Chapter 315

Chapter 315: Complete Victory

The mind-related abilities of the King of Shadows far surpassed those of ordinary shadow creatures and knights. A casual block unleashed psychic attacks rivaling the explosive force of a dozen self-destructing shadow creatures, even exceeding the Heart-Seizing Demon’s psychic explosion.

In the past, such a strike would’ve knocked Midi from the sky. But after enduring repeated assaults, his resistance had grown. Though briefly stunned, he clung to rationality. Instinct drove him to dodge and retreat, avoiding close combat.

Even Midi felt lingering dread after the blow. Yet the King’s attacks remained simplistic—no illusions, no long-range sniping. With his flying skills, Midi kept the initiative.

Regaining composure, he struck again. Another clash erupted. Sparks flew as a second psychic blast paled Midi’s face, yet he disengaged swiftly.

Repeated exchanges wore down the King’s ferocity while Midi’s resistance sharpened.

The others gaped in disbelief. Not even Wiseman or Reinhardt had foreseen this.

The key lay in Midi’s Extraordinary Awakening. Each strike fused Dragon’s might, corroding the shadow beings. The King weakened steadily. Meanwhile, the Dragon Sealing Sword within Midi thrummed violently, its glowing patterns shifting like water, bolstering his defenses with each psychic onslaught.

As darkness around the King thinned, Midi signaled his companions. Wiseman, Reinhardt, and Avril surged forward, cutting down two shadow knights.

True to Midi’s prediction, losing three knights forced the King to summon a dark sphere to regenerate minions—further sapping its strength. The trial’s design demanded maintaining shadow numbers for frontal assaults, but Midi twisted this into a weakness.

He cared nothing for reborn knights. Only the King’s vulnerability mattered.

When the King hurled the sphere, its aura dipping lowest, Midi shot to the maze’s ceiling. Pushing off granite, he unleashed Golden-Red Sword Lights—a golden arc plunging earthward like a sky-rending blade.

The strike devoured the King, carving a chasm into the ground. Dust settled to reveal Midi alone. No trace of the King remained.

Opponents facing shadow knights abruptly found them weakened.

The King of Shadows had fallen.

A distant door creaked open. Stagnant air stirred. The ancient voice echoed in all minds:

“King of Shadows eliminated. Shadow Maze conquered. Slayer receives 1,000 psychic energy. Ten shadow knight slayers gain 100 each.”

Psychic energy flooded Midi’s Mind Crystals, filling them past two-thirds.

Others watched, faces twisting with envy and awe. Even if given the chance, none could’ve felled the King. Only flight granted Midi this victory—and its unparalleled reward.

However, there remained one unclaimed reward – the ranking reward based on maze completion speed.

Upon entering earlier, the ancient voice had announced that faster completion would yield greater rewards. This time, they wouldn’t let Midi take everything!

"Retreat! Find the exit now!"

Sandur and the scarred man instantly abandoned combat, fleeing the battlefield with their teams.

Without the King of Shadows’ control, the weakened shadow knights couldn’t stop them. Only Rot’s patrol team stayed with Midi, though even without them, Midi’s group could easily handle the remaining enemies.

"Aren’t we chasing them?" Rot asked anxiously as Sandur’s team retreated.

"Why bother? These knights mean more psychic energy," Midi shrugged. "Besides, they’re too far now."

Though Midi’s Sky Sword Dance could overtake them, the promised maze rewards seemed minor compared to potential treasures here. Exploring the shadow king’s territory mattered more – powerful foes often guarded valuables, every adventurer knew that.

They eliminated the weakened shadow knights, splitting the psychic energy between both teams. While others raced for the exit, Midi’s group combed through the shadow king’s palace – a labyrinth of corridors and chambers matching the maze’s style.

Treasures emerged quickly:

"Serpent King’s Blood! Body-enhancing effects second only to Dragon’s Blood!"

"A Sword of Light against shadow creatures!"

"Mind Amulets blocking psychic explosions!"

Reinhardt and Avril claimed amulets for melee combat. Wiseman took a magic-boosting ring for his skeleton tactics. Midi ignored these – potions couldn’t aid an Awakened One of Extraordinary Awakening, weapons paled before his Sun and Moon blades, amulets seemed trivial.

Then magic pulsed from two black chess pieces in a corner.

"Shadow Automatons!" Midi’s eyes gleamed.

These alchemical automatons surpassed ordinary machines. Crafted from shadow steel, they rivaled Level 62 warriors, could cleave magically-reinforced gates, hide in shadows like master assassins, and required only control tokens instead of physical transport. Best of all, like Undead Creatures, they resisted mind-related abilities.

With these, Midi gained formidable tools for the Mind Maze. He suspected the maze creators left them for future trials. After securing most treasures, both teams exited triumphantly.

In the rest hall beyond, Sandur’s and the scarred man’s teams waited, having fought over first place. Their 500-point reward equaled killing five shadow knights – paltry compared to Midi’s tangible treasures.

The ancient voice returned: "Rest eight hours. The final trial begins next – Octagonal Island Adventure. Endurance determines rewards."

Octagonal Island!

The name struck everyone like thunder.