DOTM: Chapter 270/271

Chapter 270: Beckford’s Invitation

Ethan looked the woman named Liz up and down. She was very tall. He thought she wasn't much shorter than Diana, and if she wore slightly higher heels, she might even be taller than he was.

In fact, the gear she was currently wearing also had noticeable heels. Standing next to Ethan, they were nearly the same height and that was after Ethan had used a potion to enhance his body, which had made him a little taller again.

"This is a combat suit from the Sea of Miracles."

Noticing Ethan and Brent repeatedly examining the gear he and Liz were wearing, Brad gave a brief introduction.

At this point, he had already revealed most of his background and the situation in the Sea of Miracles, so introducing some gear from there was no big deal. Given the strength of the two men in front of him, it was only a matter of time before they crossed the Sea of Storms and reached the Sea of Miracles. Now they were fighting side by side and could even become future allies, so sharing this information wasn't a concern.

"Magic stones provide energy, offering full-body energy protection and a significant boost to strength and speed."

Brent's armor also had these effects, so he was curious what else the suit had to offer.

"Communication and reconnaissance."

Brad pointed to the goggles over his eyes.

"These don't just protect the eyes. They also display various data, like the suit's remaining energy, armor condition, teammate positions, and so on. They even provide a certain degree of energy detection and lock-on capability."

Brent expressed admiration. That was clearly far superior. In terms of support functionality, this suit was much more advanced than standard magic stone armor.

Ethan nodded. His guess had been correct. This gear could be seen as a weakened version of an Iron Man suit, or a magic stone-based version of the exoskeleton armor he had heard about back in his previous life.

After asking more detailed questions, Ethan found that this magic stone-powered armor was still different from the exoskeleton suits he had known.

Its biggest advantage was that, thanks to the properties of magic stones, the suit could form a highly durable energy barrier around the body. As long as that energy layer wasn't pierced or broken, the wearer would remain completely unharmed.

The suit Ethan had obtained earlier also had a protective barrier, but that one clearly prioritized stealth and had a much weaker shield. Brad, on the other hand, claimed that as long as the energy shield of his suit remained active, he could not be injured.

It was equivalent to Brad having a visible health bar above his head. As long as that bar wasn't empty, he wouldn't die. He could use the goggles to see how much shield energy remained and decide whether to keep fighting or retreat.

"Very powerful."

Even though the combat suit lacked offensive capabilities and focused purely on defense and support, Ethan still thought it was impressive. He really wanted to get a set for everyone on his team.

He wasn't the only one thinking that. Brent also looked at Brad's suit, then at his own, and felt the urge to upgrade.

His moral standards were clearly the highest among them. He didn't even consider stealing the suit or taking it by force. Instead, he asked if there was a legitimate way to obtain one.

"You can buy them on Miracle Island, or even have them custom-made, but they're not cheap. I only have two sets on my ship."

Ethan didn't believe it when Brad said there were only two sets.

Brent didn't believe it either, though he didn't call Brad out. He simply nodded and said that once he reached the Sea of Miracles, he would definitely buy a set for himself.

As they spoke, they didn't waste time. The group had already left the coast and was heading deeper inland again.

Since the direction they had explored earlier and the path they had taken on the return trip had yielded no results, they altered their route slightly, heading toward an area they hadn't investigated yet.

Auriel was perched on Laura's head. After walking a certain distance, the group would pause, and Auriel would close its eyes and use its talent to search for the Magic Heart. They continued like this until they could no longer see the sea behind them. Auriel searched twice, but each time the result was the same—nothing found.

"Let's keep going."

Their journey was going surprisingly smoothly. They walked for a long time without encountering any undead, and even the dense fog with its unpleasant stench didn't appear. Just as Ethan was considering whether to change their search direction again, something appeared in front of them.

"Another castle? How obsessed is this guy Beckford with castles?"

Before them stood a massive structure, very similar to the previous castle. The only noticeable difference was that this one had an outer wall. Through the open gate, they could vaguely see undead wandering in the large courtyard.

Everyone stopped. After exchanging glances, they all turned to look at Ethan.

"What should we do?"

Seeing all eyes on him, Ethan could only shrug helplessly. "Blasting it again is out of the question, unless you're willing to wait a few days."

No one was surprised. If Ethan could casually unleash that kind of ultimate move whenever he wanted, there'd be no need to form a team to explore the island. He could just go around freezing everything into oblivion himself.

He could even sink the entire island or turn it into an arctic wasteland on his own.

At the very least, they could've just let Ethan wander the island solo and kill everything in sight. Why bother assembling an elite team?

At the same time, Brent felt a sense of relief upon hearing Ethan admit he couldn't use that attack freely.

It wasn't jealousy. It was just that Ethan had grown so powerful in just a few years that Brent began doubting himself. Was he simply unfit to be an adventurer? Otherwise, how could the difference between them be so great?

Even now, the gap was huge.

"Should we go around?"

No one here was stupid, let alone reckless. The castle clearly wasn't a tourist destination, and no one would willingly walk into danger without a good reason.

Ethan hesitated, then looked at Auriel.

"You didn't sense the Magic Heart nearby, right?"

Auriel initially nodded firmly, but then paused. It suddenly froze, looking confused, squatted motionless for a while, and then suddenly raised its front paws to clutch its head and shake it wildly.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Auriel's unusual behavior, Ethan immediately soothed it with his mental power and asked via telepathy.

"It's chaotic. The feeling is very chaotic. The Magic Heart seems to be there… and yet also not there."

Auriel shook its head hard again, closed its eyes, and searched carefully for a while longer before finally shaking its head reluctantly, giving an uncertain answer.

"What did it say?"

Unlike before, when Auriel would emit mental pulses that allowed everyone to roughly understand what it was expressing, this time no one could make sense of it. Only Laura, who had formed a special connection with Auriel through her budding understanding of the Way of Nature, could partially understand.

But while Laura could understand, she couldn't explain clearly. Everyone could only turn to Ethan for interpretation.

"It seems that whether or not the Magic Heart is really in there… Beckford wants us to go in."

"You are right, young man."

Just as Ethan finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared not far ahead.

It was a tall man, about thirty years old, with long graying hair. He wore very ordinary clothes and had no weapons. He had appeared out of nowhere and was now calmly looking at Ethan.

As a mage, Ethan was highly sensitive to energy. The moment this man appeared, he instantly saw through his nature.

"Don't be alarmed. This is just an illusion."

It wasn't surprising for someone proficient with energy to create an illusion clone. What surprised Ethan was that this person had used the ambient negative energy scattered throughout the island.

That kind of energy was extreme and unstable, not suitable for casting illusions. The fact that he could do it meant his control over energy was not far from Ethan's own.

"Beckford?"

"Yes."

Beckford's tone was calm and composed, as if he were chatting with an old friend, completely unlike a madman trying to turn everyone into undead.

"You want us to go into the castle?"

Beckford suddenly raised a hand. The negative energy around him surged, gathering behind and above him to form an illusion of the Magic Heart.

"Aren't you looking for the Magic Heart? It's in that castle. You'll have to enter it to retrieve it, and only then can you destroy this entire island."

Ethan curled his lip. This guy was really trying to use them.

"I don't have to go in. I can destroy the castle right from here. That wasn't my only method."

Ethan indeed couldn't cast Blizzard again, but if he simply wanted to cause destruction, he had plenty of options. Worst case, he could take Loki to another world to rest, wait for the Arcane Spring to recharge, and then return to blast the castle into dust.

"I believe you can."

Beckford's tone remained calm, as if he didn't care at all whether Ethan destroyed the castle. A second later, everyone understood why he was so composed.

"As long as you don't care about the lives of these one hundred and twenty-six adventurers."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 271: I Want to Play a Game

Beckford spread his hands slightly, and more figures appeared above him, one after another. However, compared to Beckford's illusion, which was nearly lifelike, these new figures were clearly just projections.

A dense array of figures flickered in the air above Beckford. For Brent, who had gathered the adventurers here, he could recognize most of them.

"The situation is very bad."

While Brent was identifying these people, Ethan noticed something else.

"These people don't seem to be held together. It looks like they're being kept in completely different places."

Beckford withdrew his outstretched hands, and the illusions above him vanished as well. Then he confirmed Ethan's guess himself.

"They are all held in various locations throughout the castle. If you attack any part of the castle, you could cause innocent casualties."

Ethan curled his lip. He had expected this. It was clear Beckford didn't want him to destroy the castle with a single strike, but wanted them to enter it.

"What exactly do you want?"

Beckford suddenly smiled. It was the first expression he'd shown since appearing. It was a friendly smile, but the moment everyone saw it, they felt a chill run down their spines.

"I want to play a game."

"…"

Ethan was at a loss for words. That line was far too cliché, and he had no desire to respond.

But Ethan wasn't the only one standing there. The one who was truly concerned about the lives of those adventurers wasn't him, but Brent—the man who had brought everyone here.

He felt responsible. Since he had brought everyone to this island, it was his duty to bring them all back safely.

"What game?"

"The game is simple. You rescue everyone and find the island's magic core. That's how you win."

Beckford didn't explain what counted as a win, because the answer was obvious.

No one asked what failure meant. Brent and Brad already knew what Beckford had been doing in secret. If they failed, they would also be trapped in the castle, and their final fate would be either death or being turned into undead.

And since becoming undead meant being controlled and enslaved by Beckford, death might actually be the better option.

"Why are you doing this? Why set up some kind of game?"

Ethan was genuinely curious. Why was Beckford suddenly doing something like this?

If Beckford thought he and the others were a threat, why not just come out and eliminate them directly? Was it because he wasn't actually on the island?

"Because I want to," Beckford nodded at Ethan. "That's all."

After saying that, Beckford's illusion disappeared. He had made his attitude clear—come and play the game. If they won, the imprisoned adventurers would be saved, and the island's magic core would be found. Whether they destroyed it or dealt with it some other way, this "massive island" blocking the trade route would vanish, and the route would return to normal.

If they failed... no one needed to ask. Everyone understood the consequences.

"I'll go in."

Brent was the first to speak up.

"I'll go in alone. I have a responsibility to rescue them all. But I can't ask you to enter such a dangerous place with me."

Ethan really wanted to say Brent was making a lot of sense. But the problem was, did he truly believe Beckford would let them leave if they didn't enter? Ethan seriously doubted it.

"Could it be that he wants to split us up?"

That wasn't out of the question. A concentrated force was always harder to deal with than a scattered one. Besides, Ethan couldn't just let Brent go in alone.

If Brent got trapped in the castle and Beckford later threw him back out and asked whether Ethan would save him, what was he supposed to do? Abandon the mission and retreat?

While Ethan wouldn't claim to be the most righteous person, he couldn't bring himself to do something like that.

"Even though we know it's a trap, I won't let you go in alone," Ethan said, looking at Brent and Brad. "Only by staying together can we maximize our strength. Even if we encounter a trap, I believe we can overcome it with our combined abilities."

If they split up...

Everyone understood the logic, but in the face of danger, many people wouldn't make that choice.

Ethan was different because he had enough trump cards and escape routes. There was no harm in trying it together.

"If he wants to play a game, then let's play along."

Brad might have had some doubts, but with both Ethan and Brent determined to enter the castle, he had no room to object.

Exchanging glances with Liz beside him, Brad saw the look she gave him, clearly suggesting something, but after a moment's hesitation, he chose to act with the group.

Just as Ethan had said, what if Beckford really wanted to split them up on purpose? If Ethan and Brent went into the castle and only Liz stayed behind, he didn't believe staying outside would be any safer.

"Let's go. Let's see what's so special about this castle. That lunatic seems to think that just by getting us inside, he's already won."

Everyone began moving forward again. This time, they were much more careful and had already drawn their weapons.

Logan still walked at the front, even keeping a slight distance from the others, to give them time to react if something happened.

But all the way to the castle wall, and even as they stood at the open gate, nothing happened.

Coupled with the light rain falling from the gray sky, it felt like they had simply come across a ruined castle on an ordinary, desolate island.

"If it weren't for those wandering undead, this castle would actually be kind of nice."

After living on a ship for so long, Ethan truly wanted a home on land. In his spare time, he had thought about many options, and a castle was naturally among them.

But he wasn't considering this one. Looking at the zombies that had already noticed them and were beginning to shuffle closer, Ethan definitely didn't want his future home filled with these kinds of things.

"Let's clear these zombies out first."

Normally, they would have just broken through the zombies and entered the castle. Once the gate was shut, the undead wouldn't be able to get in. Judging from how they moved, these low-level undead had no intelligence and certainly didn't know how to open doors.

But Ethan considered the possibility that they might block the gate. They were here to rescue people, and it would be awkward if, after saving someone, the way out was blocked.

He was used to clearing threats in advance. Even if it seemed like a waste of time, he didn't mind at all.

"We also have to consider that we're rescuing a lot of people. Some of them might not want to stick with us and might head back to the shore immediately. It'd be a shame if, after all that trouble, they walked out the door and got killed by zombies right away."

Everyone imagined that scenario and had no words. It was better to clear them out now. It wouldn't take much effort anyway.

After confirming that the front courtyard was safe, they pushed open the castle gate and entered one after another.

Just as George, who was at the end, stepped through the entrance, the open gate slammed shut. When he turned back and tried to open it, he found it tightly sealed, as solid as a wall. No matter how hard he pulled, it didn't budge.

"Not surprising at all."

Only Ethan hadn't turned around. He wasn't surprised this happened. Instead, he was studying the interior layout of the castle.

There was nothing complex in front of him. A staircase rose up to a platform, then branched diagonally to either side. From where he stood, he couldn't see what lay at the end of the stairs.

There were also several doors to either side of where he was standing, though he didn't know what lay behind them.

"This castle is enormous. Finding the scattered adventurers in here won't be easy."

"That's not the worst part," Brad, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "I just tried something and found that my combat suit's functions have significantly weakened. My magic stone weapons can't function properly either."

To demonstrate, Brad swung his longsword.

"Normally, my sword generates a sharp energy blade when I swing it, extending my attack range significantly. But now, it's no different from an ordinary sword."

Brent immediately drew his greatsword and swung it hard. The dazzling flames that had appeared in previous battles didn't appear at all.

"What's going on?"

Brent had never encountered this kind of situation before—he hadn't even heard of it. He could only look to Brad, hoping the adventurer from the Sea of Miracles could offer an explanation.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I've heard rumors that there are islands in the Sea of Miracles where magic stone equipment fails. I've never encountered one myself… Maybe Beckford figured out the trick and is using it against us."

With their magic stone gear suppressed, everyone's combat capabilities were significantly reduced. And now they were in a castle that Beckford had clearly prepared in advance. However you looked at it, this situation was looking worse by the second.

But despite that, Brent noticed that Ethan and his companions remained completely calm, as if they didn't care about the situation at all.

Of course Ethan didn't care. None of them relied on magic stone equipment. This strange suppression had no effect on them whatsoever.

(To be continued.)