Chapter 312

Chapter 312: The Shadow Maze

Facing complex stares from all directions, Midi glared back with razor-sharp eyes, his unsheathed longsword broadcasting open defiance.

The illusion of Fina had struck Midi’s deepest nerve. Though he’d shattered the fake with one strike and gained sixfold rewards, fury still burned in his heart. Had any fool challenged him then, Midi would’ve gladly escorted them to the afterlife with his dual swords.

But none among the trial participants were stupid. Midi’s feat of slicing through the Sharp Wind kept them wary, and with rival factions eyeing each other, nobody wanted to become Midi’s punching bag.

After several seconds of tense eye contact, the group silently scattered.

The relentless azure flames along the Path of the Mind had vanished unnoticed. Under the cool glow from the sky, a new luminous gate now shimmered. Having regained composure, Midi nodded to his three companions and strode through first.

Another teleportation later, the group materialized in a hall clearly meant for rest. The remaining sixteen trial participants settled in separate circles, those with privileges like Sandur sleeping openly while others kept watch.

Midi’s group secured the coziest spot. With a finger flick, Wiseman summoned level 50+ skeleton guards encircling them, enabling worry-free relaxation.

Hours passed before a radiant gate bloomed at the hall’s center. Since hiding wouldn’t stop the forced teleportation, all walked through willingly.

The fading light revealed a gloomy underground labyrinth. Though the teleportation array deposited everyone at the same starting point, nine entrances gaped before them – natural parting ways for rival factions.

"The Shadow Maze trial begins," boomed the ancient voice. "First completer gains rewards."

Midi immediately chose the leftmost entrance, leading Avril’s team inside. Only then did they grasp the maze’s staggering scale – rivaling the celestial and demonic pocket dimensions Midi had explored in his past life.

Countless branching paths split across three interconnected levels, forming a maddening 3D puzzle. This complexity overwhelmed newbies Wiseman and Reinhardt, but Midi and Avril’s veteran instincts paired well with Wiseman’s undead spells, maintaining steady progress.

Yet Midi soon noticed something odd. "No treasures. Not even broken debris. It’s sterile," he frowned in yet another empty chamber.

Proper mazes always held hidden remnants, but this place felt freshly built. Remembering the Mind Maze’s three-year activation cycle, Midi suspected instantaneous creation by tremendous power – suggesting its creator rivaled even King Bacal of the Tyrant Dragon. Obtaining such a being’s heritage might guarantee becoming a top-tier Thought Capturer.

His pulse quickened at the thought-

When shadows in the next corridor writhed. Translucent figures materialized, cold steel glinting as they lunged soundlessly at the party.

Shadow creatures!

Midi’s mind flashed to intelligence gathered from past trial survivors.

Without a word, the four seasoned warriors immediately prepared for battle.

These shadow creatures were entirely composed of shadow, from their bodies to their weapons, making them nearly immune to ordinary physical attacks. They weren’t undead, so Wiseman couldn’t control them. Even Midi’s Golden-Red Sword Lights struggled to harm them.

Each time Midi’s sword light struck, ripples spread across the shadow creatures’ forms, weakening the impact. The others’ attacks, even magical ones, fared no better.

The shadow creatures’ strikes carried both magic and mind-related effects. Dodging left Avril and the others dizzy, as if brushed by a Heart-Seizing Demon’s psychic explosion. Blocking directly intensified the mental assault.

A mere dozen shadow creatures trapped Midi’s experienced team in a drawn-out fight.

*Maybe I should use Dragon’s might,* Midi thought as he parried.

Before becoming a Thought Capturer, professions had few defenses against mind attacks. Demon Swordmen relied on the demon god’s power, which barely helped. But Midi, awakened through the Dragon’s Blood White Crystal Pool, had another tool—Dragon’s might.

In his past life, he’d never wielded such power. Even now, he’d only fought one Heart-Seizing Demon. Testing Dragon’s might was his only option.

Midi activated the Dragon Sealing Sword within him, not channeling White Crystal magic this time, but stirring his draconic bloodline. Normally, it strengthened his body. Now, he unleashed its aura.

The sword hummed. His blood boiled. An oppressive aura rose from him, like a king towering over ants.

This was Dragon’s might.

Despite his restraint, the three nearby stiffened—sensitive Avril, steady Reinhardt, even the carefree Wiseman of the Hand of Nightmare turned pale.

“Dragon’s might…” Wiseman and Reinhardt exchanged bitter smiles. Avril gaped.

“Stand clear!” Midi shouted.

He fused Dragon’s might with his Golden-Red Sword Lights and slashed.

The air crackled with dominance. Half the shadow creatures dissolved like smoke under the strike.

Yet as they died, their stored psychic energy lashed out. Midi’s mind blanked, his face ghostly pale.

Dragon’s might harmed their bodies but faltered against pure mental force—why he’d struggled against the Heart-Seizing Demon.

*A hollow victory,* he concluded, recovering.

Then the ancient voice echoed in their minds: *Five shadow soldiers eliminated. 25 psychic energy awarded. One-hit kill bonus: 25. Total: 50.*

Azure liquid in Midi’s Mind Crystal rose slightly. More energy meant better trial rewards.

*These kills matter!* they realized as one.

No treasures filled this artificial maze, but slain enemies brought gains.

With half the shadow creatures gone and the rest weakened, the team charged.

“Now!” they roared in unison.