"Take a bite of Deep Sea King skewers, a sip of Ice Spirit Wine! So comfortable!"
"Mhm, at the first boss point, we can set up a bonfire and place a teleportation array!"
"Sigh, this Evil God Labyrinth was hyped up so much. It's actually kind of lame!"
...
Not only were the Dark Soul players not nervous, they were practically cultivating on the spot—sitting down, eating and drinking, even admiring the scenery of the Evil God Labyrinth.
Anyone unaware would think they weren't invaders trying to stop the Evil God's descent—
But tourists out on a picnic!
"!!!"
The Evil God's will projection was so furious it couldn't even speak.
Damn it, there should be a limit to looking down on something, right?!
This place is filled with danger at every step! A nine-deaths-one-life killing ground! The most terrifying and dreadful Evil God Labyrinth!
What the hell do you think this place is?!
"Despicable! You dare look down on this place? Think this Evil God Labyrinth isn't dangerous? Fine, I'll satisfy you!!! Just you wait!!!"
The Evil God's will projection was enraged!
It made a decision at last!
It instantly returned to the labyrinth core, its consciousness sinking into the heart of the maze.
Without hesitation, it adopted Indomitable Bear Is Strong's suggestions and massively upgraded all the traps and mechanisms in the second section—
Increased! Doubled! Frenzied amplification!
"Hahahahaha! Let's see how you survive this time!!!"
The Evil God's will projection returned to the second section, waiting smugly.
Sure enough—
When Indomitable Bear Is Strong and the others saw the newly upgraded traps and mechanisms in the second section, their expressions finally changed.
"My heavens… how could this be… Could it be… I misunderstood the labyrinth designer earlier?"
Indomitable Bear Is Strong froze, then muttered slowly.
"So that's how it is. The designer must have considered that there might be elderly people, children—or monkeys, idiots, clowns—so he thoughtfully made the earlier traps simple on purpose!"
"Sigh, the labyrinth designer is truly too kind! A true embodiment of truth, goodness, and beauty in the Dark Souls world!"
"After playing so many Dark Souls games designed by malicious masterminds, this is the first time I've felt such childlike innocence from a designer!"
...
Indomitable Bear Is Strong couldn't help but praise sincerely.
Then—
"Ah-ee-ya hey, ah-ee-ya ho, ah-ee-ya hehe~"
Humming cheerfully, he leisurely strolled through every single upgraded trap and mechanism in the second section.
The other Dark Soul players also chimed in with praise.
"Not bad! The design has finally caught up to the standards of thirty years ago!"
"Mhm, barely acceptable! Not easy—this section's traps have finally reached monkey-tier difficulty!"
"So the earlier parts were intentionally lowered in difficulty to take care of newbies! I didn't expect the designer to be this cute. I almost want to…"
...
The Dark Soul Guild players, still in nothing but shorts, enjoyed the thrilling "challenge" experience as they casually passed through all the traps and mechanisms.
"Pff—!"
The Evil God's will projection was on the verge of mental collapse, nearly exploding on the spot.
I am an Evil God!
A fragment of the will of the great Evil God Suruk!
You're the embodiment of truth, goodness, and beauty!
Your whole family is truth, goodness, and beauty!!!
"Don't get angry… don't get angry! The guardian at the end of the second section has already been strengthened tenfold! This time, these invaders will definitely die!!!"
...
The Evil God's will projection forced itself to calm down and continued watching.
"Whoosh!!!"
Suddenly, it sensed something flash past its side.
"???"
It turned its head and saw only a faint ripple in space.
What was that just now? Did something pass by? Was it an illusion? No—just in case, I should check…
Just as it was about to turn back—
It froze.
Because the invaders had already reached the end of the second section!
"Hahahahaha!"
The Evil God's will projection burst into laughter and quickly locked onto Indomitable Bear Is Strong.
"ROOOAAAR!!!"
Before Indomitable Bear Is Strong stood—
Ten ancient beasts at the Early Sixth-Order Sacred Body realm!
Each one incomparably powerful, releasing ferocious, savage roars!
In front of every other Dark Soul Guild player stood powerful boss guardians—each one ten times stronger than before.
"Holy crap, a giant spider plus a swarm of spiders?"
"A locust swarm? Tens of thousands of them?!"
"A six-headed serpent? Three of them at once?!"
...
The Dark Soul Guild players all gasped at first—
Then…
"Ah, now this is satisfying!"
"Nice! Now that's what you call a boss!"
"Awesome! Damn, this feels great—let me take a sip of Ice Spirit Wine!"
...
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the bosses and guardians were wiped out!
"Th-this…"
Even the Evil God's will projection hadn't expected that.
It had already strengthened those guardians tenfold!
And they were still all crushed?
Watching the Dark Soul Guild players skillfully set up bonfires and teleportation arrays, the Evil God's will projection finally put away its contempt.
"It seems traps and mechanisms are completely useless against them! And every single one of these fellows is extremely powerful—capable of defeating the strong while weaker themselves, and precisely targeting powerful enemies' weaknesses! I… have underestimated them…"
After carefully observing the Dark Soul Guild players, the Evil God's will projection summarized the traits of these human invaders.
So the next moment—
It directly withdrew all traps and mechanisms from the remaining four sections!
After all, the labyrinth's power was limited. Since traps were useless, it might as well reclaim that power and strengthen other aspects!
"Whisper of the God!!!"
The Evil God's will projection directly activated this terrifying ability and applied it to the third section!
"Hisssss…"
Soon, countless gray, eerie phantoms—without physical bodies and impossible to destroy—slowly manifested throughout the third section.
"This… is the power of this Evil God! Unfortunately, my true body has not yet descended. The strength of this single strand of consciousness is still too weak! But this Whisper of the God is enough to corrupt and erode the minds and spirits of these humans!"
"Hehehehe… Even an Human Emperor-tier expert would absolutely be unable to resist within this Evil God Labyrinth!"
"Invaders… I would like to see how you withstand this!"
...
The Evil God's will projection laughed smugly.
"Hmm?"
But once again, it was stunned.
Because from the place where the second guardian had died, a large group of figures suddenly poured out!
They were—
The first beta test and second beta test players!
They had grown too impatient to wait and, through the established teleportation arrays, had all arrived at the Evil God Labyrinth!
Each teleportation array poured out more than twenty players.
"What are you doing? The map hasn't even been fully drawn yet!" The Dark Soul Guild players nearly spat blood.
"Can't help it, I'm too anxious!"
"We've waited two hours already—I can't hold it anymore!"
"Forget waiting for 24! Let's go together! Charge!!!"
...
Thus, before the dumbfounded eyes of the Dark Soul Guild players, the first beta test and second beta test veterans all charged toward the third section!
Although the sudden surge of invaders caught the Evil God's will projection off guard, it quickly let out a sinister grin.
"Spatial Displacement!!!"
With the Evil God's will projection's whisper, the players who had just rushed forward felt the surroundings blur—
Then shockingly discovered—
All the other players around them had vanished?
They had each become completely alone?
"Hehehe… No matter how many of you charge in, within this Evil God Labyrinth, you can only fight alone… Are you afraid? Terrified? No…"
"Despair… has only just begun!"
...
As the Evil God's will projection's voice echoed—
Around the more than eight hundred first beta test and second beta test players—
An evil and eerie phantom manifested beside each and every one of them…