Lord Of The Lost

The corridor was shrouded in dim light, a fitting backdrop for the perilous heist they were about to undertake. Each member, cloaked in invisibility, understood the risks they were taking, like snatching food from a tiger's maw. Yet, the thrill of the adventure fueled their excitement; a significant part of their mission was to uncover the castle's hidden treasures.

After a quick huddle, they agreed: they would have a maximum of one minute to make their escape. The group split into two teams for efficiency. William and the Forum Master would form the first team, while Alex, Metatron, and the gambler comprised the second, assigned to raid a different room.

"Let's do this!" William urged, adrenaline coursing through him.

With a shared nod of determination, the five of them sprang into action, kicking open the doors of their respective rooms simultaneously.

As William stepped inside, he was taken aback by the scene before him. The interior resembled a cave tunnel, dark and winding, with no clear end in sight. But what captured his attention was the ground; paved with countless silver coins that glimmered like stars in the night sky.

"Look at all these magic gems!" he gasped, his eyes widening in awe. They were densely inlaid along the tunnel walls, each emitting a mesmerizing array of colors. A single magic gem was worth at least one gold coin, and here, they were countless; hundreds, perhaps, casting a brilliant light that illuminated the passage.

But gems were just the tip of the iceberg. The tunnel was adorned with all manner of treasures: exquisite jewelry, gold-inlaid walking sticks, magnificent vases, intricately painted statues, and even eerie monster skulls; all precious artifacts that spoke of the castle's dark history.

Among the glittering loot, William spotted several silver-white spear handles that looked strikingly similar to the knight's lance he carried. They were thrust into the walls at odd angles, adding to the chaotic beauty of the treasure-laden cave. The sheer wealth before him was overwhelming, obscuring the very nature of the cave itself. It felt like stepping into a dragon's lair, treasures glimmering in every direction.

He shook his head in disbelief, wondering what lay ahead. "This… this must be the treasure Shadow Castle has accumulated over centuries!"

Dazzled by the spectacle, he felt an irresistible urge to dive deeper into the cavern. "The most valuable treasures must be further in!" he exclaimed, stealthily moving like an arrow into the heart of the cave.

Without hesitation, the Forum Master followed closely behind, his focus unwavering despite the opulence surrounding them. They navigated through a narrow passage that soon opened up into a vast chamber filled with an even more dazzling light.

Upon entering, the Forum Master squinted, momentarily blinded by the brightness that filled the expansive space. "What have we stumbled upon?" he murmured, taking in the extraordinary sight that lay before them. It was a trove of treasures, the likes of which they had never imagined.

Floating above them were countless orbs of light, each one containing a variety of incredible treasures: slender blades, ancient mirrors, rag dolls, shimmering emeralds, blood-red spellbooks, and even golden boots that seemed to sparkle with untold magic.

"Look at this! Bloodline Path potion formula, demon blade, mana emerald, speed boots, angel hand mirror, vampire cloak..." the Forum Master exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.

William's eyes widened as he absorbed the sheer magnitude of what lay before them. "What's the quality like?" he asked, eager to know more.

"The appraisal shows that the lowest-level items are of excellent quality, and many are rare-grade equipment!" the Forum Master replied, increasingly amazed.

Without a second thought, William leaped forward, aiming to snatch one of the floating lights. But as his hand reached out, a sudden recoil sent him sprawling back, somersaulting through the air before crashing into a pile of glimmering silver coins.

He quickly scrambled to his feet, brushing off the coins. "That hurt! What was that?" he grumbled, irritation evident on his face.

"The items are protected by defensive magic," the Forum Master warned, his voice tinged with urgency. "We must be careful!"

The magical treasures, sensing their intrusion, began to swirl chaotically like startled fireflies, each glowing orb darting away from their reach.

William, undeterred, gripped his spear tightly. It began to shimmer with a silver light, and with a swift thrust, he unleashed a powerful attack that shattered the magical barrier of one particular orb. "Piercing Attack!" he shouted, determination fueling his actions.

"Break it!" he urged, excitement building.

A demonic blade fell to the ground with a resounding clang, and William's heart raced with triumph. "Yes! This skill is working!"

Meanwhile, the Forum Master wasn't idle; he activated his lightning amulet. A dazzling bolt of lightning erupted from his hand, striking at the remaining lights. But the effect was disappointing, the defensive magic merely dimmed without breaking.

"Blast it! This is just a weak attack!" he exclaimed, frustration mounting. The more powerful magic he could use required preparation, and time was not on their side.

William could only watch helplessly as the lights darted away, his anger boiling beneath the surface. "I wish I could just take them all down right now!" he fumed, stamping his foot in frustration.

"Wallace, look! That bloody magic book!" the Forum Master called out, pointing excitedly.

William quickly turned his attention to the magic book the Forum Master had indicated, his eyes narrowing with focus. Without waiting for a response, he launched another [Piercing Attack]. The tip of his spear shot through the air like a meteor, colliding with the light of the book.

Boom! An explosion rippled through the chamber, sending shockwaves that made William stumble back a few steps, blood roaring in his ears.

The Forum Master wasted no time. He swiftly snatched the fallen [Human Skin Book] and tucked it into his backpack. "This is the notebook of a senior black magician," he said, examining it with keen interest. "It shouldn't be here; I wonder how it ended up in this castle."

His eyes sparkled with anticipation. "But it's bound to contain useful information. This could be a crucial piece of our puzzle!"

The Forum Master stopped trying to appraise each treasure one by one. Instead, he grasped an excellent-grade staff, its polished surface gleaming even in the dim light, and began to chant an incantation for a lightning spell.

"Just a moment longer!" he urged, focusing intently. The staff seemed to resonate with his energy, allowing him to condense what normally took over ten seconds into a mere seven or eight.

As William prepared for his third [Piercing Attack], he felt the urgency of their situation. The air crackled with tension as the two raced against time, each strike aimed at the elusive orbs of light darting overhead. The thrill of the chase ignited their adrenaline, but William couldn't shake the feeling that they were racing against death itself.

"Wallace, retreat now! If you don't get out, you might never escape!" The gambler's voice echoed from the tunnel entrance, a note of panic lacing his tone.

William's heart dropped as he realized the environment was shifting. The long, narrow tunnel behind them began to constrict, almost as if the castle itself was alive and trying to swallow them whole.

"It's closing in!" he shouted, the ground trembling beneath his feet as the light from the treasures dimmed, swallowed by encroaching darkness.

The Forum Master, having just cast a spell that sent a piece of gleaming jade crashing to the ground, was about to snatch it up when William seized his arm. "It's too late! We have to go, now!"

"No! My mana emerald!" the Forum Master protested, his distress evident. But William, fueled by urgency and strength, yanked him away, pulling the reluctant mage back towards safety.

As they raced, the tunnel shrank at an alarming rate. Just as they narrowly escaped, the chamber sealed itself with a thunderous bang, walls and doorframes splintering as the passage behind them collapsed.

Emerging into the corridor, William glanced over his shoulder and saw the other three members of their group sprinting in the same direction. "Hurry! We've stirred up the castle!" he yelled, grabbing the Forum Master and pushing forward to catch up.

The invisibility cloak lost its effectiveness in the chaos; hiding was futile now. Their presence had already been detected, and the danger was palpable.

As they turned a corner, two maids appeared, blocking their path. Their expressions twisted with malice. "You despicable thieves! Stealing from the castle? The master will ensure you pay dearly!"

In an instant, their garments ripped apart, revealing their true forms, grotesque and shadowy.

[Battle Tips: You have encountered a forbidden monster (shadow).]

Panic surged through the group as they braced for a fight, realizing the stakes had just escalated dramatically.