The Gilded Labyrinth of Thorns

The stench of smoke and steel still clung to Ren Zian's cloak as he stepped through the fading embers of the last battlefield. Lyra walked beside him, her touch lingering from the storm they'd survived—passion and fire, etched in the silence between them now.

But peace was a lie in this realm.

As the Chaos Bidding System pulsed again, a crimson window flared before Ren's eyes.

Next Trial Initiated: The Gilded Labyrinth of ThornsTarget: The Guardian of the Eternal BloomWarning: One false step may bind your fate in blood.

Ren's gaze darkened. This wasn't just a test of might. The System was evolving.

And so were the enemies.

"Another domain?" Lyra murmured, her brows knitting as vines slithered along the cracked earth, unfurling in eerie synchrony to form a spiraled path beneath their feet.

"Yes," Ren said. "But this time, it feels like something… personal."

The entrance opened like a yawning mouth—golden leaves forming archways, but thorns curving inward like blades. It wasn't merely a passage. It was a challenge. A living maze.

And somewhere within it, a force awaited—one not willing to yield easily.

Inside the Labyrinth

Ren's boots crunched against leaves of metal-gold. The deeper he walked, the quieter the world grew, until even his footsteps seemed swallowed by the air. The flora pulsed faintly with mana—dangerous, ancient, and feminine.

A voice echoed, ethereal and mocking.

"Another suitor, sent by the heavens? Or just another fool hoping to claim what is veiled?"

Ren paused. "I'm not here to steal. I'm here to fight—and earn what is mine."

Laughter. Then silence.

Suddenly, vines shot out from the ground, attempting to ensnare him. Ren flicked his hand—a surge of black flame bursting from his palm, incinerating the attack in mid-air. The flame's edge shimmered with a blue hue—the lingering gift of his last bond with Lyra.

Every heroine's touch. Every intimacy. It wasn't just desire—it was transformation.

And he would need every ounce of it now.

The Thorn Knight Appears

As Ren reached the heart of the third chamber, the thorns gave way to a grand arena.

At its center stood a tall, armored figure—its face hidden behind a porcelain mask shaped like a wilting rose. Crimson vines curled around its limbs, humming with life. The being radiated terrifying magic. Not a beast. A knight. A cursed one.

Identified: Thorn Knight AurelionBound to: Guardian of the Eternal BloomMission: Prevent all challengers from reaching the inner sanctum.

"So this is your gatekeeper," Ren muttered, drawing his blade. "Let's dance."

The Thorn Knight raised his hand. From the ground, spears of thorns erupted like spikes, and one nearly grazed Ren's shoulder as he twisted aside. But he didn't stop.

He rushed forward, cloak whipping like a shadow behind him, sword meeting the Thorn Knight's spear with a crash of raw force.

Steel rang against steel. Aurelion's strikes were elegant, too precise for a mere construct. This was a soul-bound warrior—once human, now hollow.

Ren had to end it quickly.

But the knight wasn't done. Vines exploded beneath Ren's feet, wrapping around his legs. With a grunt, he activated the chaos sigil on his wrist—surging heat spreading across his limbs and burning the vines to ash.

Then, with a pivot, Ren slid past the knight's guard and drove his palm against the knight's chest, channeling his Chaos Burst.

The mask cracked.

The knight staggered—but did not fall.

"You… remind me of him," Aurelion rasped, his voice deep, haunted. "The first one who tried to reach her. He failed."

"I won't."

The Bloom Awakens

As the knight fell back, a gust of wind blew through the chamber—carrying petals, scent, and a surge of unfamiliar sorrow.

From behind the stone gates, a soft light shimmered.

A woman's silhouette emerged. Not a helpless damsel. Not a seductress.

But a sovereign.

She wore a cloak of dusk-colored silk, her eyes veiled by a golden mask. Power radiated from her like a silent song.

"Enough, Aurelion," she said quietly.

The Thorn Knight dropped to one knee.

Ren's grip on his sword tightened. Was she the next heroine? A princess? Or something far older?

She tilted her head. "You passed his trial. But not mine."

Ren didn't flinch. "Then tell me what your trial is."

Her lips curved slightly.

"You must walk with me into the Bloom of Memory—and let me see who you are without the system, without the power, without even your name."

Ren narrowed his eyes. A test of soul?

He stepped forward. "I accept."

The gates parted. And the Gilded Labyrinth pulsed again.