Chapter 1: Hey bro! Hang in there! I’m coming to rescue you!

Outskirts of Kite City, deep inside an unknown forest.

The assassin Liyami stood before the Labyrinth Entrance, staring at the sinister aura emanating from within.

He then turned to the Paladin beside him.

“So, this is the Labyrinth created by that remaining demon?”

Liyami asked the Paladin.

The Paladin beside Liyami replied solemnly, “That’s right, brother. Judging from the evil energy here, that demon remnant might be researching some forbidden magic inside.”

Assassin Liyami and Paladin Colin were members of the same squad, a team formed specifically to handle high-risk incidents threatening the Kingdom’s peace.

Paladin Colin, the squad leader, was also the strongest among them.

It was said his level had surpassed 70, earning him the reverent title of Saint Colin.

The squad also included: the contemporary Saintess Eleanor, chosen by the Holy Light three years ago; Laweinia, the elven archer who had fought alongside the previous Hero; and Sifney, a mage skilled in demon languages and many rare magics.

Liyami had joined the team two years ago under orders from the Shadow Secret Society.

Although only level 55—the lowest in the squad—he had contributed significantly through his profession and skills.

Liyami glanced around and asked Colin, “Is it just the two of us? Where are the Saintess and the others?”

“Just us two, brother. They went after the escaping demon remnant. This place was probably abandoned as a decoy.”

Liyami and Colin were here because they had received Communications Magic from Sifney.

While tracking a demon officer named Alek, the three were discovered and fled, pursuing Alek further.

Colin and Liyami were tasked with investigating the Labyrinth Alek left behind.

Colin paused briefly before continuing, “But brother, don’t let your guard down. We don’t know what that demon remnant is doing here. Let’s proceed cautiously.”

With that, Colin strode forward, taking the lead.

Liyami used his skill Shadow Merge to merge into Colin’s shadow.

This was their usual tactic—

Colin, as leader and strongest member, would draw the enemy’s attention up front, while Liyami hid in his shadow, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and finish off the enemy.

After advancing for a while.

“We haven’t seen any monsters so far. It’s a little too quiet here,” Colin muttered to his own shadow.

The shadow gave no response, but Colin paid no mind and kept moving forward.

“There are a lot of Stone Statues along both sides. Did that demon really bother setting these up?”

Colin said, eyeing the statues.

Colin’s shadow shifted to the left and right, and Colin suddenly understood, “I get it, these must be the Labyrinth Guardian Statues set by the demon as defenses.”

Without hesitation, Colin drew the Sanctuary Sword from his back and swung, shattering the nearest statue.

“Crack crack.”

The remaining statues glowed bright red and began crackling, as if about to activate.

Colin’s shadow instantly split into several pieces, scattering toward the statues that hadn’t yet activated.

Liyami and Colin had fought together for two years—sometimes, without exchanging words, they could tell what the other was thinking.

“Bang.”

The statues didn’t seem very high level, more like alarms than actual combatants.

Liyami swiftly dispatched the statues about to activate, while Colin took care of his side.

Once the statues were destroyed, Colin turned to Liyami with approval.

“Nice work, brother. Our coordination is still perfect as ever. But if you believed in the Holy Light, I’m sure our bond and teamwork would reach a whole new level!”

Liyami looked at Colin helplessly.

“How many times have you tried to preach to me? I’ve told you, I don’t have a faith, and I don’t need one.”

“Brother, I think you say you don’t need faith simply because you’ve never truly believed in anyone. Please, allow me to briefly explain the greatness of the Holy Light.”

Hearing Colin’s increasingly devout tone, Liyami felt the next moment would be a long sermon.

He quickly merged back into Colin’s shadow and urged him forward.

Colin sighed regretfully, “Brother, if you believed in the Holy Light with me, we’d be inseparable.”

Liyami couldn’t stand Colin’s tone any longer and silently waited for him to move on.

Seeing this, Colin stopped preaching and led the way deeper into the Labyrinth.

As for why Liyami didn’t share Colin’s faith, it was simple.

Not that Liyami lacked belief—he was an assassin of the Shadow Secret Society, and assassins were required to believe only in Destined Death.

Changing or revealing one’s faith was forbidden.

Thus, in Colin’s eyes, Liyami was a faithless man, which fueled Colin’s enthusiasm to evangelize him.

Liyami was troubled by this but couldn’t stop Colin’s preaching, so he always tried to divert the topic.

After advancing further, they destroyed many statues along the way.

Besides the small alarm statues, there were also some large Labyrinth Guardian Statues.

Seeing Colin’s unwearied expression, Liyami couldn’t help but say, “You’re ridiculously strong. That Guardian Statue should be around level 55, same as me, yet you shattered it with one swing.”

Colin remained calm and replied, “It’s nothing—just insignificant pests under the Holy Light’s gaze. Compared to what the Hero has done, I still have a long way to go.”

Hearing this, Liyami twitched at the corner of his mouth, thinking: If you say this is nothing, then I’m not even worth a pest.

Liyami didn’t dwell on the topic; Colin’s strength was no surprise.

“Looks like this is the end.”

Colin stared at a large door ahead.

The evil aura beyond was heavy.

He slowly pushed it open.

Inside was a scene filled with various equipment, potions, and some evidently old books and scrolls.

Liyami flipped through the scrolls but couldn’t understand a single one.

“This looks like a laboratory. Can you read these scrolls or books? And these potions seem like some kind of sleeping drugs?”

Liyami picked up a bottle and asked Colin.

“That’s written in demon script—I’ve never studied it. As for the potions, Dream Reversion Potion, Cold Seal Potion, Thousand Slumber Potion…all high-level potions, mostly used to induce coma or sleep. If used all at once, even I could only last ten seconds. Don’t touch them recklessly.”

Colin warned.

Liyami frowned, thinking: If the intel was correct, this demon remnant, although a level 63 officer, had remained low-profile.

There was little information about it from either humans or demons.

Now it’s made so many advanced sleeping potions—what exactly is it planning?

“Hm? Brother, come take a look. There’s a secret door here.”

Colin waved at the thoughtful Liyami.

Liyami approached and saw the hidden door Colin indicated.

From the dark inside the door came the strongest evil aura Liyami had sensed since entering the Labyrinth.

The space inside seemed large, and just by looking, it felt like a trap was practically written on the door.

Walking closer.

“What do you think? Should we go in?”

Liyami asked Colin.

“I’ll go in first, brother. My level is much higher than yours; even if there are traps, they shouldn’t harm me.”

Colin said and stepped inside.

Liyami frowned, wanting to call Colin back, but remembered the Secret Society’s orders and held his tongue.

“There’s nothing inside? Wait!”

Colin had just finished speaking when suddenly a Magic Circle lit up beneath his feet.

He tried to retreat but found the secret door shut tight, protected by a magic seal that couldn’t be opened easily.

“Roar!”

Hearing the sound behind him, Colin turned to see a large creature summoned by the magic circle.

“A High Demon, huh? Should be level 72.”

Colin’s expression darkened.

“Ugh ah!”

At that moment, Colin heard a scream from behind the secret door—

Liyami’s desperate cry.

Colin’s face instantly turned pale.

“Brother, hold on! I’m coming to save you!”

Saying so, Colin charged at the High Demon with his sword raised.

Meanwhile, outside the secret door, Liyami watched Colin’s figure vanish behind the sealed door, emotions swirling within.

Before he could react further, a Magic Circle lit up on the ceiling of the room.

Liyami froze.

“No way? There are traps inside, and traps outside too?!”

As the magic circle glowed, the surrounding potions exploded simultaneously.

Liyami’s initial intentions were interrupted by the strong scent of the potions, and his head grew heavy.

He felt as if he was about to fall asleep any moment.

“……”

Under the influence of numerous advanced sleeping potions, Liyami eventually couldn’t hold on and collapsed.

Over ten minutes later.

Liyami gradually regained consciousness.

“Hmm……Hmm!?”

But he realized something was wrong with his body.