First up was Elen's party.
Kabal was supposed to be the leader, but right now, Elen had clearly taken charge. Those three always had a terrible sense of direction—honestly, I thought they'd be lost before even clearing the first floor. But my guess… was only half right.
Elen's party wasn't falling for any of the pit traps, instead they were moving with careful precision. They were even taking notes—writing down every turn, every step, every encounter. A textbook dungeon walkthrough strategy.
"Ho… Elen and her group are taking this seriously," I muttered with a slight smirk, arms folded. "They've avoided every single trap so far, and they've already found their third treasure chest. This is going too smoothly…"
"Ehehe~!"
That laugh.
I turned my head slowly toward the floating culprit beside me—Ramiris. Her innocent smile was trying, and failing, to hide guilt.
"…Ramiris," my tone sharpened.
"W-what?!"
"I have a lot of faith in you," I said, my crimson eyes narrowing like blades, "but there's something you're hiding, isn't there?"
"O-of course not, Atem!" she said, waving her hands nervously.
"Then tell me," I stepped closer, the air in the room tightening, "did you do something with Elen's party?"
I looked at the monitor again. Nothing seemed odd at first glance, but their progress—it was unnatural. Three treasure chests, all with items? My dungeons weren't that generous. Either they were blessed by luck itself—or someone was cheating.
"A-about that…"
"Ramiris." My tone dropped, the word carrying the weight of command. "What. Did. You. Do?"
Her wings fluttered in panic. "Ah, I did! Elen and her team sent us some gifts, so we were just chatting and having fun! And then—"
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and sighed.
So that's what happened. While she and the others were building the labyrinth, Elen sent over cakes—experimental sweets from Yoshida's kitchen. Irresistible, apparently. And in return, the dryads had given Elen a few "friendly tips" about the first floor layout.
Halfway through, even Ramiris realized it might've been wrong—but, as expected, the cake's charm was too strong.
"You can't blame me this time! Even Milim and Mentor said it was fine!" she shouted defensively.
I exhaled slowly. "So my dungeon was sold out… for pastries."
Still, I couldn't bring myself to be truly angry. It wasn't catastrophic. I had already lowered the dungeon's difficulty for the festival anyway. The real treasure was buried much deeper.
"Fine," I said. "But don't do it again. And don't think I'll ignore it next time."
"Y-yes!"
Ramiris saluted nervously as I shifted my gaze back to the magic screen.
Kabal's team was making steady progress.
"According to His Majesty Atem, treasure chests have been scattered across various rooms," said Myourmiles, speaking on the live feed. "Some are mixed with traps, so caution is advised."
"So there are valuable items inside?" asked an adventurer nearby.
"Perhaps. But note this—only bronze chests appear on the first floor," he continued, reading from the note I'd written. "Those may contain healing potions, silver coins, or minor equipment crafted by Kurobee's apprentices. The real rewards are far below—golden chests, found only in the boss rooms every tenth floor."
The audience erupted with excitement.
"Each golden chest," he continued, "is guarded by a Floor Guardian—formidable beings like Gozer of the 50th floor. Only by defeating them can one claim those rewards. And yes—some contain rare-grade gear."
Hearing my own words being repeated out loud made me feel like a street merchant selling divine weapons on the roadside.
Still, it worked. The word rare-grade had a powerful effect. The adventurers were buzzing, itching to test their luck.
"Those who've witnessed Gozer's might—step forward if you believe you can surpass him!" Myourmiles declared dramatically.
I smirked slightly. Good job, Myourmiles.
"Also," he added, "be prepared—each floor is vast. A full run may take several days. Mental endurance will be tested."
Perfect.
Satisfied, I turned back to Ramiris. "Just to confirm… you didn't touch the chests' contents, right?"
"That, you can rest assured!" she said quickly.
"Good."
Their current progress was acceptable, and honestly, Elen's classic strategy was good promotion. Though it irked me that they had some insider help, I decided to let it go. This time.
"Alright," I murmured. "Now, let's see how Masayuki's doing…"
"OH—OH—THIS IS EPIC!" Ramiris squealed, bouncing midair. "Masayuki's already on the fourth floor!"
"What?!" I leaned closer. "The fourth floor? He's only been in for thirty minutes!"
Apparently, Masayuki's team had used the pitfall traps to their advantage, deliberately triggering them to drop deeper.
"…Clever," I muttered.
And the crowd?
"MA-SA-YU-KI! MA-SA-YU-KI!" they roared.
Of course. The same people who mocked Basson's group for falling into traps were now cheering Masayuki for doing it on purpose. Humanity's logic was astounding.
Still, I couldn't help but chuckle. "That man's luck truly borders on divine."
I had given him partial intel earlier—though it was incomplete, it should've helped him. I imagined him glaring at the monitor now, probably thinking I'd deceived him.
Not my fault.
I whispered under my breath, "Endure it, Masayuki. Let's see how far your charisma carries you."
He'd soon face patrolling monsters on the fourth floor. No maps, incomplete information, and fan pressure from every direction. Not ideal.
"Do your best," I muttered.
Now for the last one—Gai.
This man was running through the labyrinth like a tempest. His movements were sharp, unrelenting. Delta was barely keeping up, flying behind him in a blur of light and motion.
She was a half-spirit, able to teleport through vegetation, but using that ability interrupted the live broadcast feed—so she was chasing him manually, wings fluttering furiously. Her determination was admirable.
But Gai… didn't care. He dashed forward, magic glowing faintly around him. His pace never faltered. He wasn't lost for even a second.
"Is he using magic?" I wondered aloud.
«Answer: Yes. Elemental Magic—'Map Generation.'»
Solarys' calm voice echoed in my mind.
Ah, that explained it. That ancient spell projected a mental map directly into the user's thoughts—something I'd once used through Great Sage's predecessor system. So, he was using that technique freely? Impressive.
Sword mastery and advanced spatial magic. No wonder Fuze labeled him an A-rank.
Still… something was off.
As I observed closer, Gai's expression was unsettling—his mouth twisted unnaturally, eyes glowing with madness.
By the time he reached the third floor, his movements had changed. He wasn't just charging toward the exit—he was deliberately searching certain rooms. He ignored bronze chests completely and went straight for the silver ones.
"This guy…" I narrowed my eyes. "How is he doing that?"
Even Solarys didn't respond this time.
Ramiris frowned, crossing her tiny arms. "I think he's the kind of guy who can smell money."
"Maybe," I muttered, my tone darkening. "But I don't like the feel of that aura. It's too… bloodthirsty."
His efficiency was impressive, but unnerving. Each move was too precise, as if he already knew what lay ahead.
"Whatever he's planning," I said, voice low, "he better not cross any lines in my labyrinth."
Because in Eterna, the Pharaoh's word was absolute—and the dungeon itself bowed only to me.
And so, Gai's reckless advance continued—each step echoing deeper into the shadows of my divine labyrinth…
Another two hours had passed, and the tension in the command chamber of Eterna was still sharp enough to cut through steel.
Basson's team had somehow managed to stumble upon another hidden chamber deep within the labyrinth.
"Basson-aniki! There's another door here!" one of his men shouted, his voice echoing down the dim corridor.
Basson frowned, sweat dripping from his temple. "Could this be another trap?" he muttered, eyeing the old, iron-bound door like it was an enemy in disguise.
Just moments earlier, they had suffered through a string of cursed treasures—chests filled with sleeping gas, paralyzing poison, and even a weak mimic. The memory still lingered on their pale faces.
Inside the control hall, Atem folded his arms, his golden eyes glinting beneath the flicker of the observation screens. His aura was calm, but the weight of his presence filled the room like thunder held at bay.
"Ramiris," Atem said, his voice measured and commanding, "what's in that room? I've watched them stumble through enough punishment. Even I am beginning to pity their misfortune. For the sake of Eterna's image, they should at least earn one reward."
The ancient spirit floated nervously beside him, her wings twitching. "D-don't worry! It's not all bad! That chamber has a single monster guarding a silver chest. I—I don't remember what's inside it, but I'm sure it's something good this time!"
Atem's gaze didn't soften. He turned his eyes back to the screen, his expression unreadable. Let's hope your 'something good' redeems this disaster.
Down below, Basson's group hesitated at the doorway, tension radiating off them.
"AHH! It's a trap again—there's a monster in here!" one shouted.
"It's a great-bear!" another yelled.
Basson cursed under his breath. "We can't retreat, it's already locked onto us!"
Through the lens of the labyrinth's surveillance, Atem observed in silence. His aura flickered faintly—gold and shadow twisting like an ancient flame.
"Hmm," he muttered, "only one monster… and they panic?"
The great-bear was a Rank C creature—hardly a threat for a B-rank team. Still, Basson's men treated it as if they'd encountered a dragon. Atem leaned forward slightly, his tone low and analytical.
"Their fear betrays inexperience… they still cling to the mortal instinct of survival. Even in a place where death cannot claim them."
Souka's voice came through the broadcast system. "Basson's team is engaging a monster! A great-bear—its claws can tear through armor like paper!"
Atem narrowed his eyes. Ah. That's it.
Right. This wasn't a game—it was reality. The fear of pain, of failure, still anchored them to human caution. They didn't yet understand that this trial was meant to sharpen, not destroy.
"Ramiris," Atem said suddenly, his tone sharp. "Next time, you'll consult me before adding creatures to an early chamber. Balance the risk. The purpose of the labyrinth is to challenge, not humiliate."
"Y-yes, Atem-sama!" she squeaked, shrinking under his commanding tone.
Below, Basson and his men finally committed to battle.
"I'll draw its attention!" Basson barked, gripping his axe. "The rest of you attack when I say!"
He lunged forward, shield raised, intercepting the bear's strike with a deafening clang! The beast's roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the torches on the walls.
His companions, though hesitant, coordinated well. They flanked the creature, aiming for its legs and eyes, while Gomez—their mage—unleashed a cutting gust of magic.
"Wind Slash!"
The spell struck true, slicing across the great-bear's neck.
Souka's voice filled the air again. "And the battle reaches its climax! Basson's party has cornered the beast!"
Myourmiles nodded beside her, reading his script. "Their teamwork is sound—simple but precise. That's the sign of professionals."
Atem stood silently as the dust settled. Basson's team stood victorious, panting but alive. The great-bear dissolved into motes of light.
"…They won," Atem murmured, though his tone was more contemplative than impressed. "But five minutes to fell a single beast… cautious to a fault."
Ramiris hovered closer. "B-but they did win! Isn't that good?"
Atem exhaled slowly, his eyes glowing faintly. "It is victory, yes… but not one born of conviction. They still fight to survive, not to conquer."
He turned away from the screen, cloak trailing behind him like flowing shadow. "They'll need days to break through the first floor at this rate. We'll have to revise the structure of early challenges. Too much hesitation kills excitement."
Ramiris nodded quickly. "Right, right! I'll—uh—lower the trap frequency! And maybe fewer bears?"
Atem smirked faintly. "Do that."
Down below, Basson's group finally approached the silver chest that the beast had been guarding.
The audience at the colosseum held their breath, eyes fixed on the massive display.
Souka leaned closer to her mic. "And now… the treasure chest! What could be inside?"
One of Basson's men immediately reached out and threw open the lid without checking for traps. Atem sighed and muttered under his breath. "Reckless fools. They've learned nothing."
Ramiris chuckled nervously. "Ehehe… but at least it's not trapped this time!"
Inside the chest gleamed a radiant sword—its blade shimmering faintly with azure light.
"WOOOOAH! Basson-aniki! It's a sword! A real beauty!"
Atem's eyes narrowed as he recognized the craftsmanship. "Kurobee's disciple forged that one," he said softly. "A rare-grade relic. Fortunate indeed."
Ramiris clapped her hands together. "See? I told you they'd get something nice!"
Atem allowed himself a small smile. "Yes… this will serve well for morale. Even the foolish deserve a taste of reward."
Veldora's laughter boomed from across the chamber. "Hah! I told you raising the drop rate would pay off, Atem! I have impeccable instincts!"
Atem looked over his shoulder. "Then ensure those instincts remain consistent. I won't have the labyrinth turning into a carnival of luck."
The dragon lord grinned but nodded obediently.
On the screen, Basson's team was in awe.
"This sword's incredible… it cuts cleaner than anything I've used before!"
"That's a rare-grade piece, Boss! We're rich!"
"Let's keep this up! The labyrinth's ours for the taking!"
Atem watched silently, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. Their morale was reignited; the spirit of adventure restored.
"Good," he murmured. "Let them climb further. The true trials lie below."
Ramiris let out a relieved sigh. "Looks like things are back on track, huh?"
Atem's gaze remained fixed on the glowing screen, his tone deep and resolute. "For now. But this is only the first layer of my design. The labyrinth's true nature will reveal itself soon enough…"
Basson's laughter echoed faintly through the chamber as his team pushed forward, their spirits high, unaware that each step brought them closer to the depths where Atem's real tests awaited.
And so, Basson's party continued their journey through the labyrinth—blissfully ignorant of what the deeper darkness had in store for them.