Karl followed the glowing arrow floating out of the [Flower Compass], letting it guide him deeper into the maze.

The way it worked was actually more useful than he expected.

It didn't just point forward and expect him to figure out how to navigate the twists of the labyrinth.

Instead, it rotated slightly whenever he reached a turn, leading him step by step, hallway by hallway.

The compass didn't talk, didn't flash, didn't give any warnings—it simply showed the exact path Karl needed to take.

And since he knew he was heading toward the [Danger Zone], he decided there was no reason to delay something he needed to do anyway.

It was time to evolve one of his abilities.

If he was truly walking toward the most dangerous area in the whole [Flower Labyrinth], then he needed his strongest skills at their absolute peak.

There was no room for being lazy, and no reason to take unnecessary risks.

Everything he had needed to be ready.

Which is why...

[Do you wish to consume 100 Evolution Points to evolve "Fire Meteor"?]

Karl wasn't stupid.

Every monster in this entire region was plant-related.

Their weaknesses were obvious.

He needed overwhelming firepower more than he needed anything else.

Sure, [Frostbite Crystals] and [Lunar Beam] were great skills, but neither would be as brutally effective here as a fire-based spell.

And especially not the spell he used the most.

"Yeah. Do it."

Ding!

[You have evolved "Fire Meteor" (Mythical) to "Blazing Meteor" (Ancient)]

[Current Evolution Points: 5]

Just like that, he was back down to a handful of evolution points.

It didn't bother him.

He immediately opened the new skill window to check what changed.

[Blazing Meteor (Ancient): Summon a blazing meteor from your staff that deals 1500% → 2000% Spirit. May apply the "Burn" status effect. 10 (5)-second cooldown.]

It was simple. The shape and usage of the skill hadn't changed.

The casting time hadn't changed. But the output had jumped massively.

The percentage boost alone made it more than worth the cost.

Karl grinned, satisfied. Then he kept moving.

The arrow floated forward and kept revolving gradually, guiding him deeper through the maze.

The deeper he went, the darker the stone became, and the vines along the walls twitched more violently.

Even the air felt heavier, like he had stepped into a zone the system didn't expect low-level players to ever approach.

Only a few minutes passed before he realized he was already in the deepest portion of the [Flower Labyrinth].

Here, everything was level 50.

Every wall twitched with vines that acted like they were alive.

Even the sound changed—low rustles, faint scraping, and something like breathing.

But Karl had no intention of stopping.

Eventually, after following the arrow through turn after turn, he reached something he hadn't seen in hours.

A dead end.

"Huh."

Karl stared at the wall. It looked normal.

The same gray stone, the same moss, the same vines. Nothing different.

But the arrow still pointed straight forward, refusing to move.

Karl narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't hit a single dead end the entire time he followed the compass. Not one.

So if it said this was the way, then he knew the wall wasn't actually the issue.

The problem was simply that it needed to be destroyed.

He lifted his staff and pointed it directly at the stone.

Blazing Meteor!

A massive meteor formed above him, much larger and hotter than the previous version.

Flames poured off it in sheets, and the entire hallway brightened with an intense, blazing glow.

Karl launched it forward.

BOOM!

Even before the smoke cleared, the results were clear.

The walls of the [Flower Labyrinth] were famously durable—borderline unbreakable—and yet the meteor's impact instantly shattered the stone.

Chunks fell outward and flames spilled inside the hidden tunnel behind it.

Rumble!

The whole passage shook, and the stone completely gave way, revealing a dark path ahead.

The arrow vanished the moment the wall crumbled.

Ding!

[Flower Compass: 4/5 uses left.]

Karl nodded to himself. That confirmed it.

He had reached his target.

That was the only reason the arrow would disappear and a charge would be consumed.

He looked into the newly opened path.

It was narrower than the others and far darker.

A faint crimson tint washed over the walls, and every sound from behind him seemed to get swallowed the moment he stepped forward.

He inhaled, then kept walking.

Fwish!

He took another step. Then another.

The air thickened as the darkness grew.

Even the environment changed; the oppressive atmosphere here was far heavier than anything he felt in the [Depths].

The vines didn't just twitch—they writhed.

The stone had a faint pulse, like something was breathing beneath it.

Still, Karl didn't hesitate.

He crossed a particular threshold, and the moment he did—

BOOM!

The entrance behind him sealed shut instantly.

The stone re-formed exactly as it had been before he blew it open, leaving not even a crack behind.

Karl stared at it with a flat, unimpressed expression.

"…Right."

Now he knew why nobody had ever found this place.

Who in their right mind would waste time blasting random walls in this labyrinth?

Even if someone got lucky, the path would close behind them instantly, making the entire entrance impossible to track.

He turned around and continued forward.

Soon, the dark hallway opened into a small crimson clearing.

The grass here was red like blood, swaying gently even though there was no wind.

And right ahead was a gate—plain stone, plain design… except for the large skull carved into its center.

Karl approached it, and immediately, panels appeared.

Ding!

---

[You need the "Danger Zone Key" to enter this zone.]

[It is highly advised to not step inside unless ready. This is a dangerous zone.]

---

Karl read the messages twice, then shrugged.

Warnings never mattered to him anyway.

He had just found the hardest area in the entire [Flower Labyrinth], and possibly in the entire [Blooming Lands].

And something deep inside him told him that one of the three keys he needed had to be inside this place.

He didn't know how he knew—he just did.

"Alright then," he muttered as he stepped toward the gate and placed a hand on it.

"Let's get this over with."

Fwish! Ding!

["Danger Zone Key" detected. Do you wish to use it?]

[Yes] [No]

"Yes."

Ding!

A holographic crimson key floated out of Karl's panel, hovering for half a second before gently sliding into the skull-shaped lock.

Click.

The lock turned.

The warnings vanished.

And the gate slowly groaned open.

A wall of darkness filled the space beyond it.

There was no sound or light, only an overwhelming aura that poured out like a suffocating wave.

Karl clenched his staff.

'This is prep. That's all. If I can't handle this, then I can't change anything.'

More text flashed.

[The gate will stay open for 60 seconds before closing.]

Meaning anybody near him could enter behind him.

…but Karl already knew he was alone.

So he stepped forward without hesitation.

He jumped straight into the darkness.

Ding!

---

[You have entered the "Danger Zone" of the "Flower Labyrinth"]

[Lives loss rate: 1,000]

[May the will of the ancient gods be with you.]

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