Chapter 72

Chapter 72
## Chapter 72: Golden Goblin Jackpot

“A chamber entirely sealed off by stone on every side.”

Or perhaps a void that no living soul could ever verify.

A destination accessible only to those who met highly specific requirements.

The entire maze was a web of connections, yet there existed this singular, strange pocket of space hemmed in by impenetrable walls.

Why would anyone design such a hollow vacuum in a labyrinth otherwise constructed with ruthless precision? The corridors were mapped out with brilliant complexity.

And yet, every so often, these isolated, walled-off voids would appear.

If they were truly empty, what was the point of their existence?

Scaling the walls was an impossibility.

But smashing through them? That was a different story.

‘Maze Ticket.’

Initially, I had assumed it was a tool for those who lost their way or needed a quick getaway.

But what if this voucher was actually the instrument used to reveal the hidden ‘route’?

What if that hollow space contained something after all?

《Maze Ticket activated.》

《Wall integrity compromised for 30 seconds.》

In an heartbeat, a substantial breach formed in the stone.

It was a sanctuary where the spectral ghost hands could not follow.

I stepped through the opening without a second thought.

‘Bingo.’

I had successfully located the trail.

—

Stone steps spiraled deep into the earth.

After a lengthy descent, a second, deeper labyrinth unfolded before me.

《Recognized as the first current participant to enter the subterranean maze.》

《Feat unlocked: ‘Pioneer of the Underground Labyrinth’.》

《Fame +50.》

《’Abyssal Knight’ greets the first visitor.》

A warrior cloaked in the shadows of the void stood in my path.

【Lv.10】

Level 10.

However, this wasn’t a standard level 10.

The numerals glowed with an ominous orange hue.

An elite-tier raid boss.

The kind of monster that typically demanded a full party of nine level 10 specialists to bring down—and it was waiting for us the moment we stepped into the lower depths.

‘That insignia?’

The plate mail of the Abyssal Knight carried the faded etching of the imperial mark: the ‘Golden Pentagram.’

Acting on a sudden suspicion, I produced the golden token I had claimed from the Silver Fox Mask.

The instant the Abyssal Knight caught sight of it…

—Damned… imperial… filth!

……Its fury reached a breaking point.

—

The maddened Abyssal Knight was a force of pure destruction.

It fought with the reckless abandon of a true berserker.

In a blur of motion, it tore through the solid frontline defense Isaac and Isabella had established.

Then, it sprinted toward me like a predator possessed.

It was a terrifying display that would have sent most into a state of shock.

Twang.

I pulled back the string of my bow, keeping my breathing steady.

The knight had abandoned all logic the moment it saw that golden token, drowned in a sea of resentment.

It disregarded its own safety entirely, obsessed with ending my life—the one holding the plaque.

If that was the case.

Whoosh!

Thud!

The Abyssal Knight staggered as the projectile found its mark.

Shatirath’s Terror.

The ‘Terror’ status effect was a guaranteed trigger on a successful hit—not even a creature born of the void could ignore it.

Its sight failed, and one of its random attributes plummeted by a massive 10 points.

‘It’s sluggish now.’

Its speed had been the stat to take the hit.

Flaunting the golden token to provoke it had actually tilted the scales in my favor.

Whoosh!

I quickly readied another arrow, but the Abyssal Knight shifted aside.

It had recognized the lethal threat of the arrows and moved on raw instinct.

The blindness didn’t seem to hinder the Abyssal Knight much.

But that 10-point drop in agility? That was the game-changer.

I pulled a reflective object from my storage.

[Used ‘Mirror of Added Conditions.’]

[A random ‘Action Requirement’ has been placed upon ‘Abyssal Knight.’]

It was an artifact designed to force specific behaviors on those within the maze.

I had to throw every resource I had at this fight.

Though the description claimed it only affected challengers within the Abyssal Labyrinth, the Abyssal Knight was susceptible.

‘The imperial seal. It really was a participant once.’

The knight had been a human challenger in ages past.

The Golden Pentagram on its chest had hinted at it, but this confirmed it.

It had braved this trial, met with failure, and was eventually swallowed by the dark.

—Pointless… parlor tricks…!

That was all I needed.

With its stats crippled, its vision gone, and a forced behavioral condition active.

When you’re outmatched, the best move is to drag your enemy down to your level.

Shing.

I unsheathed my twin Extreme Iron Swords and met the charging knight head-on.

—

《’Abyssal Knight’ defeated.》

《Received Fragment of the Broken Golden Rule (20h).》

《Maze Score +50.》

《Successfully subjugated ‘Abyssal Knight’ via ‘King of the Dead’ ability.》

《Strength increased permanently by +2 for dominating the ‘Abyssal Knight.’》

Slaying the Abyssal Knight provided a score multiplier 2.5 times the value of the fragment.

Furthermore, because I could classify it as a restless spirit, I was able to bind it to my will.

The physical shell of the knight dissolved into the shadows, leaving only a faint, translucent spirit behind. It raised a ghostly finger, indicating a direction.

‘I’ve gained a navigator.’

But where was it pointing?

Under the influence of my domination skill, it couldn’t lead me into a trap.

I followed the specter’s guidance and continued through the gloom.

After a long trek through the silent halls…

《’Golden Goblin’ spotted.》

Kikik?

I found myself staring at a small creature with shimmering skin, wearing a crown of gold and clutching a heavy bag.

The motherlode!

The Golden Goblin.

Often called a Treasure Goblin—it was effectively a mobile vault.

These creatures emerged from the void periodically, typically seen only in the ‘valuable sectors’ of the sunken realms.

Goblins were naturally obsessed with glinting baubles.

In the abyss, that obsession warped them, turning their very flesh to gold as they hoarded every relic that fell into the dark.

This meant that this specific labyrinth was a high-value sector rich enough to draw a Golden Goblin out.

Twang!

The moment we locked eyes, I was already releasing an arrow.

‘I am not letting this one get away.’

It was pure, hunter’s reflex.

Kikik!

The creature shrieked and attempted to tear open a dimensional rift.

Golden Goblins used these warps to navigate the abyss and safeguard their loot.

They were notoriously fast and could blink across the map, making them a nightmare to corner.

However.

Kyakya!

Hell’s entire form pulsed with a crimson light.

The familiar had successfully jammed the goblin’s attempt to escape.

Kikigik!!

Trapped and unable to warp, the goblin froze in a split second of terror.

Thud!

The arrow buried itself deep in its forehead.

The Golden Goblin lurched forward, its head striking the wall where the rift had failed to open. It twitched once and went still.

The dark hands of the abyss rose to claim the remains.

《Golden Goblin neutralized.》

《Maze Score +30 for defeating an event creature.》

It provided a decent boost to my score.

I remembered the prompt about ‘obtaining scores through special events’—this was exactly what it meant.

Slaying unique monsters contributed to the tally.

Now, only the crown and the heavy sack remained on the floor.

‘Useful in more ways than one.’

I looked over at Hell.

The little creature was proving to be a much bigger asset than I had anticipated.

If I hadn’t survived the encounter with the Silver Fox Mask or secured that golden plaque, I wouldn’t have been able to bait the knight into a vulnerable state.

And now this.

It had single-handedly prevented the goblin’s escape.

Had I been alone, that expert survivor would have vanished in an instant.

Kyakya!

“You’re getting double the food tonight.”

Kyakyakyakya!

Hell flitted around my head in a joyful circle.

Evidently, the 30 daily fame points hadn’t been quite enough to satisfy it.

I reached down and gathered the loot.

【Golden Goblin’s Crown】

—A circlet forged from solid gold by the creature itself.

—Composed of high-purity gold; carries immense monetary value.

The crown alone was worth roughly 200,000 gold in the current economy.

A great find, but the real prize lay in the bag.

It held every piece of loot the goblin had managed to pilfer during its time in the void.

【Golden Goblin’s Sack】

—Ancient Imperial currency: 1,873,100 gold

—Ancient Imperial golden eagle icons: 5

—Ancient Imperial golden blades: 2

I scanned the inventory and felt a surge of satisfaction.

“Wait, this is total madness.”

Isaac’s voice shook; even he could see the astronomical value of the haul.

‘Unbelievable.’

This was a life-changing amount of wealth.

Ancient Imperial coins were worth at least double their face value to collectors and traders.

Capturing just this one creature had basically earned me 4 million gold.

‘Each of these goblins hoards specific types of items.’

They tended to specialize.

This particular one seemed to have a fixation on the gold and statuary of the fallen Empire.

And every item was branded with the Imperial name.

‘This abyss was once the territory of the Old Empire.’

The scattered clues were finally forming a complete picture.

The Silver Fox Mask mentioning a ‘duty’ while hunting Riley.

The Abyssal Knight’s violent reaction to the golden plaque.

Sword Saint Riley was a legendary figure and a celebrated champion of the Old Empire.

If this maze sat on Imperial soil, the connections were undeniable.

An Imperial site known for such immense wealth…

‘There are likely more of these goblins lurking around.’

My focus sharpened.

The potential here was staggering.

But Golden Goblins were notorious for causing bloodshed among those who sought them.

‘Getting one is great, but the chaos that follows is a nightmare.’

They were only found in high-risk abyss zones.

Unless a force was led by a commander with total authority and a massive following to slay an ‘Abyss Ruler,’ these goblins were sparks for endless war.

‘That’s why most deep-zone raids end in betrayal.’

Players acting as mercenaries, hunters looking for a payday, and parasites looking for a handout.

Desertion and greed destroyed nearly every expedition.

It was ten times worse in areas where these creatures spawned.

If word got out, the situation would turn into a bloodbath.

“Golden Goblins found in the maze!”

“The Abyssal Labyrinth is actually Ancient Imperial land!”

If those rumors started…

‘……It’s a recipe for disaster.’

The moment the public found out, the maze would be swamped by every army in existence.

The portal to this place was accessible from any gate.

All anyone needed was a fragment of the Golden Rule—there were no other barriers.

‘Are they only in the lower levels?’

I didn’t know if the upper floors held them.

But if they were exclusive to the underground… this was my chance.

A chance to take everything for myself!

The only problem was their rarity.

“Successor. The ghost is pointing a different way now. Does that mean…?”

“Exactly.”

Just as Isaac guessed, the Abyssal Knight’s soul had shifted its focus.

It was likely sensing the location of another goblin.

A smirk crossed my face.

‘Jackpot.’

And this was just the beginning.

—

While the ‘Interdimensional Community’ was the hub for the general public and casual warriors, ‘Player Talk’ was the exclusive sanctuary for true Dimension Warriors.

Access was granted only by passing a test based on knowledge only players could possess; it was a hidden, anonymous forum for the exchange of high-level intel.

With three thousand members, it was the premier destination for serious players, and right now, the labyrinth was the only topic of discussion.

—Is this place even beatable?

—How many hours of fragments are we supposed to burn through?

—Watch out for a woman who looks like Saint Se-ah. She’s dangerous.

—Stay away from the Silver Fox Mask. My whole team was wiped out.

—Logging out actually resets your coordinates. That’s garbage design.

—Where are all these barbarians coming from? Who’s funding them?

—Are the 7 Heroes really gatekeeping the Labyrinth Merchants?

The feed was a wall of complaints.

The maze felt bottomless.

Time was running out on everyone’s fragments, and the rewards weren’t justifying the risk.

It was a death trap where the 7 Heroes were monopolizing the best resources.

—Those guys never change.

—Typical behavior for them.

—Phantom! Or Randolph! Someone needs to put these ‘heroes’ in their place again!

The sentiment was largely anti-7 Heroes.

But there was no other place to speak so freely.

Only ‘Player Talk’ was safe from the surveillance of the top-tier guilds and leaders.

No one knew who owned the site.

The anonymity was absolute.

The platform was built on a foundation of regular data wipes and server hops, surviving for three years in the shadows.