The maze was built starting with the mother skeleton replenishing its magic.

"A blood curse?!"

Ethan, looking shocked, quickly hid behind Lilith, waving repeatedly at Glenn: "Glenn, come here quickly!"

Glenn was a little confused. He looked at Harvey, who was also clearly surprised.

"Is there some mistake?" Glenn scratched the back of his head.

"It can't be wrong."

Lilith answered decisively, staring intently at Harvey:

"I have met many people infected with the blood curse, and I would never mistake one for another."

"Excuse me, what is this blood curse you're talking about?" Harvey asked at the opportune moment.

"The curse of the demon god Belzaha can turn people into monstrous beasts who only know how to kill," Lilith explained, taking a deep breath. "Think carefully back, have you recently encountered anyone claiming to be the Belzaha witch?"

"I've lost some of my memories," Harvey shook his head weakly, "but I shouldn't have encountered anyone like this before..."

Just as he was about to recall, the words "blood curse" acted like a key, inserting into the door of the sealed room of memories.

Harvey suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as if his soul was being ripped out.

Countless forgotten fragments began to flood my mind like a revolving lantern.

Pain, despair, and slaughter.

Negative emotions surged into his brain in an instant and took over his body.

Harvey lay on the ground in agony, beginning to lose control of his body.

The skin gradually peeled off, revealing flesh and blood. The limbs became thin and long, and the joints twisted to a shocking degree. The expression on the face remained fixed as a terrifying "smile".

Glenn was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly until he was behind Ethan, whose face had turned pale.

"He's really turned into a monster," Ethan muttered to himself.

Glenn looked at Harvey, who was undergoing a painful transformation, with a complicated expression. Just moments ago, the two of them were talking about how cute his little sister was.

Lilith reacted the fastest, and before Harvey could fully transform into a monster, she plunged her longsword into Harvey's heart.

"This is Belzaha's blood curse, which feeds on human suffering and despair to give birth to a monster of slaughter."

"Once they become monstrous beasts, they can never turn back into humans."

Looking at Harvey, who was groaning in pain, Lilith pursed her lips, her eyes filled with pity.

At least let her help this poor person get out of trouble.

Lilith pulled the longsword out of Harvey's heart, and just as she was about to swing it again, "Harvey" slammed his hands into the ground.

The earth shattered, and smoke and dust filled the air.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Harvey turned and ran.

"We can't let him get away! Chase after him!"

......

Staggering into the cave, Harvey had completely transformed back into a human.

Is this... a staircase leading downwards?

Harvey, whose consciousness was beginning to become somewhat hazy, leaned against the wall and slowly walked down the stairs.

Blood kept gushing from his chest. Harvey, who was already seriously injured, had his heart pierced by Lilith, and he was now at his last gasp.

But compared to these, the mental anguish is far more intense.

He remembered everything.

On the ninth floor of the Starfall Maze, after the original team cleared out the monsters in the deeper levels, fog rolled in over the forest.

A white-armored knight emerged from the mist, sweeping the squad away with overwhelming force.

Harvey was stabbed in the abdomen and lost his ability to fight.

In a life-or-death situation, pain and despair caused him to lose his mind, ultimately turning him into what is known as a "monster."

The "Beast of Calamity" temporarily repelled the White Knight, but also killed his former comrades-in-arms.

He remembered everything.

He killed everyone.

But he had to pull himself together and get back to his sister's side.

But my eyelids were getting heavier and heavier, and my strength was gradually waning.

Why...

Why is this happening...?

Harvey leaned against the cold stairs, coughing up blood. In his final moments, he turned his head to look at the light outside the cave entrance.

"Reina..."

boom!

The massive explosion shattered the cave entrance, sending countless huge boulders tumbling down and blocking the last glimmer of light.

By the time Lilith and her two companions arrived, the entrance to the Kru Labyrinth had been buried under rocks.

"He's hidden in the maze," Ethan said.

"Hiding in the maze is fine too." Lilith breathed a sigh of relief. "At least I won't go out and harm anyone."

"What should we do next?" Glenn asked, his mind filled with mixed emotions.

It wasn't just asking the two of them; it was more like talking to himself.

The maze is blocked, and he can't get in for the time being. What should he do next?

"Do you know him?" Lilith turned her head, her bright and clear eyes looking at Glenn.

"I don't even know you..." Glenn muttered to himself, but still answered the question.

"His name is Harvey, an adventurer from the team 'Platinum Unicorn'. He had been exploring the Starfall Labyrinth, but for some reason he was seriously injured and appeared in the Kru Labyrinth."

He said he lived in a small house on the southern outskirts of Byronding and had two younger sisters.

Ethan sighed, "So the witch really is in Byronden. This trip was all for nothing."

"Mr. Ethan, I will return to Byronden alone to investigate. The witch is among the women connected to the adventurer Harvey." Lilith blinked. "Please stay in Ross Town and issue the quest 'Slay the Beast of the Labyrinth' to the Adventurers' Guild."

"Um," Glenn raised his hand, "I carried Harvey for quite a distance earlier, could I have gotten infected too...?"

Ethan patted him on the shoulder:

"No, only witches can transmit blood curses. You haven't been in contact with any suspicious women lately, have you?"

Upon hearing this, Glenn finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lately, he hasn't had much contact with humans; he's surrounded by skeletons, zombies, and kobolds.

Lilith took a deep look at the collapsed entrance, and deep down, she felt that there was something she was looking for in this labyrinth.

It's not the right time.

There are more important things to do.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

[Kill Human Adventurer (LV30)]

Experience gained: 600 points

[Level Up: LV.25 → LV.27]

The "King of the Labyrinth" talent effect has been activated.

[Plunder Talent: Belzahar's Blessing]

[Plunder Skill: Mastered to LV3]

"?"

Lance stared blankly at the system notification.

Didn't Angelica say that Glenn rescued the adventurer who was about to die?

Has it come back from the dead again?

"This is amazing, partner! This maze is fantastic!"

Previously, 3413 was so timid when facing the boss that he was completely energized.

They kept climbing and crawling through the maze.

Bone and Martin are still AFK in the resurrection space; of the previous extermination team, only Angelica has been resurrected.

Angelica seemed much quieter this time.

Unlike before, she no longer punched Lance on the head in frustration after being tricked by him, or cried and made a scene.

This time, she simply stood silently behind him, watching him quietly.

Just look at him.

(Am I going to die too?)

In particular, Lance brought back a spider that spoke slang in secret, which made Angelica even more resentful.

"Alright, stop grumbling." Lance waved to Angelica. "I brought you a present."

"A spider?" Angelica murmured softly.

"It's a magic crystal."

Lance took out the magic crystals he had collected earlier, which finally drew Angelica's attention to his hands.

half an hour.

"Wow! This is a top-grade magic crystal!" Angelica exclaimed, holding the stone.

Lance doesn't know much about professional knowledge.

Angelica explained in a voice brimming with surprise:

"This level of magic crystal is only found on the staff of the Archbishop of the Church, and even then, it's only a quarter the size of this one!"

"Thank you for your compliment, Miss." 3413 crawled over, raising its hands as if to show off, "This magic crystal was found by gentleman 3413."

Angelica hid behind Lance, peeking out half her head to greet 3413 on the ground.

"Hello, Mr. Spider."

She's now desensitized to things that can talk; she wouldn't be surprised if you told her there was a talking stone.

"You can call him 3413," Lance introduced briefly, then said to Angelica, "Try using this magic crystal as a medium to replenish my mana."

The two of them placed their hands on the magic crystal at the same time, and in an instant, Lance's magic power was fully restored.

It felt like he had poured all the water from Angelica's sink into his.

Oh my god, the blue bar is changing!

With one thing on his mind, Lance carefully put away the magic crystal, then picked up Angelica with his left hand and walked towards the maze gate.

"What! What is Mr. Lance up to now!"

Angelica screamed and struggled.

"Don't move, there's another gift for you," Lance scolded.

I don't yet know how to explain to Angelica that I received "Belzaha's blessing".

I don't know if this is the blood curse she mentioned.

However, skeletons don't have blood, so getting tainted by a blood curse shouldn't be a big problem, right?

Judging from the explanation, this seems to be a positive buff.

Moreover, just as the [King of the Labyrinth] talent affects the entire labyrinth, the influence of [Belzahar's Blessing] has expanded from the individual to the entire labyrinth.

In theory, Lance can gain power as long as pain and despair arise in the labyrinth.

A maze...isn't that what it's for?