81: Chapter 81 The Lone Wolf's Breakthrough and the Labyrinth's Growth

Three days passed amidst the silent yet earth-shaking changes within the Numerology Maze.

Zhang Hao had long since discovered that this exclusive Talent task had no explicit time limit. As long as he was willing, he could choose to submit it at any time and claim a reward based on his "current performance." However, this discovery did not make him feel the slightest bit of urgency; instead, it piqued his deeper desire for exploration and a near-obsessive perfectionism.

For a higher probability of "Evolution" rather than mere "Strengthening," and to immerse himself more deeply in the wonderful experience of using heaven and earth as a chessboard and all living beings (Hosts) as chess pieces to freely wield the powers of fate and Karma, he decided to squeeze the potential of this task as much as possible, pushing it to the extreme.

The initial 50-grid space had long been filled, and he subsequently consumed points to expand the first basement floor to its maximum of 100 maze grids. The current first floor of the Numerology Maze was no longer as crude as it was at its birth. The passages had become more intricate, incorporating hidden areas that required specific "keys" (such as that metal fragment) to open; the configuration of monsters was no longer a simple heap, but formed colonies with simple ecologies and patrol routes; the placement of treasures was more cunning, often accompanied by lethal traps or powerful guardian monsters; Zhang Hao even tried to introduce different environmental elements—a "Dim Mist" area that filled the air and weakened perception, and a small "Slippery Path" where the ground was covered in slick moss—all of which greatly increased the variables and challenge of exploration.

The core purpose of everything he did, besides more efficiently extracting more intense and frequent emotional fluctuations from the adventurer Hosts, hid a bold experiment—he was attempting to stimulate the Evolution of the Talents of the Hosts entering the maze through a carefully designed environment where extreme pressure and opportunity coexisted!

He vaguely felt that intense emotions, especially the eruption of potential at the moment of life and death, coupled with specific environmental guidance (which originated from his subtle interference with the fate trajectory through the maze layout), might become the catalyst for Talent Evolution. He wanted to see if his "Numerology Maze" could become a "Trial Furnace" for Hosts to break through their limits.

Today was the third day since the maze opened. At noon, the light gate at the entrance fluctuated, and a solitary adventurer Host walked in.

This was a young man with a lean, capable build and a sharp gaze tinged with a hint of aloofness. His Talent seemed to be of the physical enhancement type, specifically [Rock Skin Rank E], which allowed him to condense a Rock-like defensive layer on his body's surface. His Dream Spirit was a quiet Rock Falcon, seemingly composed of gray Rock, perched motionlessly on his shoulder.

“Another team zone... what a waste of time.” The young man's internal monologue was filled with disdain. “Only by going solo can one get the best resources and truly test one's limits. It's just a Rank E maze; it's perfect for tempering my [Rock Skin].”

He confidently chose a high-difficulty path that Zhang Hao had specially set up, known as the "Hero's Challenge."

On this path, monsters were denser, traps were more concealed, and rewards were more bountiful. Relying on his practical Talent and decent combat skills, the young man made steady progress. Tension, focus, the excitement of defeating strong enemies, the joy of obtaining treasures... all sorts of emotions were constantly generated, contributing steady points to Zhang Hao.

However, while challenging a mixed guard consisting of two "Enhanced Rock Beetles" and a "Beguiling Demon Eye" hidden in the shadows that could fire weak mental shocks, he fell into a hard-fought battle. [Rock Skin] had excellent defense against physical attacks, but its resistance to mental shocks was extremely low. Under the interference of the Beguiling Demon Eye, his movements repeatedly faltered, and he was beset by dangers.

Pressure surged, fear sprouted, and even a trace of despair emerged.

“No! I can't fall here!” A strong desire to survive and an unyielding conviction erupted in his heart. “My defense shouldn't be limited to just this level!”

At the moment when he was enduring the collisions of the Rock Beetles and his spirit was suffering, nearly reaching its limit, the Rock Falcon on his shoulder suddenly emitted a faint gray light, as if it had achieved a deeper resonance with him. In a moment of divine inspiration, the youth let out a roar, and the Rock armor on his body was no longer a rigid covering, but wriggled slightly like a living creature, thickening and even forming sharp Rock spikes at key points such as elbows and knees!

His Talent, under the stimulation of immense pressure and the line between life and death, evolved at this moment! From the original passive defense [Rock Skin Rank E], it evolved into [Active Rock Armor Rank D], which possessed a certain vitality and damage-reflection capability!

Simultaneously, the Rock Falcon on his shoulder also underwent a change; its size increased slightly, its gray feathers seemed to be plated with a metallic luster, and its eyes became sharper. Its form shifted from an ordinary Rock Falcon toward a more aggressive Steel Rock Falcon!

This scene was clearly "seen" by Zhang Hao, who had been monitoring all movements within the maze, through a mapping of certain rules.

“It worked...” An irrepressible light of excitement flashed in Zhang Hao's eyes. His experiment had been validated! His maze and his weaving of fate could indeed guide and catalyze the Evolution of a Host's Talent!

Having completed his Breakthrough, the young man relied on his newly born [Active Rock Armor] to turn the tide of battle in one fell swoop, cleanly resolving the remaining monsters. With unprecedented confidence, excitement, and a bountiful harvest, he rushed all the way out of the maze and returned to the surface.

Just as his figure disappeared outside the light gate—

The [maze builder panel] in front of Zhang Hao suddenly lit up, and the data began to refresh and jump rapidly!

[maze builder panel - Update Complete]

[Maze Rank]: Rank D (↑ Rank E)

[Maze Entrance]: Opened (Location: Adventurers Town Center)

[maze construction points]: 5,842 (Real-time update) (Initial 100 points, accumulated over three days)

[Cumulative Number of Adventurers]: 30 (Real-time update)

[Adventurer Talent Upgrade Count]: 1 (New statistics item!)

[Maze Size]: 100 / 100 Maze Grids (First basement floor, reached limit)

[Expandable]: Second basement floor (Max maze grids: 200) (Consumes points to open and build)

[Maze Floors]: 1 basement floor (Expandable)

[Maze Monsters]: 35 Maze Grids (Mainly Rank E, small amount of Rank D prototypes)

[Maze Treasures]: 25 Maze Grids (Mainly Rank E, small amount of Rank D prototypes)

[Maze Traps]: 28 Maze Grids (Mainly Rank E, small amount of Rank D prototypes)

[Other (Environment/Special)]: 12 Maze Grids

[Remarks]: Can generate/manufacture/set Rank D monsters, treasures, and traps. Construction cost and effects increase accordingly.

Looking at the brand-new panel, especially the newly added [Adventurer Talent Upgrade Count] and the Maze Rank promoted to Rank D, Zhang Hao knew that his "Numerology Maze" had entered a new stage. He could mobilize more resources, weave more complex fates, and trigger even more profound Karma.

“Second basement floor... Rank D monsters and treasures...” Zhang Hao's gaze turned toward the darkness representing unexplored territory, his eyes shimmering with a light that, like his heterochromatic eyes, mixed orderly deduction with chaotic imagination.

His experiment had only just begun. And this Numerology Maze was destined to become the stage for many more Hosts' turning points of fate.