The dance was in full swing, yet the maiden by the bonfire appeared somewhat melancholic. Somehow, amidst the fervent gyrations of the youths, she felt a sense of disconnection akin to the solitude she experienced watching others frolic during yesterday's magical celebration.

In her hand, a cup of beverage awaited, promising immersion into dreams where she could encounter those she longed to see. However, Helene fiddled with the cup, lacking the urgent desire to consume its contents as before.

The tavern had changed, and so had she. Over the years, the intensity of change had never been as profound as in recent days, yet she harbored no excessive aversion. The realities she had long denied were now accepted with a naturalness.

Life would continue, but the past was irrevocably gone. Her mother, for instance, would never return from the realm of the goddess, where she now perhaps observed her daughter.

Helene glanced at the sky and offered a faint smile. All this had begun with the arrival of that person.

She tugged at the scarf around her neck, resolving not to deceive herself any longer and to embrace a fresh start.

"Helene, why haven't you drunk the sacred elixir?" A voice interjected from beside her.

"Oh... I'm not feeling quite hungry, I'm sorry, I think..." Helene rose, intending to bid farewell. She found herself yearning to return to the tavern, finding this place no longer appealing.

Perhaps there would be no need to seek solace in this place to evade pain in the future.

"What are you thinking? The ritual is about to begin." Without further ado, the person grabbed Helene's arm, leading her into the throng of people.

Panney raised his head, noticing that there was no starlight to be seen above the open ruins, he sighed, "It seems the master of this place is not welcoming us."

"This is the Maze of Entropy, sir," Malk observed for a moment, shaking his head, "A labyrinth constructed with shadow spells and portals. If one chooses the wrong passage, they may encounter monsters and traps."

Shadow spells...

Panney closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly entering a half-slumber state, then opened them again, stepping into one of the passages, "This way?"

"How did you know?" Malk was surprised, "It's dangerous to wander here."

"This is the safest one," Panney remarked. Though Malk remained skeptical, he tightened his grip on his weapon and cautiously followed. Indeed, they passed through unscathed and arrived before a high wall. Behind it, the clamor and bustle grew clearer. While Malk was astonished that Panney had found the correct path, he still hesitated, "This is a dead end."

"The Gate of Silence," Panney whispered. With a gentle push on the wall, a half-height secret door silently swung open a crack, allowing the glow of the bonfire to seep through. Just as Panney was about to enter, he was stopped. A thief handed him a cloak, which he promptly donned. Quietly slipping through the main gate, he was met with a sight that left him dumbfounded.

A large group of young people cavorted and roared around the bonfire, their shadows flickering like demons. Memories of underground taverns from a past life flooded Panney's mind as he caught the scent, familiar from his eight years as an apprentice, of alchemical concoctions.

"Feels like a lifetime ago," Panney muttered to himself, scanning the crowd for Helene's figure. After searching for a while to no avail, he approached a young man with glazed eyes stumbling towards him, "Hello, you seem unfamiliar. Who's your friend?"

"I'm brought by Gomi..." Panney lowered his voice, gesturing subtly as Malk's hand hovered over his dagger at his waist.

"Oh, it's the lad from Dehumi. Tonight, he's to be formally initiated into the order. Quite enviable," the man's exclamation dispelled Malk's murderous intent, while Panney appeared to have a sudden realization, "Gomi is indeed formidable, for he never mentioned it to me."

"Haha, no need to fret. Once the master tests your loyalty, you too shall attain the power to manifest your desires,"

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"Manifest my desires? Perhaps," Panney chuckled.

"Come, experience the master's power," the man handed Panney a steaming cup of liquid, while he himself downed the contents of his own cup, immediately staggering about as if he'd ingested some sort of pill.

Panney tentatively took a sip, quickly disguising a mouthful of thick phlegm as a discreet cough.

"Sir, things seem rather dire..." Malk approached quietly, "These methods seem akin to those employed by demons or devils to recruit followers."

"Let's wait and see," Panney scanned the crowd, searching for the girl. Dare not to act rashly, after a while, a figure clad in a gray robe and a half-mask approached the bonfire. Squinting, Panney spotted a crude stone platform amidst the firelight and shadows. "Brothers and sisters, today, we have two new siblings joining the ranks of the master's servants. Let us cheer for this moment!"

The crowd of people, intoxicated by hallucinogens, erupted into cheers as Panney and Malk concealed themselves in the shadows, exchanging glances. Malk spoke, "Sir, I've marked the maze outside. Once I give the signal, our comrades can charge in, and I'll launch a surprise attack from the shadows to deal with this old fellow!"

"No need to rush. Let's see what they're up to first," Panney furrowed his brow, staring at the center of the bonfire, where a group of fervent youths escorted the shirtless Gomi.

"Very well," Malk nodded.

"In devout Gomi, are you willing to offer your body and soul to the master?"

"Willingly, I am indeed willing," Gomi's eyes gleamed with an eerie green light as he raised his fist, half-madly roaring. He lay down on the stone platform beside the bonfire. The figure in the gray robe tossed something into the flames, followed by a bizarre chant and a piercing shriek. With a crackle, a shadow, slender as a claw, plunged into Gomi's chest. A flash of red light, and Gomi's body jolted, a crimson dot in the pyre turning to ash.

As the ashes dissipated, the flames surged skyward, contorting into a grotesque visage. Simultaneously, the flames paled, extinguishing amidst the frenzied cheers of the crowd.

"Sir?" Malk startled briefly, but his seasoned resilience quickly restored his composure. He turned to see Panney's visage, now ashen. Malk nudged him repeatedly, but to no avail.

In that instant of flame's metamorphosis, Panney's perception was inundated with an unfathomable terror, rendering his mind momentarily blank, consciousness suspended.

It was the first time in his life that his perceptual realm had received such an omen.

"Ah!" A shrill scream erupted from the other side of the bonfire, casting an eerie pallor upon Hekel's face.

"Disciple, why fear? Surrender your body and soul to the master, and your innermost desires shall be fulfilled. There is no need for fear. In the master's sanctuary, you shall obtain immortality," the broken corpse on the stone platform stood up, a radiant glow covering the bloodied cavity in its left chest, though the freshly spilled blood remained, a ghastly sight.

"Forgive... me, Gomi... I... I'm fully aware," facing Gomi, who could still stand and speak despite losing his heart, Hekel tugged at the scarf around his neck, his voice faltering with fear, yet he summoned courage, "But... but... but... Mother has already passed away. I... I... I shouldn't be lost in the dreams of the past. I must pursue a new life..."

"What twisted logic is this! The world is unreal. We should mold it to suit our desires. The master will grant us such power," Gomi's face contorted grotesquely as he waved his fist. Excitement caused blood to spurt from his chest, "Come forth, forget the words you just spoke."

"I'm very sorry... I... I must leave..." Hekel quickly realized that this 'person' was no longer human. After speaking, she swiftly turned to escape.

"Seize her! The master requires her dedication!" Gomi raised his hands, shaking uncontrollably as if in a fit. A group of frenzied individuals howled and lunged towards Hekel. The young girl let out a cry of alarm, her shoe falling to the ground. She stumbled, only to be grabbed by several claws. Suddenly, a neigh sounded, and a galloping horse appeared amidst the crowd. Several people were knocked aside, and a figure clumsily lifted Hekel from the ground. Simultaneously, a fierce roar erupted from the periphery of the crowd. Several burly men wielding large axes charged into the fray, cutting down any obstacles in their path as if slicing through melons and vegetables.

"Intruders! Eliminate them!" The robed figure with the mask barely had time to speak before a dagger pierced his throat. Several crossbow bolts flew, embedding into his body, and he collapsed to the ground with several bloody wounds, limp and lifeless.

"Half a gram of belladonna, a strand of dryad hair, two drops of ferocious wolf blood, and succubus wing membrane—concocting such a potent hallucinogenic elixir is not arduous. If you wish to use it, I can procure it for you at any time. Why must you venture into such sordid places?" Penny embraced Hekel, "How perilous is it?"

"I'm sorry..." Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as she clutched Penny's garment tightly, breathing heavily. Although still shaken, her tone was no longer frantic.

"Well, well! Little boss, everything is settled now. When it's time to demonstrate personal bravery, don't forget to give us, your hardworking fellows, a little sweet reward..."

How could this ragtag group be a match for mercenaries as fierce as wolves and tigers? Soon, bodies littered the ground as the mercenaries relaxed, wiping the blood from their blades and scavenging for spoils, all the while joking amiably.

"Of course," Penny chuckled, then her expression suddenly changed, "Be cautious, let's evacuate from here quickly."

The mercenaries paused in confusion, then suddenly witnessed the entropy maze around them dissipating into nothingness. Meanwhile, the blood from the bodies on the square slowly flowed towards the central bonfire, its flames gradually turning white. This time, a figure with horns emerged, its swaying silhouette emanating a sinister voice, "Guests, do not be in haste to depart. Regarding the disruption of my ceremony... we must have a thorough discussion..."