Lord Of The Lost

Metatron carefully examined the [Silver Fork] he'd claimed, running his fingers over its intricate design. Nearby, the Forum Master held the [Demon Blade], admiring the dark gleam of the weapon. The Gambler finally settled on the [Werewolf Fist and Claw], grinning as he inspected his prize, while Alex chose the [Shadow Gem], which would be perfect for his stealthy, assassin-style approach. That left one item: the [Pendant Marionette].

The [Pendant Marionette] had an intriguing special effect, it allowed its user to control a high-level puppet in battle. However, the system's description was cryptic, leaving them unsure of its true power.

The Forum Master frowned, holding up the pendant. "Let's set this aside for now. I'll analyze it further when we're back online and figure out its real effect."

Next up were the magic gems and gold coins, which, as Metatron explained, had been unearthed by Gambler alone during their frantic raid through the castle.

"Hey, I can't resist shiny things," Gambler said with a smirk, shrugging as if he'd simply stumbled upon the treasure.

Magic gems were highly valuable, much like spiritual oil, with a vast array of uses. Some of the gold coins they'd collected were no ordinary currency; they were ancient and infused with magical properties, which could only be spent in specific areas like the Magic House to buy rare, enchanted items. However, they wouldn't know how many of the coins were actual magic coins until the Forum Master could conduct a thorough appraisal. The game's prompts were frustratingly inconsistent, only revealing details at random.

After some discussion, they decided to keep the magic gems and potentially magical coins until they could be fully appraised. For now, they divided the ordinary gold coins and jewels equally, each receiving an initial sum of over 15 gold coins.

Then they moved on to the special items.

The [Vampire Potion] immediately stood out. It was a rare concoction, able to turn a non-supernatural person into a vampire; a transformation not to be taken lightly.

The [Master Key] was another valuable item, capable of unlocking any lock.

The [Magic Pocket] held a unique space-related ability, allowing it to carry hundreds of kilograms of items, a godsend for any adventurer.

The [Candlesticks and Candle] had unknown properties, requiring the Forum Master's appraisal to uncover its true power.

Finally, the [Magic Scrolls] six in total; caught everyone's attention. Each scroll was a rare, single-use item containing powerful spells like [Scream of the Evil Spirit], [Life Absorption], and [Matter Crushing], recording dark or vampiric magic. William and the Forum Master had previously suffered heavy losses due to a lack of similar powerful spells, so the scrolls were intriguing.

In addition to the scrolls, they had a collection of potions, staffs looted from defeated black magicians, and other minor items like [Corrosion Potion] and [Paralysis Potion]. While useful, these items were far less exciting than the major treasures they'd acquired.

Metatron glanced around. "Anyone want the [Vampire Potion]?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

The group was silent. William stayed quiet as well, recognizing the value but also the risk of such a transformation. Becoming a vampire was a permanent, high-stakes decision, and no one wanted to rush into it.

The [Master Key] and [Magic Pocket] were also unique items without specific ranks, making their effects somewhat unpredictable. Sometimes these items were invaluable, outmatching even fine-grade gear, while at other times, they served only niche purposes.

Metatron looked around. "Alright, so how should we divide these last few items?"

Breeze Across the Hills spoke up. "Let's keep the items with immediate utility and sell off what we can't use. We'll take the unsold items to the Magic House."

The Forum Master nodded in agreement. "I suggest splitting the proceeds from any sales into ten parts. Breeze and Angie can take five shares since they handled most of the heavier lifting, while Gambler, Alex, and I will share the remaining five parts."

He added, "If anyone wants to keep an item, I'll buy it from them at the Magic House's appraisal price. That way, we don't lose value by selling it off immediately."

While the magic items weren't all necessary for each player, there was still a sense of attachment to the rare gear they'd fought so hard to obtain. Selling them directly to the Magic House would feel like a waste, so the Forum Master offered to keep them in the group's collective "inventory" until they could find a better use.

Breeze Across the Hills agreed. "That works. Let's go with the Forum Master's plan."

Metatron nodded, followed by Gambler, who chimed in with an enthusiastic "Agreed!"

The atmosphere was warm and easy-going. Having faced life-threatening danger together, the group now shared a bond of trust, making the division of spoils a smooth and amicable process. William wasn't the type to quibble over minor details, and Gambler was similarly laid-back. Metatron, the mastermind behind this operation, wasn't overly concerned with the loot either; his mind seemed focused on the bigger picture. Alex, as always, remained quiet and to the point.

With the main spoils divided, they turned their attention to the rarest items, the [Death Melody], [Human Skin Book], and [Bloodline Magic Book]. These treasures were powerful, yet heavily restricted in their use, leaving the group torn. They were too valuable to simply sell but too dangerous to use without careful consideration.

For now, they agreed to store the rare items with the Forum Master until he could complete a thorough appraisal. Perhaps, in time, they'd discover a safe way to unlock the items' full potential; or decide to sell them if their mysteries proved too perilous.

The meeting concluded with a sense of accomplishment. They'd all gained something, but the biggest reward was the knowledge and camaraderie forged through shared danger. And as they logged out, each one felt a renewed anticipation for the next adventure, knowing they'd only scratched the surface of what awaited in the game's darker, deeper realms.

The Forum Master continued typing, his words filling the screen with a sense of ominous revelation.

"I've uncovered the truth behind the changes in Shadow Castle."

He paused, letting his message sink in before he continued.

"While the [Human Skin Book] may not have a high magical value, that doesn't mean it's worthless. Quite the opposite. This notebook is overflowing with information; so much, in fact, that the magic within it feels suppressed, like it's drowning under the weight of its contents. Every word in here is written in an ancient magical language. Fortunately, I can decipher it, but for anyone else, it would be indecipherable."

The others waited, intrigued as the Forum Master continued his explanation.

"The three black magicians we encountered before were little more than lackeys. They didn't have any deep knowledge of what was really going on; they were simply following orders, stationed in the castle. But the author of this notebook was no ordinary black magician. This was a high-ranking official from Skull Valley. According to the notes, the Black Mage Brotherhood first set their sights on the Black Forest ten years ago."

The group grew tense, sensing they were finally about to understand the castle's dark history.

The Forum Master continued, "A master of black magic named 'Hope' led this expedition. He ventured deep into the ocean and returned with something…alive. A piece of living flesh and blood that pulsed with forbidden power, an energy never before seen. It was potent, alluring, but also dangerous. It drove those who touched it to madness, infecting their extraordinary abilities, twisting them until they lost control, becoming mindless monsters or maniacs."

The chat fell silent as they absorbed the weight of his words. The implications were horrifying.

"Most black magicians considered Hope's discovery absurd, far too dangerous to even consider. But Hope was unyielding. He believed that within this piece of flesh lay the potential for godhood. As he delved deeper into his research, he found traces of something extraordinary."

"Of course, this sparked a rift among the black magicians," the Forum Master explained. "Even among those reviled as seekers of darkness, there were factions. Some were driven purely by a thirst for knowledge, willing to risk anything to uncover the world's secrets. Others desired power above all, hoping to harness the flesh's twisted energy."

He paused before typing again, "Eventually, chaos erupted. Sides were drawn. And in the turmoil, Hope disappeared; along with the flesh. No one knew where he had gone. It wasn't until strange occurrences began near the border town and the Black Forest that people started piecing together his whereabouts."

"Hope's research spiraled out of control, drawing attention from all sides. The black magicians began focusing on the border town, believing that although the experiment had run wild, it hadn't truly failed. They thought it was still in progress, still evolving."

The group was riveted as the Forum Master revealed more details.

"The notes also mention that the king sent an old werewolf to guard the Black Forest. This creature, powerful and ancient, proved a formidable barrier to their explorations. But the black magicians' meddling also drew the attention of someone else; the Count of Shadow Castle. A vampire who had lived for centuries, the Count had reached the peak of his bloodline's potential, yet he was stuck, unable to progress any further down the vampire path."

The Forum Master's tone turned grim. "According to the notebook, the black magicians promised the Count an opportunity, a chance to ascend beyond his current limits. They told him that one day, the forbidden power from the Black Forest would erupt. And when it did, they would help him escape the limitations of the 'bloodline path' and move onto a 'higher path.'"

There was a pause as the Forum Master gathered his thoughts.

"The black magicians didn't stop there. Through relentless experimentation, they unearthed another forbidden power, something even darker; pure, untainted darkness. This was a power unlike the twisted energy of the living flesh. This darkness was still, calm, and endless, like a night devoid of stars. It was a different path to godhood, quieter but just as potent."

William's mind raced. The pieces were coming together, painting a chilling picture.

"Compared to the madness of the flesh, this pure darkness was far more appealing to the Count," the Forum Master continued. "The notes even mention that the Count had already made his decision three centuries ago, a choice he would not revisit. After all, his domain was called Shadow Castle, not Blood Castle. He chose to embrace the darkness."

The Forum Master took a deep breath, then typed, "But the black magicians soon realized something unsettling. The extraordinary properties contained within this 'darkness' were of a level too high for any mortal to wield, not even the Count, as powerful as he was. It was as if trying to consume the essence of a god. Their lives, their very beings, simply couldn't handle it."

He added, "Yet, the black magicians were convinced. They believed that they had stumbled upon a new path to godhood, one that transcended any existing faith or tradition. They couldn't fully harness the power of darkness, but they took what they could."

This is when the Forum Master revealed a crucial detail: "They settled for a lesser aspect and managed to extract a characteristic they named 'Shadow.' Unlike pure darkness, Shadow was diluted, manageable; a byproduct of the real thing. It wasn't complete, but it was enough to satisfy the Count's desire for power. They ran tests, refining the ritual that would allow him to make the jump from vampire to something… other."

The chat went silent, everyone processing what they'd just learned. The black magicians, driven by a dark ambition, had engineered a path for the Count to ascend, knowing full well they were dabbling with forces far beyond their control. The Shadow was but a fraction of darkness's true essence, yet even that fragment held enough power to tempt a centuries-old vampire lord.

Finally, the Forum Master finished, "In the end, the Count underwent the ritual, merging himself with this shadow power. But this choice also marked the castle, transforming it forever into the ominous Shadow Castle we know. He became one with the darkness, yet not quite the god he might have hoped to be. And now, the Shadow Castle stands as a testament to his decision, a place where darkness rules, and every shadow whispers of forbidden power."

A chill settled over the group as they absorbed the full story, each realizing the stakes of what they'd encountered in the castle. They weren't just dealing with monsters or curses. They'd stepped into a place where ambitions of godhood and the hunger for forbidden power had warped reality itself, leaving behind shadows that seemed to have a life of their own.

In the quiet that followed, everyone knew one thing, they'd have to tread carefully. This was no ordinary adventure, and Shadow Castle was no ordinary place.