This team of Transcendents, composed of nine people and one bird, included Andrew and Violet, both of whom were Third Order, while the others were all Second Order. In addition to the 50 elite Marines still stationed within the Pioneering Order, they were considered among the top of all treasure-hunting teams. Ordinary enemies and grotesque creatures posed no threat to them; it was almost as if enemies were lining up to hand over money.
The first wave of misers hunting them quickly exploded into pieces on their own. Unfortunately, the combat power of the misers corresponded to the value of their treasures. Even though the various equipment, jewelry, and antiques dropped on the ground were far more valuable than the island's gold and silver, they still failed to impress the team. Only an old, locked chest at their feet attracted Andrew's attention.
"According to the general rules of treasure hunting, a pile of junk usually includes one or two fine items. It's only natural," Andrew mused. "After becoming a Dead Spirit, all the pleasures of the living eluded me. Only a sense of spiritual gain can slightly moisten my withered soul. Let me see what's inside."
Before Byron could stop him, just as Andrew swiftly moved to chop off the lock with his sword, the chest's lid suddenly flew open, revealing a gaping maw lined with sharp teeth and a slimy, crimson tongue. It lashed out at him fiercely. The target was the Gold Coin around his neck, forged into the shape of a laughing skull—an Azkek's Cursed Coin.
This chest turned out to be a peculiar Demon Monster known as a Treasure Chest Creature. Commonly found in various labyrinths, vaults, and treasure caves, it lived parasitically within all sorts of chests. It was part of a treasure defense system, indistinguishable from a normal chest by appearance, and would attack if opened incorrectly. As was happening now, a thick crimson tongue, quick as lightning, shot out, capable of easily swallowing an adult whole.
"WHOA!" Andrew let out a strange cry. Riding the wind stirred up by the creature, he retreated like a falling leaf with a light, agile backflip. All the flesh and blood on his body had long since been used as raw material for the Philosopher's Stone; only his inorganic bones barely remained. It was thanks to the cursed Gold Coin that he could cling to life as an Undead. If a living person lost the Gold Coin, they would merely lose their immunity to blades and guns and revert to their original state. But if he lost his Gold Coin, he would instantly revert to being truly dead. The treasure chest wasn't after his money, but his life.
"How dare you resist? You're seeking death!" Andrew quickly retreated to the limit of the Treasure Chest Creature's tongue's reach. Then, with a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow, he charged back, sword in hand. A brilliant white sword light flashed, and he actually chopped the tongue into mincemeat in mid-air. Then, with a heavy kick, he knocked the Treasure Chest Creature to the ground. Ignoring its pitiful wails, his skull face smiled as he used the pommel of his sword to gradually hammer it into shattered pieces.
Instead, he was petty and held grudges, extremely vindictive.
Furthermore, he possessed a ruthlessness inherited from Byron.
The image of a kind, somewhat nagging uncle who liked to push for marriage was merely a superficial facade; at his core, he was still that lawfully evil, seemingly benign but actually dark-hearted Great Noble.
This method of smashing the chest was clearly identical to how one would deal with a criminal. After losing the sensory stimulation of a living person, tormenting enemies evidently gave him more of a spiritual "sense of gain" than finding treasures did.
My uncle really isn't a good person, just like me.
The other members of the team also felt a sense of unease and silently marked this Skeleton Knight as someone not to be trifled with.
After hammering the last piece of wood into dust, Andrew stood up, satisfied, and began to explain to everyone, "Although treasures would endlessly present themselves even if we just stood here, these are all common goods.
"We had already explored most of the labyrinth during our last visit. This labyrinth is divided into three levels—upper, middle, and lower—and the treasures that come to life become more precious the deeper one goes.
"It's obvious that high-tier items like Azkek's Cursed Coin or the Faustian Pact are definitely on the third level.
"Although we fought our way there before, perhaps due to my lack of affinity, we waited until that eerie cicada hum began. Sensing an irresistible danger approaching, we started to flee for our lives, without ever catching a glimpse of them.
"If we want to find them this time, we must reach the third level first."
As the only survivor from several treasure-hunting expeditions, Andrew's understanding of this underground labyrinth surpassed even that of Thomas the macaw. Guided by him, the team, without hesitation, pushed forward toward the depths of the labyrinth, led by Jacqueline's sonic map and the gold-digging rodents' natural treasure-sniffing sense.
All manner of misers kept emerging along the way, hunting for treasures and flesh. Though called a labyrinth, it was more like a monster's den, specially designed to trap treasure seekers. The labyrinth also moved on its own, shifting every five minutes, which greatly increased the difficulty of navigating it. Byron suspected that the sole purpose of this thing's existence was purely to buy time, waiting for the being behind it to awaken.
Furthermore, the deeper they ventured into the labyrinth, the denser the cicada patterns made of White Lead—symbolizing the "immortality of the soul"—became, and the more severe the suppression of transcendent abilities. By the latter half of the first layer, the abilities of a First Order Servant started to fail, and the abilities of other Classes of Transcendents were also weakened to varying degrees. But the monsters of the first layer still posed no threat to a team of their caliber.
When the party passed through trap panels, crossbow corridors, falling rocks, and other defensive installations, stepping onto the second layer of the maze, Second Order abilities were also suppressed somewhat. It was feared that by the time they reached the third layer, even Second Order Transcendents would revert to ordinary humans.
"Prepare yourselves. If the situation turns sour, I'll summon the Marines," Byron had just warned the people within the Pioneering Order when a wall in front of them slowly descended. Upon seeing a large group of silhouettes appearing on the other side, everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Before them stood the awe-inspiring Barbarossa Halding, known as "Blue Hair," who always seemed to be the center of the world! Both parties' senses had been suppressed by the White Lead, resulting in this premature, unnoticed encounter.
「In another corner of the second layer of the maze」
other unexpected encounters were taking place between two other powerful teams—the People of Castilia and the Remit People. For the strongest few teams to encounter each other was too much of a coincidence, as if someone was intentionally guiding them with the moving maze.
Velazquez, the Governor of Havana, saw the treasure hunters emerge from behind a wall, and a flicker of an unusual expression crossed his face. He quickly put on a smile and approached them.
"Sister Teresa, Father Brendan, and Mr. Herman, good day.
"I heard that you arrived in the Bantaan Archipelago a few days ago, but regrettably, I've been too busy with official duties to visit. Meeting here must be the Lord's arrangement, so why don't we travel together? The distribution of spoils is negotiable."
Of course, this Pawnbroker of the Gold Sequence, who had personally orchestrated this deadly trap, had no intention of sharing the spoils with anyone. Everyone had to die!
He then noticed a coarse hanging rope around Sister Teresa's neck, one she didn't have before their departure. Just as he was thinking it was some kind of bizarre performance art, his mouth suddenly, uncontrollably, continued to speak:
"I confess, I lied. I knew you were in the Bantaan Archipelago, but I didn't see you, not because of official duties, but because I was busy having an affair with my wife's sister, Selena.
"I swear to the Creator, she is an irresistible beauty; it was truly a waste for her to marry Cortes. As someone of the Gold Sequence, I didn't want to see you at all. The only news I wanted to hear was of your deaths.
"The distribution of spoils isn't so negotiable either—the only way is for me to have it all!"
Hanging around Teresa's neck was actually a Sacred Relic: the Penitent's Rope.
"Like the Thirty pieces of silver, it is a relic born at the same time as the betrayal of the Saint Heir 1,500 years ago.
"After betraying the Saint Heir, the betrayer saw Him willingly endure all suffering, which provoked great fear and remorse, regretting having sold his Lord to His death.
"So the betrayer prostrated himself at the Saint Heir's feet, confessed his crime, and begged Him for salvation. The Saint Heir did not condemn his sin but looked at him sadly and said, 'It is for this I came into the world.'
"Knowing his plea was futile, unable to bear the sight of the Saint Heir being crucified, he hanged himself in despair outside the Holy City.
"Ability One: The Penitent's Awakening. Those who look directly at the rope are uncontrollably compelled to recount their sins, especially those with weak wills.
"Ability Two: Sudden Realization. The targeted individual inadvertently confesses their Original Sin (their Beastliness).
"The user can choose to forgive the sin and induct them into the Church; or they can judge the sin and carry out the only punishment: hanging!
"Mandate of Heaven it carries: The Self-Redemption Rope of Atonement.
"Only those with a firm belief that all their actions are benevolent can use it. Any self-doubt could lead to thoughts of self-hanging and acting upon them."
It was but a strand from the original First-Class Holy Relic, and its power was greatly reduced. The higher the enemy's Class, the weaker the effect. It happened to be a perfect match for the Sister of Mercy, who was constantly "doing good deeds," and she was also one of the very few Clergy in the Church qualified to use this Sacred Relic.
The Nun had taken this item out intending to monitor the changes in desire within the team at all times. Unexpectedly, she had inadvertently caused Velazquez to spill some major secrets. The initially somewhat insincere meeting became rather awkward.
"Your wife's sister? Our deaths? You want it all?..."
The Armed Priest, Brendan, known for his fiery temper, raised his heavy Firearm and pulled the trigger.
"In the name of the Church, I condemn you, heretic, to death!"