The clear blue sky gradually faded as two massive helicopters appeared, piercing through the clouds at a frantic speed over the rugged mountainous areas near the border of North Korea. The two helicopters, carrying two groups of elite guards, were on their way to a restricted zone, where a mysterious high-level red gate stood.
The clear blue sky gradually faded as two massive helicopters appeared, piercing through the clouds at a frantic speed over the rugged mountainous areas near the border of North Korea. The two helicopters, carrying two groups of elite guards, were on their way to a restricted zone, where a mysterious high-level red gate stood.
Inside the first helicopter, the atmosphere was charged with tension. The seats were filled with carefully selected individuals, each carrying a determined look in their eyes to complete the mysterious mission that awaited them. In the first seat sat Elena Volkova, the Russian girl with silver hair and blue eyes reminiscent of Siberian ice. She gazed calmly out the window, breathing deeply while her serene features concealed a sharp strategic mind. Her movements were light and graceful, like a "Russian swan" in the world of warfare.
Beside her sat Han Sung-woo, the sorcerer with black hair and fiery red eyes that burned like embers. He observed the helicopter with his sharp gaze. His hands moved slowly, as if sensing the energy around him, ready to cast a fiery spell at any moment.
Next to them sat Song Ha-rin, the healer with red hair and warm brown eyes. She checked on everyone with a calm expression, always ready to lend a hand in any critical moment. Her ability to heal wounds was an invaluable asset in battles.
As for Lee Dae-hwan, with his massive build and long hair, he sat composedly, his eyes focused intently on the outside. His hand rested on his shield, as if he sensed some movement on the horizon, ready for any sudden attack.
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Elsewhere, far from the first team, another group of guards was advancing through a dense forest, heading towards a white maze gate. The team consisted of six members, each possessing unique skills, though they were less experienced than the first team.
At the forefront was Joseph, the second pawn with silver-gold hair and silver eyes, holding his sword with evident hesitation. He felt the weight of responsibility, especially with the mocking glances he received from his teammates.
Beside him walked Min-hae, the healer with long brown hair and green eyes, moving calmly. She occasionally glanced at the ground, as if trying to read the energy of the place. Next to her was Si-hun, the first pawn with curly hair and brown eyes, confidently holding his spear, ready for any confrontation.
Behind them, Mi-ung, the assassin with red hair and blue eyes, moved with lightness and agility, her eyes scanning the area for any potential threats. Beside her was Suk-won, the bald archer with brown eyes, skillfully holding his bow, ready to release his arrows at any moment.
Finally,Tae-joon, the knight and sorcerer with black hair and brown eyes, walked at the rear, his eyes focused intently on the horizon. He knew that this mission would be a true test of the team's abilities.
The team was walking through the dense forest on their way to the white maze gate. The atmosphere was quiet except for some whispers among the members, who were exchanging mocking glances at Joseph.Tae-joon was walking at the front, observing Joseph who was walking behind him, his eyes gleaming with cunning.
Tae-joon said, "You really are a fool, aren't you? Do you think you'll be of any use to us in the maze?"
Suk-won laughed from the side and added sarcastically,
"I think Joseph will be the first to fall and just get in our way."
Then the attention turned to Min-hae, who was walking beside Joseph, looking at the ground with pity before raising her head and looking at them firmly.
Min-hae said, addressing Tae-joon and Suk-won, "Enough with the bullying. We're on a dangerous mission, and we need each other. You should leave Joseph alone."
When they reached the white maze gate, everyone felt a sense of relief. But as soon as they entered, everything changed. The lights began to shift strangely, and the white gate turned black. Fear and confusion started to take over their hearts.
Mi-ung shouted in panic, "What's happening?! Why did it turn black?!"
Min-hae, trying to maintain her composure, said, "This isn't a white gate... This isn't normal."
Tae-joon, the team leader, said, "We have no choice but to move forward. We can't turn back now."
However, some members began to question these decisions.
Si-hun, thinking for a moment, said, "Why don't we stay here and wait until the gate opens? We might be able to avoid danger if we can get out."
Joseph, who was afraid of taking risks, said hesitantly, "I think waiting would be a good idea. We don't know what might happen here."
But Suk-won quickly and sharply retorted, "Shut up! Who gave you the right to voice your opinion in the first place?!" He said this while glaring at Joseph with malice.
At that moment, a two-meter-tall werewolf suddenly emerged from the shadows, attacking them ferociously. Everyone stopped talking, and Tae-joon used lightning magic to kill it.
Tae-joon, now alert, said, "No time for talk! Moving forward is the only solution."
Quickly, the entire team decided to move forward into the depths of the black maze. They had to face the impending danger without retreat.
As they walked through the maze, the path gradually widened into a vast plain surrounded by dense trees, their branches intertwining to form a canopy above their heads. The horizon was foggy, but the path they had taken was clear before them, despite the darkness of the forest surrounding them.
As they advanced, Joseph and his companions noticed something emerging from among the trees in the distance: a large castle. The castle loomed in the distance, as if it were an ancient center within this black maze.
However, the path was not as easy as it seemed. Werewolves began to appear before them at an increasing rate. The creatures raced to charge at the team. Despite the large number of monsters, the injuries they sustained were not severe, as they managed to repel most attacks with ease. However, the injuries were minor, limited to the limbs, such as small wounds that only required quick treatment.
Min-hae, the healer who was quickly tending to the minor injuries, said, "You'll be fine... these wounds aren't deep."
At the same time, Si-hun said, "We need to move quickly! We don't know how many more monsters will appear. The goal now is to reach the castle."
The number of monsters increased, and the attacks became more frequent along the way, but the team remained united. Joseph and his team moved swiftly toward the castle that loomed ahead. As they progressed, the monsters became stronger and faster, but they managed to fend them off and fight until they finally reached the large gate of the castle.
Min-hae said after finishing treating the minor wounds, "We'll be fine now, but we need to be cautious inside the castle."
Upon reaching the castle gate, they opened it cautiously and prepared to enter their new location, which seemed to hide more mysteries.
When they entered the castle, the first floor was dark, except for the light seeping through the high windows, illuminating the walls of the abandoned castle. The room was filled with dust, and the air was heavy, as if it held ancient secrets.
As they cautiously surveyed the area, a guard suddenly appeared before them. He did not seem human but rather an embodiment of power and majesty. He was two meters tall, carrying a massive axe in his hands. The guard appeared neutral, breathing slowly, but as soon as he saw them, he charged at them with indescribable ferocity.
Tae-joon, alert, said, "We can't escape this... let's face it!"
Joseph, who was at the front of the line, tried to block the guard, but the heavy axe was faster than his reflexes. Joseph felt the threat of the axe approaching rapidly, but he managed to run quickly, avoiding the blow that could have killed anyone else.
However, the enraged guard began chasing Joseph around the room, showing a strong desire to eliminate him. The axe strikes fell terrifyingly, while Joseph struggled to dodge them.
The fight became more chaotic as the team members tried to help Joseph. Si-hun attempted to attack with his spear to slow down the guard, while Min-hae, the healer, resisted the pressure and tension in an attempt to save the team from injuries.
In a moment that surprised everyone, Tae-joon managed to distract the guard long enough, allowing everyone to deliver harsh blows against him. Finally, Mi-ung struck a decisive blow from behind, causing the guard to stagger and fall to the ground after prolonged attempts to defeat him.
The team remained steadfast, but the tension was evident on their faces.
Min-hae, while treating the minor injuries, said, "We need to be more cautious. We've learned our lesson now. We can't underestimate any enemy here."
They decided it was time to move to the second floor. The relative calm that followed the battle was tempting. They reached the second floor, which seemed like the perfect place to rest, and decided to stay there for a short while to reorganize themselves and treat their injuries.
As they walked through the floor, the team began to feel a sense of relative safety. Tae-joon cautiously said, "This mission won't be easy."
While the team was resting on the second floor, Si-hun began directing harsh words at Joseph. It was clear that he disliked Joseph and always sought to embarrass him in front of everyone.
He said sarcastically, "Couldn't you hold your ground for even a moment? Your failed attempt could have gotten us all killed! Running away isn't the solution, Joseph."
But before he could continue his bullying, everyone was surprised by a sharp voice from behind.
Min-hae, Tae-joon's lover, said firmly, "Enough with the bullying! We don't have time for nonsense. Let's focus on the mission instead of continuing to argue here."
Her voice was harsh and clear, causing a sudden silence among the team members. The final word in the situation had been spoken, and she had emerged victorious, as no one dared to respond.
She said with even greater firmness, "The castle is not a place for internal conflicts. We are all here for one mission, and we won't be able to complete it if we keep wasting time on trivialities."
Her words left everyone stunned, even Tae-joon, who was used to bullying Joseph, felt deeply embarrassed. He had no choice but to remain silent, as Min-hae had made her point clear.
While the team was on the second floor of the castle, they discovered a wide corridor leading to a large door at its end. As they advanced through the corridor, the atmosphere was charged with mystery and dread, as they began to sense something unnatural. They continued their path through the corridor until they found a large door.
When the massive doors were pushed open, their creaking echoed through the halls as if the castle itself was warning of the intruders' approach. The air inside the hall was different... thick, frozen, saturated with an energy that did not belong to this world. The light was scarce, coming only from faint blue flames flickering on the ancient walls, as if refusing to illuminate the place more than necessary.
At the far end, on the dark stone throne, sat the King of Spirits.
He did not move... he did not breathe... he simply sat there, his massive body surrounded by a faint black aura that danced as if it were part of his soul. He resembled a statue carved from shadows, with a solid body clad in black armor adorned with glowing blue patterns that pulsed faintly like the blood vessels of a non-human creature. His long cloak draped over the sides of the throne, its edges dissolving into black smoke as they neared the ground, as if they did not belong to this reality.
His head was slightly tilted downward, and his dark blue glowing eyes stared silently at the ground, as if contemplating something no one else could see. There was no sign of life in him—no movement, no sound… just a heavy silence, as if this being had been waiting for centuries, motionless in his place, until he decided the moment to move again.
Yet, despite his stillness, there was no doubt about one truth… this was not just a creature, not just a ruler… but an entity that transcended life and death, a king who could not be challenged.
To the right and left of the throne, there were tall pillars, between which stood silent, rigid soldiers, like statues. It was a strange scene, filled with mystery, and an eerie sense of dread dominated the place.
The healer (Min-hae) said in a low voice, observing the scene, "What is happening here? This place seems to hold something unnatural... as if we're in another world."
Suk-won, who was focusing on the details of the scene, said in a quiet voice, "There's no life here. It seems like this place is very ancient. Are we in a place that doesn't belong to this world?"
While everyone was pondering the situation, Joseph, who wasn't interested in stopping, began heading toward the table in the center of the hall. The table bore a strange symbol: a circle divided into two halves, one half containing a drawing of a human body, and the other half showing a spirit, intertwined in a peculiar way.
Joseph said as he approached the table, "This circle... is this the way to understand what's happening here?"
Joseph took an additional step and placed his hand on the engraving on the table. At his touch, one of the soldiers standing on the sides of the room began to move. With a sudden motion, the soldier slowly raised his head, as if he had been frozen for decades. With this movement, the team felt a sudden change in the atmosphere.
Joseph said, slowly backing away from the table, "Does... does this mean we've done something?"
The sorcerer (Tae-joon), watching the soldier cautiously, said, "It seems we've triggered something here. We should have been more careful."
As the King of Spirits began to slowly raise his head, silence enveloped the room. The soldiers on either side of the throne remained silent like statues, but they watched with empty eyes, observing every movement. The atmosphere was charged with dread
In a deep voice, the words slowly emerged from the mouth of the King of Spirits, as if they were coming from the depths of dark ages:
The King of Spirits said, "Are you ready to test your soul?"
His voice echoed through the room, and those words stirred a mysterious feeling in the heart of each team member. The words were filled with ambiguity, as if they carried both a threat and a challenge at the same time.
Joseph, turning to the rest of the team, said, "What does this mean?"
Min-hae, the healer, was looking at the King of Spirits with wide eyes full of astonishment, but she tried to maintain her composure and said, "What should we do?"
Tae-Joon, the mage who was always on high alert, spoke in a hesitant tone:
"What do these words mean? Who are you? What do you want from us?"
The Spirit King looked at him with a cold, eerie smile and said in a calm voice:
"I want a sacrifice."
The team's breathing quickened, and the atmosphere grew thick with tension and fear. They all stared at each other, trying to grasp the meaning of this mysterious trial.
Tae-Joon, who also seemed nervous, asked:
"What do you mean by a sacrifice? Are you saying we have to kill one of our own?!"
The Spirit King: "Exactly."
Joseph, who had been standing silently in the corner, felt something strange racing in his chest, as if the king was targeting him specifically.
The healer, who was struggling to control her fear, spoke in a trembling voice:
"How can we sacrifice one of us? We are a team… We can't do that."
The Spirit King: "It's simple. To leave here safely, you must give up one soul among you.
Upon hearing these words, silence exploded in the room, and an atmosphere of tension filled the air like never before.
One of the members, Min Wang, who had never tolerated Joseph, pointed at him and shouted sharply:
"Joseph! You're useless! Nothing will change no matter how hard you try, so don't waste our time! Sacrifice him! He's just trash."
Suk Won: "Sacrifice him, he's of no use."
Min Wang: "Yes, we will sacrifice him."
Tae-joon: "We have no other choice."
Min Hae: "We will never sacrifice him!"
Si Hun: "We must find another way!"
As the team argued over Joseph's fate, suddenly… Min Wang's head was severed in a swift and unexpected attack. The strike was so fast and precise that her head flew off her body before anyone could react.
Upon witnessing the scene, everyone stepped back in shock and confusion. None of them had expected real threats to exist within this labyrinth.
Joseph shouted in astonishment, "Who did this?!"
After being stunned by Min Wang's gruesome death, the team turned their eyes toward the Spirit King, who remained seated on his throne, observing them in eerie silence. Then, he spoke in a calm yet powerful voice.
Spirit King: "I'll make it easier for you… Leave, and let one of you stay behind."
He said it with a mocking gaze.
After hearing the Spirit King's proposal, the tension in the room grew heavier. Everyone felt the pressure, and the fate awaiting them became even clearer.
Captain Tae-Joon spoke firmly, "We will leave Joseph behind."
Min-Hae, the only one in the team who was close to him, immediately protested, "I won't leave him here! I'll stay with him!"
The team erupted into an argument. Words clashed in the air, and anger filled the atmosphere. Sharp gazes were exchanged, and desperation clouded their judgment.
Amidst the chaos, Si-Hoon suddenly struck Joseph's leg, severing it!
Joseph collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony, tears streaming down his face.
With an emotionless voice, Si-Hoon said, "You left us no choice… You have to stay."
The team panicked and ran as fast as they could, but Min-Hae, the healer, refused to flee. She stayed behind, desperately trying to help Joseph.
As the team ran further away, Tae-Joon, her lover, kept calling out to her, but she didn't rush to follow them. She was focused on healing Joseph, needing just a little more time.
Suddenly, one of the Spirit King's soldiers appeared behind her and whispered, "You have no time left."
This was a decisive moment.
Min-Hae took a deep breath and made a choice. She would use a spell she had learned before—a spell that could open a portal, but only for one person.
She looked at Joseph and said firmly, "Go, Joseph… I'll buy you some time."
But before she could finish her sentence, she caught a glimpse of a shadow in the corner of her eye. The soldier swung his axe, and in an instant, her head was severed. It fell to the ground mercilessly, her life ending in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Joseph was crawling across the floor, his body weakened by the loss of his leg. His eyes were locked onto the temporary portal shimmering before him, while a deep sense of fear and pain twisted inside his chest. Crawling was excruciating, each movement amplifying his suffering, but he knew he had no choice—he had to move forward.
At that moment, his mind was flooded with thoughts, his inner voice screaming unanswered questions:
"Why is this happening to me? Why do people treat me so cruelly? Why am I this weak?… I have to get out of here… I want revenge… Nothing else matters anymore… I'm staring death in the face, but I refuse to die like this!"
The Spirit King, who had remained seated on his throne like a statue, let out a quiet chuckle. Then, he looked at Joseph and spoke in a mysterious tone:
"How about we play a game of cards?"
At that moment, glowing yellow words appeared on his throne, reading: "Your soul is my soul." These words echoed in Joseph's mind, haunting his already pain-ridden thoughts.
Joseph struggled to crawl, his body wracked with pain. The closer he got to the temporary portal, the more confusion and fear clouded his mind. And in the final moment, just as he was about to pass through it, he felt his body lose all its strength.
As he exited, darkness overtook him. His consciousness faded, and he collapsed onto the ground, completely unconscious, his eyes shut tight.