The Forbidden Forest had always felt alive.
Every tree.
Every river.
Every creature hiding beneath the endless canopy.
All of it carried a strange rhythm that Emil had slowly learned to understand.
But today...
That rhythm had changed.
The air felt heavier.
The spiritual energy flowing through the forest had become unstable.
And beneath everything...
Something ancient was stirring.
---
Emil stood on a high cliff overlooking the forest.
His golden eyes stared into the distance.
The Sun Eyes allowed him to see what ordinary people never could.
Energy flowed through the world like invisible rivers.
The life force of plants.
The spiritual power of beasts.
The natural energy of the earth.
But beneath all of that...
There was something else.
A massive source of power buried deep underground.
Half golden.
Half black.
The same energy he had sensed before.
The same place connected to the Lost Civilization.
"The source of the Void..."
Emil whispered.
His hand tightened around his sword.
After weeks of training, he had become much stronger.
But he understood something.
The Forbidden Forest was hiding secrets far beyond spirit beasts.
If he wanted answers...
He had to search for them.
---
Ding!
The system awakened.
---
[Quest Location Updated.]
[Ancient Energy Source Detected.]
[Distance: 18 kilometers underground.]
[Possible connection: Lost Civilization.]
---
Emil frowned.
"Underground?"
The forest had countless dangers above the surface.
What could possibly be hidden beneath it?
Curiosity burned inside him.
But so did caution.
The Void Wraith had taught him one thing.
Not every mystery should be approached without preparation.
---
Before leaving, Emil prepared carefully.
He gathered medicinal herbs.
Stored food.
Checked his sword.
Then he strengthened his body through the Sun God Breathing Technique.
Golden energy flowed through his meridians.
His foundation was far stronger than when he first entered the forest.
The weak child who had fallen from the cliff was gone.
Now stood a cultivator.
Still young.
Still inexperienced.
But no longer helpless.
---
Following the energy trail with his Sun Eyes, Emil traveled deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
The deeper he went...
The stranger the surroundings became.
The trees grew larger.
Ancient roots twisted through the ground like enormous serpents.
The spiritual energy became denser.
But so did the Void energy.
At times, he saw patches of black mist clinging to trees.
Wherever it touched...
Life withered.
Emil's expression became serious.
"The Void is spreading."
This was no longer a single creature.
It was a corruption.
Something much larger.
---
After several hours, Emil reached a valley that shouldn't have existed.
The surrounding mountains formed a perfect circle.
At the center stood a massive stone structure.
It was not natural.
It was built.
Ancient walls covered in symbols rose from the earth, hidden beneath thousands of years of growth.
Emil stepped closer.
His Sun Eyes activated.
Golden patterns appeared across the stone.
The same language he had seen inside the cave.
The language of the Lost Civilization.
---
He placed his hand against the wall.
The moment his fingers touched the ancient stone—
Boom.
The entire valley trembled.
Golden light spread across the ruins.
The symbols awakened one after another.
Then a message appeared within his mind.
---
[Sun God Fragment Detected.]
[Access Granted.]
[Ancient Trial Facility Activating.]
---
Emil froze.
"Trial facility?"
The stone wall slowly split apart.
Dust fell from above.
A massive staircase descended into the earth.
Cold air rushed upward.
The smell of ancient metal and forgotten battles filled the entrance.
---
The system spoke.
[Location Identified.]
[Ancient Monster Labyrinth.]
[Origin: Lost Civilization.]
[Purpose: Warrior Trial and Combat Evaluation.]
---
Emil stared into the darkness below.
"A monster labyrinth..."
The name alone carried danger.
But something else caught his attention.
The system continued.
---
[Warning.]
[Estimated danger level: Extremely High.]
[Recommended cultivation level: Above current host.]
[Entering may result in death.]
---
Emil remained silent.
The old Emil would have been afraid.
The boy who had been thrown from the cliff would have thought death was inevitable.
But that boy had changed.
He had fought spirit beasts.
He had faced the Void.
He had survived alone.
And now...
He wanted answers.
---
Emil stepped toward the entrance.
"If I run every time something is dangerous..."
"Then I'll never discover the truth."
The Sun God Fragment glowed warmly within him.
The ancient gate responded.
---
Warning: Labyrinth entrance will seal after entry.
Do you wish to proceed?
---
Emil took a deep breath.
Then smiled.
"Yes."
---
The moment he crossed the threshold—
BOOM!
The massive stone doors closed behind him.
Darkness surrounded him.
But unlike before...
He was not afraid of the darkness.
Because now...
He carried his own light.
---
The labyrinth stretched endlessly before him.
Ancient corridors.
Broken weapons.
Destroyed armor.
Bones of countless creatures scattered across the floor.
The walls were covered with faded carvings depicting warriors battling monsters.
Some carried swords.
Some carried magic.
Some fought with their bare hands.
All of them had one thing in common.
They were trying to reach the end.
---
Emil approached one of the carvings.
His Sun Eyes analyzed the ancient symbols.
A message appeared.
---
"Only those who survive the darkness may inherit the light."
---
Emil looked deeper into the labyrinth.
A faint sound echoed.
Footsteps.
Not human.
Small.
Numerous.
His hand moved toward his sword.
The smell of creatures filled the air.
Rotten meat.
Metal.
Blood.
Then two green eyes appeared in the darkness.
Then four.
Then dozens.
---
Ding!
[Host has encountered unknown creatures.]
[Analysis beginning...]
---
The creatures stepped into the light.
Small bodies.
Sharp teeth.
Crude weapons.
But intelligent eyes.
Goblins.
---
One of them pointed at Emil and shouted in a strange language.
More creatures emerged behind it.
A group.
Then another.
A small army.
The goblins raised their weapons.
Emil lowered his stance.
The labyrinth had welcomed him.
Not with answers.
Not with treasures.
But with enemies.
---
He gripped his sword.
Golden energy flowed through the blade.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good."
"Let's see what this place has to teach me."
The first trial of the Ancient Monster Labyrinth had begun.