despite its name, the Shadow Castle was anything but dark; it was resplendent, alive with light.

The floor was adorned with a deep crimson carpet that muffled their footsteps as they ventured deeper. Numerous corridors branched off into the shadows, and spiral staircases beckoned them upward, hinting at hidden secrets.

"This place is stunning," the gambler muttered, awe creeping into his voice. "Everyone says vampires are rich, but seeing it for myself… they really know how to live extravagantly."

Yet, as they stood amidst the opulence, a heavy sensation pressed down on them; a spiritual weight that made it feel as if invisible hands were tightening around their chests. The atmosphere was suffocating, a stark reminder that they were intruders in this grand but menacing space.

"It's like the castle is watching us, waiting to consume us," one of the others murmured, shivering involuntarily.

"Let's move!" Metatron whispered urgently, breaking the spell of dread. He began to walk swiftly, the cloak swirling around him as he made his way deeper into the castle.

The others fell into step behind him, their hearts racing with uncertainty. They knew nothing of what lay ahead in the castle's depths.

As they entered a long, dim corridor, the oppressive atmosphere began to lift slightly, allowing them to breathe more easily.

"You can't stay in the light of the hall for too long," Metatron cautioned as they moved into the shadows of the gallery. "If you do, you risk being cursed."

He paused, his voice grave. "Once, while exploring, the light vanished without warning, and we transformed into ghouls. It was… a horrifying experience."

His words hung in the air, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked within the walls of Shadow Castle. Each step forward felt like a plunge into the unknown, and the thrill of adventure mingled with a deep-rooted fear of what awaited them in the dark.

Inside the castle, a web of magic traps and ancient rituals lay hidden, their presence felt more than seen. The air grew heavier as they walked deeper into the dim corridor, shadows twisting in the corners of their vision.

Suddenly, two maids emerged from around a bend, their plain faces devoid of expression as they glided silently down the hallway, trays of food balanced expertly in their hands. It was as if they were in a world of their own, unaware of the intruders.

"Get away from them!" Metatron hissed urgently.

The five of them instinctively stepped aside, pressing themselves against the cold stone wall, watching as the maids passed without a glance in their direction.

"Some corridors replay events from the past," William explained, his voice low. "If those maids sense outsiders, they could transform into monsters and attack."

"Monsters?" Alex asked, anxiety creeping into his tone. "What level are we talking about? Can we kill them?"

Metatron shook his head. "They're not extraordinary beings. You won't gain any experience points if you take them down. They're mere echoes of what once was, afterimages of the past."

"Very strange!" the Forum Master interjected, studying the maids intently. "My appraisal spells indicate they're just ordinary servants. They shouldn't turn into monsters."

"This castle is a labyrinth of deception," Metatron replied, his tone serious. "We're caught in its trap. Everything we see may not be what it seems. Don't trust your senses too easily."

The Forum Master's brow furrowed. "With your experience, I suppose I should heed your warning."

Despite his ability to identify lower-level life forms easily, the Forum Master struggled with anything extraordinary. When they'd encountered the black magician earlier, he'd only managed to gauge his power based on vague attributes.

As they continued, they encountered more figures; maids, servants, and even cloaked dark magicians. The presence of the latter confirmed the black magician's influence in the castle.

"Without the invisibility cloak, we'd be fighting every step of the way," William murmured, glancing warily around. "Every battle could draw more monsters."

Metatron moved with the grace of a seasoned strategist, avoiding encounters as if guided by foresight. Still, a sense of unease clung to him; every corner turned could lead to disaster.

Finally, they reached the end of the long corridor, where a series of doors stood, staggered and waiting.

"Master, please check the situation in the first room," Metatron instructed, his voice low but firm.

The Forum Master approached the door cautiously, focusing intently on his magic appraisal.

Moments later, his expression darkened, and he shook his head in alarm. "Something's not right in there."

Metatron nodded, understanding the silent warning. "Then let's move to the next room."

Just then, Alex, his voice barely above a whisper, asked, "What's in there? What did you sense?"

The tension in the air thickened as they awaited an answer, their hearts pounding in unison with the uncertainty that surrounded them.

He was a man of few words, a quiet presence that often went unnoticed. However, the Forum Master had established a strong rapport with him, and in a hushed tone, he revealed, "It's a tree demon."

William raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A tree demon? What's it doing behind that door? Don't these things usually grow in the ground?"

The Forum Master shook his head, a rare frown crossing his features. "I find it odd too. What on earth…?"

His usually composed demeanor slipped for a moment, revealing his unease. Though tree demons weren't considered extraordinary beings, they were formidable nonetheless. Had they opened that door, they would have faced a nasty surprise from its steel-thorn branches, poised to strike.

"This castle gives me the creeps," William said, glancing around. "Most of these rooms are empty, but the few that aren't… they're hiding something dark."

The Forum Master sighed, his voice tinged with fatigue. "I can only glean so much information at a time. Identifying every detail would drain my mental energy, and right now, I can't afford that."

The gambler, always looking for a shortcut, nudged Metatron playfully. "Hey, Xiao Mei! Why not use your talent to scout out the conditions inside the rooms? We don't need the Forum Master to examine each one individually."

Metatron shook his head solemnly. "I've tried that. When extraordinary elements come into play, both the process and the outcomes become wildly unpredictable."

He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Imagine a gambler rolling a set of extraordinary dice. If I use the [God's Perspective] to see the future, every observation reveals a different result. It's only when I open my eyes that I discover the actual number rolled."

His analogy made the others think. "So, no matter how many times I check from that perspective, I can't be certain of what lies behind these doors. Whether it's a tree demon or something worse remains a mystery."

"Essentially," he continued, "using the [God's Perspective] is like opening a blind box. I might know what kinds of prizes are inside, but I can't predict which box will yield the treasure."

Just then, the Forum Master pointed down the corridor. "Looks like we've found a box worth opening."

They followed him to two rooms that seemed to hold promise; strange spaces filled with items, yet devoid of monsters.

"We'll rush in together," the Forum Master instructed. "Grab everything we can, especially books and notes. They may hold the secrets of the Shadow Castle. We mustn't let them slip away."

"What happens if we take too long?" one of the group asked.

Metatron's eyes darkened. "What we aim to steal is the castle's treasure; gold, silver, jewelry, extraordinary artifacts, magic spells, and even potions that might unlock the path to vampirism. These could connect us to the mysteries of black magicians, thieves, werewolves, and the Count's transformation."

His voice lowered as he continued, "I don't know what force sealed these treasures away, but this treasure room holds a special status in the castle. If we disturb it, the servants will swarm here in no time. The longer we hesitate, the worse our situation will become."

The urgency in his tone sent a chill through the group, and they steeled themselves for what lay ahead. It was time to act, and the secrets of the castle awaited them just beyond those doors.