"■■■." Ethan tried to read aloud, but was cut off by the system with a beep.

"That could be one possibility." Andrew confirmed.

"So, this text is a warning about his awakening?" Emily asked, her voice trembling slightly. She leaned in closer to inspect the screen, concern etched on her face.

"Perhaps." Lucien replied, his tone tinged with uncertainty. He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "It could also be about something else entirely, but this interpretation seems most likely to me."

"Then we need to prevent this from happening." Dagger chimed in, the urgency evident in his voice. He clenched his fists, ready for action.

Andrew nodded gravely. "Agreed. But to do that, you'll need to enter the Labyrinth."

"The Labyrinth?" Mia's eyes widened, a mix of dread and curiosity evident in her expression. She had heard stories about the Labyrinth, but never imagined she would have to enter it.

"Yes." Lucien confirmed. "It's a perilous place, filled with unknown challenges and dangers. Only few players have returned after entering it."

Leo glanced nervously at Mike and Mia. He swallowed hard, feeling a knot in his stomach. "Do we even know what we'll be up against in there?" he asked.

"We will go." Ethan's voice broke the tension, his eyes reflecting determination.

"What? But our team isn't ready yet." Emily's concern was palpable, her gaze shifting between her teammates. She knew they had potential, but they lacked experience and confidence.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"I know." Ethan reassured her, his tone firm yet understanding. He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze. "That's why we'll spend the next 15 days training ourselves rigorously before even considering entering the Labyrinth."

"Okay. So you've decided that you will go into the Labyrinth." Lucien concluded, his gaze assessing their resolve. He nodded, impressed by their courage.

"Yes." Ethan affirmed, a sense of steely determination in his voice. He knew it was a risky move, but he was willing to take it in order to find the weird feeling he has been getting ever since he became a player.

They carefully rolled up the scrolls and tucked them into their backpacks. They left the association building, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. They headed to the Phoenix headquarters, where they would prepare for the Labyrinth.

The days that followed were filled with intense training sessions, strategy discussions, and moments of doubt mingled with determination. Emily meticulously honed her strategic planning and archery skills, Dagger focused on combat techniques, while Mia, Leo, and Mike worked together on enhancing their teamwork and adaptability. They pushed themselves to the limit, overcoming their weaknesses and fears.

------

[Demon guild]

In a large meeting hall, dimly lit by candles, various people had gathered together. They wore dark cloaks and masks, hiding their identities from each other. Marcus, one of the three priests of the demon guild, called for the meeting.

"Why did you call us for this meeting, Marcus?" A man wearing red armor and a long sword said. He was Arthur, the guildmaster of Dragonfang guild as well as the strongest swordsman. He was Andrew's teacher.

"Did you all hear about Griffin's downfall?" Marcus replied, his eyes gleaming.

"Yes, so?" Arthur asked.

"We could be next, so we should take action quickly." Marcus said, his voice urgent.

"Are you trying to say we should deal with Ethan as soon as possible?" Arthur asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes," Marcus said, nodding.

"Well, I don't think that's why you have called this meeting. You must have a bigger reason than eliminating a newbie player." Raon, guildmaster of the beast guild, said, knowing the nature of Marcus.

"You are correct. The main reason I've called you all is that the master has said that Ethan is somehow related to the god." Marcus said, his voice solemn. He felt delighted about getting a hint related to the the god they worship.

"Is it true?" Raon eyes widened with surprise.

"Yes. So I need your all cooperation in this." Marcus said, looking around.

"Okay, I'm in." Raon said firmly without any hesitation.

"I'm sorry but I'll stay out of this." Arthur said, shaking his head.

"Are you scared after coming this far?" Raon asked him in mocking tone.

"Think whatever you want." Arthur said, turning away. He left the room with his guildmates, ignoring the stares of the others.

"What about you guys?" Raon asked, looking at the three people who were heads of the mage Tower.

"We will participate." they said in unison, their voices calm.

"Good. Now listen to the plan. Ethan and his team will be going to the Labyrinth very soon. When he comes back, we will act. But be careful, there's a chance that Echelon will be there to protect them." Marcus said, his voice serious. He unfolded a map and explained his strategy