Chapter 263 : Colossus Maze

Chapter 263: Colossus Maze! Sweeping Through Everything! Breaking the Record!

When ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the token disappeared.

Everyone ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was teleported to an unfamiliar space.

Hang ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yu received a notification from the Will of the Stars.

【You ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have entered the Starsea Trial Ground: Colossus Maze!】

【Trial ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Objective: Clear as many floors of the maze as possible within 300 minutes!】

【……】

“So it's finally starting?” Hang Yu used Xiao Ba of the Heavenly Dao Cube to relay the trial information to every citizen in the form of a mission announcement.

Midnight Butcher: “What's going on?! Where is this place?”

Little Bell: “Wow, look! This environment is unbelievably magnificent!”

Black Pupils Sharp Bro: “Everyone, check the system prompt! We've entered a raid map!”

Ye Limeng: “It really is!”

Ning Caichen II: “Screenshot taken!”

Salted Fish Thrust: “Hahaha! This trip to Sacred Azure City is so much fun! I never expected we'd get to experience raid dungeon gameplay ahead of time. We've really hit the jackpot this time!”

Niu Shisan said, “Aren't we supposed to be competing against the other ten thousand Lords? Why were we teleported to a place like this? How are we supposed to compete against the other Lords now?”

Street Cleaver complained gloomily, “I was all prepared to fight the myriad races of the Stars in an arena battle. How did we suddenly get teleported to a place like this?”

Arthur King: “There's nothing strange about it. Even if only ten thousand territories are participating, with each territory sending a hundred combat units, that's already a million participants. How could they possibly determine rankings through direct battles in less than a day?”

Raise My Cup to the Moon: “Exactly. Forget a million uniquely composed armies—even a million ants couldn't decide a winner in such a short amount of time.”

Black Pupils Sharp Bro nodded. “Since the Return to the Stars lasts only a limited time, an instance point-ranking format like this is much more reasonable and far more efficient than an elimination tournament based on PvP.”

Green-Robed Fox asked, “What do you mean by an instance point-ranking competition?”

Chi Mei Wang Liang answered, “An instance point-ranking competition means all participants enter the same dungeon, and once it's over, everyone is ranked according to their performance.”

Black Pupils Sharp Bro: “I reckon most Starsea Lord competitions in This Twisted Three Kingdoms Game Is Brutally will use this format. First, there are simply too many Starsea Lords. Second, it's a competition rather than a war, so there's no need to make it so brutal.”

Ye Limeng: “Makes sense. That way, even if there are a hundred thousand, a million, or several million participating territories instead of just ten thousand, rankings can still be determined in a single round.”

“This raid dungeon is extremely important!”

Hua Mulan declared, “We have to show off the style of the Calamity Army!”

“Exactly! Not only are hundreds of millions of cloud players watching our livestream, but the results of this raid also determine whether we can recruit the fierce general Dian Wei!”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let's start farming!”

“What's the rush? The Lord and the Strategist haven't said anything yet!”

“……”

While the Players chatted excitedly.

Jia Xu, Wen Ping, and the others carefully observed their surroundings.

This place resembled the entrance to a gigantic underground palace. Before them stood a majestic city gate over a thousand zhang tall. The gate was already open, while a wall of white mist blocked their view beyond it.

The entrance to the palace alone stood over a thousand zhang high.

Compared to this palace, humans weren't even worthy of being called ants.

Although the palace was unimaginably enormous, every design detail was exquisitely crafted. Whether it was the statues standing before the gate or the countless decorations adorning the city walls and palace ramparts, everything had been carved with extraordinary precision.

Anyone standing before this palace would instinctively feel that it could never have been built through mortal means, and would naturally be overwhelmed by a profound sense of insignificance.

No wonder the Players immediately began taking photos.

These materials alone would keep the Arcane scholars busy researching for a very long time.

Even Jia Xu had never seen such a magnificent structure. For the first time, he truly understood the greatness of the Will of the Stars, while simultaneously becoming curious about this place.

“My Lord, this place is...”

“The Colossus Maze.”

Hang Yu explained, “It is one of the trial spaces created by the Will of the Stars on Sacred Azure City's Trial Island.”

“Only Lords below Tier 4 may enter. Each challenge lasts only 300 minutes. There are supposedly twenty floors, yet no one has ever cleared all of them.”

“So it has already existed for fifty years.”

“……”

While Hang Yu conversed with Jia Xu.

Every Player pricked up their ears.

Black Pupils Sharp Bro, Chi Mei Wang Liang, and the others immediately perked up.

From these few brief sentences alone, they had already obtained a wealth of valuable information.

Trial Spaces.

They were likely the equivalent of dungeons in traditional games!

A dungeon in a conventional game essentially created countless mirrored instances of the same map, allowing it to theoretically accommodate an unlimited number of teams.

This place called the Colossus Maze.

Was most likely one such raid dungeon.

However, even in traditional games, dungeons came in many different varieties and gameplay styles, serving as one of the primary methods of enriching gameplay. They still had no idea what made the dungeons in This Twisted Three Kingdoms Game Is Brutally different.

For example, according to the Lord.

Trial Spaces were created through the supreme power of the Will of the Stars.

So what exactly was the purpose behind creating them?

Furthermore, Hang Yu had mentioned that this Colossus Maze had existed for a very long time, yet its difficulty was so overwhelming that no one had ever cleared it in fifty years.

Did that mean...

The dungeon could be challenged infinitely?

But once it was cleared...

Would it disappear forever?

And after clearing it...

Would there be generous rewards?

These were undoubtedly core game systems and important gameplay mechanics. Strategy experts like Black Pupils Sharp Bro would definitely investigate them thoroughly later.

Of course.

Now wasn't the time.

Because time was limited.

Before the Players even had a chance to ask questions.

Hang Yu had already led the group through the mist-covered entrance.

Everyone entered an enormous underground corridor.

The walls on both sides stretched hundreds of zhang into the air, filled with ancient stone niches of every size. One glance alone was enough to inspire awe.

Inside every stone niche stood an identical stone monster.

Each possessed horns upon its head, wings upon its back, three faces, eight eyes, grotesquely swollen limbs, and an incomparably ugly appearance. They wielded twin swords, giant halberds, or long staffs while radiating powerful and dangerous auras.

【Black Halberd Colossus Demon】, ……

【Twin Sword Colossus Demon】, ……

【Colossus Demon Sorcerer】, ……

【Colossus Demon Priest】, ……

“Holy crap, they're all monsters!”

“Are these all dungeon mobs?”

The Calamity Army Players were shocked to discover countless monsters called Colossus Demons. Their levels ranged from 11 to 30, and nearly every one of them was a Commander-class unit.

Before anyone could get a better look.

The nearest group of Colossus Demons awakened.

Dozens of Colossus Demons beat their wings and soared into the air.

Rather than being frightened, the Calamity Army Players were delighted, because every monster before them was at least a Tier 2 Commander.

The quality.

Was absolutely insane!

Just as they were preparing to request permission to attack.

Something completely unexpected happened.

Hang Yu suddenly erupted with overwhelming aura. The Yellow Heaven Demonic Dragon Spear unleashed dozens of spear lights, each carrying blazing might as they shot forward like fiery phoenixes spreading their wings.

-18,742 (Critical!)

-26,144 (Critical!)

-18,903 (Critical!)

-20,164 (Critical!)

……

Before the dozens of Colossus Demons could even approach, they were struck directly in midair. Each violent spear light pierced straight through their bodies, reducing them to ashes on the spot.

“Uh...”

“What just happened?”

“Holy crap, they all got one-shot!”

The Calamity Army was famously greedy. Watching so many high-quality monsters disappear instantly naturally filled them with regret.

Yet compared to the disappointment of having NPCs steal their monsters, what everyone felt even more strongly was sheer shock.

The monsters weren't particularly powerful.

But nearly all of them had reached Tier 2 Commander rank.

If they had been killed one by one, that would've been understandable.

But for dozens of them to appear nearby and all be annihilated in a single exchange was simply outrageous!

Not to mention there were even several Tier 3 Commanders mixed among them!

“The Lord's strength...”

“Has actually become this terrifying?”

“Can anyone recognize what technique the Lord just used?”

Hua Mulan said, “That move looked somewhat similar to Hundred Birds Take Flight, but its power and destructive force were completely different!”

Salted Fish Thrust replied, “Exactly. Hundred Birds Take Flight is one of the techniques from the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear Art. Its defining characteristic is its incredible attack speed, but its destructive power has never been particularly impressive.”

“What the Lord just used wasn't Hundred Birds Take Flight at all.”

“It was practically a Thousand Phoenix Assault!”

“I could even sense the aura of the Furious Flame Tyrant Blade within that move!”

“……”

It was no wonder the Players were so shocked.

What Hang Yu had just used was the newly created technique—Thousand Phoenix Prairie Inferno!

This technique combined both the overwhelming destructive might of the Furious Flame Tyrant Blade and the endless variations of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, resulting in such terrifying killing power.

And this had merely been a casual demonstration.

“The Lord has become even stronger!”

This was the thought shared by everyone present.

While still astonished, the Players noticed another detail on the battlefield.

Every monster Hang Yu had killed.

Had failed to drop any loot.

“What's going on?”

“Why isn't anything dropping?”

“Even if the Lord is an NPC and has a lower drop rate than us Calamity Army Players, there shouldn't be absolutely no loot at all!”

“Could it be like the Skeleton Giant before, where they weren't truly killed? Or is there some special rule that dungeon monsters simply don't drop anything?”

“……”

The Players couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed.

Black Pupils Sharp Bro said, “From a game design perspective, this kind of dungeon can apparently be challenged hundreds of thousands or even millions of times simultaneously. If every monster dropped loot like ordinary field monsters, the total resource output would be absurd.”

Salted Fish Thrust nodded.

“I agree. I think dungeon reward mechanics are probably different from ordinary monster farming. But our sample size is still too small to reach any conclusions.”

Little Bell frowned.

“This isn't what we should be worrying about.”

“I think we have a much bigger problem!”

“What?”

“This maze is unimaginably huge. It's filled with Colossus Demons everywhere. Forget clearing twenty floors within five hours—even finishing the first floor alone will probably be difficult!”

“That's true!”

“No wonder nobody has cleared this maze in fifty years!”

The Calamity Army began frowning.

Not only was the maze itself incredibly complicated and confusing, but simply figuring out its structure would consume enormous amounts of time. Every step also seemed destined to involve countless battles.

If they had unlimited time, that would've been manageable.

If the monsters at least dropped loot, there would still be some consolation.

The problem was...

There was no ordinary loot.

And the trial time limit was extremely short.

That made the situation especially frustrating.

Zhou Cang asked, “My Lord, since this maze has existed for decades, have the layouts and exits of the earlier floors already been mapped?”

Hang Yu replied, “The structure of the Colossus Maze is randomly generated, and every floor's exit also appears randomly. Previous challengers' experiences hold absolutely no reference value.”

“What astonishing difficulty!”

Even Zhang Zhongjing couldn't help sighing.

“My Lord, since the Colossus Maze first appeared, what is the highest floor anyone has ever reached?”

“The thirteenth floor.”

Hang Yu answered, “That record was set roughly twenty-one years ago by a top-tier Lord from one of the supreme races.”

The Players immediately began discussing it.

Midnight Butcher: “Only the thirteenth floor? That's still a long way from twenty!”

Salted Fish Thrust: “What do you mean only thirteen? That's already incredible!”

Mad Blade Old Wang: “This game's difficulty really is as insanely brutal as ever!”

“……”

Wen Ping asked, “Which floor is our objective?”

Hang Yu answered, “Reaching the eighth floor during this trial will be enough to secure a top ten ranking.”

Zhou Cang said, “The eighth floor? That'll be somewhat difficult, but with our strength, we should be able to accomplish it!”

Hang Yu shook his head.

“My objective isn't merely making the top ten.”

“If we're competing.”

“Then we're taking first place.”

The territory was determined to obtain the Divine Source Material.

The safest approach.

Was claiming first place outright!

Zhang Zhongjing immediately became spirited.

“If we wish to contend for the championship, we'll likely need to reach the ninth floor. Perhaps only the tenth floor would guarantee victory. That certainly won't be easy.”

Ye Limeng: “A real man charges to the tenth floor!”

Street Cleaver: “If we're doing this, let's do it properly!”

Little Bell: “Exactly! The Calamity Army fears neither death nor hardship. As long as we achieve our goal!”

Black Pupils Sharp Bro: “Although the tenth floor won't be easy, with the Lord personally leading us, along with Strategist Jia, Divine Physician Zhang, General Wen, and General Zhou, giving it everything we've got might actually make it possible!”

Yet Hang Yu still shook his head.

“My objective is to completely clear all twenty floors!”

What?

A full clear?

Everyone was stunned.

The highest record Sacred Azure City had achieved in fifty years was only thirteen floors.

The Lord who set that record had undoubtedly belonged to one of the strongest races, while his entire army must have consisted of an incredibly luxurious Tier 4 lineup.

Although no one doubted Lord Hang Yu's strength.

No matter how they looked at it.

This team simply shouldn't be capable of accomplishing such an unbelievable feat.

Yet.

No one questioned Hang Yu.

Instead, after the initial shock, everyone became ecstatic.

Because they trusted their Lord completely!

Given Lord Hang Yu's personality.

If he dared make such a declaration.

Then it absolutely wasn't empty boasting.

He would only say it because he truly had confidence.

Every single person.

Began looking forward to it immensely.

If they really cleared all twenty floors.

Then first place would be beyond question.

They would also shatter the historical record.

Just how glorious would that be?

Hang Yu explained, “The greatest difficulty of the Colossus Maze lies in its countless Colossus Demons. What we need to do is avoid fighting them altogether.”

The moment he said that.

Jia Xu immediately thought of something.

“This subordinate observed that all these Colossus Demons remain dormant before being triggered. In that case, as long as we determine their activation mechanism and adopt the appropriate countermeasures, we should be able to prevent them from awakening.”

So that was it.

Everyone immediately understood.

“As expected of the Strategist. He understood it instantly.”

“So what exactly triggers the Colossus Demons? Sound? Temperature? Visual contact? Or some other kind of aura?”

Hang Yu explained, “These Colossus Demons awaken only after sensing Starsea Aura. This Trial Space may be difficult for others, but for us, it poses absolutely no challenge!”

After a brief pause, he continued,

“Wenhe, your ability is the key to breaking this trial.”

So.

It was that simple.

As long as they concealed their Starsea Aura.

The Colossus Demons would remain nothing more than stone statues.

Jia Xu's Talent Skill, Eternal Night Veil, happened to possess exactly that ability.

Bringing him along was practically the same as using cheats!

Of course, it sounded simple.

But for other Lords.

It was anything but.

After all, to members of the Starsea faction, Starsea Aura was one of the most difficult marks to conceal. Many supreme experts could suppress their cultivation, yet still couldn't hide the fact that they belonged to the Starsea faction.

Just how rare were Purple Destiny Skills?

There probably weren't many in all of Sacred Azure City!

And Jia Xu's Eternal Night Veil ranked among the very finest Purple Destiny Skills.

Its seemingly inconspicuous ability to conceal aura absolutely should not be underestimated.

“So it was really that simple!”

When Jia Xu reactivated Eternal Night Veil.

Everyone present immediately gained a new buff.

At this moment, everyone's Starsea Aura had been completely concealed.

As they walked through areas densely packed with Colossus Demons.

Not a single one awakened.

At this moment.

Everyone was absolutely safe within the maze.

As long as they didn't actively attack.

No matter how much noise they made.

Even if they sang, danced, played basketball, or climbed onto the statues to relieve themselves.

None of the sleeping Colossus Demons would awaken.

“Hahaha!”

“This is awesome! We're practically getting carried this entire run!”

“Don't get carried away. Our time is limited. Even without monsters interfering, exploring the maze itself won't be easy.”

Chi Mei Wang Liang stepped forward.

“My Lord, what does the entrance to the next floor look like?”

Hang Yu replied, “The maze has no physical passageways. However, every floor contains a 'Maze Overseer.' As long as you locate and eliminate it, the maze will reset.”

“Every reset is equivalent to entering the next floor. Each reset completely changes the maze's structure, while the Colossus Demons within also become stronger.”

“Now spread out.”

“Find the Overseer!”

Everyone immediately summoned their warhorses.

Then they galloped through the maze.

Since there was absolutely no danger while splitting up, every time they reached an intersection, a small squad would split off to explore a different route.

Under such circumstances.

Results came quickly.

“I found the maze boss!”

A Player from the Twilight of the Gods Legion excitedly reported.

【Maze Overseer】, Level 16 Overlord Unit……

The Maze Overseer looked much like the other Colossus Demons, except it was significantly stronger and had reached the Overlord rank.

Of course.

First of all.

The Overseer hadn't even reached Tier 3.

Secondly.

Just like the other Colossus Demons, it remained dormant before activation.

It posed absolutely no threat.

After the Players quickly regrouped.

They attacked simultaneously.

The boss hadn't even fully awakened.

Much less begun fighting.

It was instantly blasted to pieces.

A blue loot sphere appeared.

“Awesome!”

“That was it?”

“The boss dropped loot!”

“So ordinary dungeon monsters don't drop anything, but dungeon bosses actually do!”

“……”

For the Players.

This was an unexpected delight.

Although this boss wasn't especially high level.

It was still an Overlord monster.

At the current stage of the territory.

Such enemies were extremely rare.

The Players quickly collected the loot.

【You collected loot: Essence +250,000, Magic Crystals +2,800, Blessed Sand +20, Refined Forging Stone +50, Gargoyle Demon Blood Essence +100, Gargoyle Demon Horn +100, Gargoyle Demon Soul Essence +10!】

“What an amazing drop!”

“Hahaha! Now that's what I call a jackpot!”

“The boss actually dropped Blessed Sand and Refined Forging Stones!”

“……”

The Players were extremely satisfied.

Since this Maze Boss was a Tier 2 Blue-quality Overlord.

Everything it dropped.

Was Tier 2 Blue quality.

It even included Tier 2 Blessed Sand.

Blessed Sand.

Was an extraordinarily rare forging material.

It increased the success rate during equipment enhancement.

It was an indispensable resource for crafting top-tier equipment.

At the current stage of the territory.

It was unimaginably scarce.

Even wealthy Players like Ye Limeng and Little Bell couldn't obtain more than a few portions, because the material dropped only extremely rarely. Normally, it had only a tiny chance of appearing in Starsea Mines.

Colossus Demons were among the very few monsters capable of dropping Blessed Sand.

They also dropped numerous valuable materials, including Gargoyle Demon Blood Essence, Gargoyle Demon Horns, and Gargoyle Demon Soul Essence.

The Players themselves had no practical use for these materials.

So they would eventually exchange them with the territory for Contribution Points.

Meanwhile.

The territory itself would gain enormous benefits.

These three Blue-quality materials had broad applications across many production fields. Blood Essence was mainly used in alchemy to refine advanced attribute pills or rare medicines with special effects. Demon Horns were primarily used in forging, such as crafting high-quality arrows or equipment. Soul Essence could be used to produce various special equipment or items with summoning abilities.

Therefore.

Although the Magic Crystal drop wasn't especially impressive.

The ten Soul Essences alone.

Would easily be worth more than ten thousand Magic Crystals on the market.

And this.

Was only the beginning!

After the boss was slain.

The maze immediately reset.

Everyone soon found the second Maze Overseer.

This boss had reached Level 18.

Two levels higher than the previous one.

Its strength had increased considerably.

The Players paid little attention to such a minor increase.

They unleashed another concentrated barrage.

There was once again no suspense.

The boss was effortlessly annihilated.

【You collected loot: Essence +320,000, Magic Crystals +3,000, Blessed Sand +20, Refined Forging Stone +50, Gargoyle Demon Blood Essence +100, Gargoyle Demon Horn +100, Gargoyle Demon Soul Essence +10!】

More loot!

Everyone became even more excited.

The maze reset once again.

The third floor appeared.

Now thoroughly familiar with the process.

They found the boss in less than five minutes.

This time.

The boss had reached Level 20.

A peak Tier 2 Overlord.

Unfortunately.

It changed absolutely nothing.

The boss was instantly obliterated under concentrated fire.

【You collected loot: Essence +360,000, Magic Crystals +3,300, Blessed Sand +30, Refined Forging Stone +80, Gargoyle Demon Blood Essence +100, Gargoyle Demon Horn +100, Gargoyle Demon Soul Essence +10!】

“We've already cleared three floors in less than half an hour!”

“At this rate, clearing all twenty floors is completely possible!”

“Hahaha! This is incredible! I wonder what'll happen after a full clear!”

“Don't get careless. I doubt it'll stay this easy. The third-floor boss is already Level 20. Starting from here, we'll probably be facing Tier 3 Overlords. That might become difficult!”

“So what? We've still got the Lord and the Strategist!”

Ye Limeng excitedly declared, “Tier 3 Overseers should drop Tier 3 Blessed Sand! When we get back, a few of us might actually be able to enhance our weapons to +10!”

Just thinking about the abundant loot.

And the satisfaction of clearing the dungeon while showing off.

Filled all eighty-five elite Calamity Army Players with boundless excitement.

To them.

This event mission.

Was an enormous reward!