The Blackstone Maze, starting with just two paths heading north and south, soon branched into countless directions, easily leading challengers astray.
No matter the number of diverging paths, all correct routes ultimately led to one destination: beneath the ancient Millennium Oak Tree.
Only those fortunate enough to reach the base of the Millennium Oak could obtain the Oak Heart, a reward enhancing the abilities of plant-type beasts.
However, compared to other rewards like the 'Earth Crystal', 'Beast Spirit', and 'True Vision Eye', the 'Oak Heart' was relatively unpopular.
Most challengers weren't willing to endure the Blackstone Maze's trials for a reward that didn't significantly benefit their beasts, except for those like Sophia, whose guardian beast was plant-type.
Still, over thousands of years, countless plant-type challengers had visited the maze, leaving a dizzying array of directional marks etched into the black stones.
Eddie was a bit concerned. Like in the Aries Palace, he was still subject to the laws of the maze and couldn't act directly.
With only a day passed, summoning the Shadow of the Barbarian Bull meant he couldn't call upon the Five Elements Gold-Seeking Mouse. Fortunately, he had Grey Wolf, unbound by any contract.
"Let's split into two groups. If you find Sophia first, ensure her safety, and I'll provide extra compensation. If you reach the end without finding her, exit the maze and wait for me at the Warrior's Guild," Eddie instructed Yehken, Lyqeen, and Lyken as they parted ways.
He chose the southern route, while the others took the north, searching for Sophia who had been inside for two days.
Yehken initially thought to leave Lyken with Eddie for protection, but recalling Eddie's safe venture in the Aries Palace, he decided against it. Besides, Eddie had Grey Wolf, a formidable Bronze Four-Level beast.
Monsters in the Blackstone Maze were plentiful but mostly at the first and second levels, with few reaching the third level, posing little danger to life. "If you get lost, use a teleportation scroll," Eddie reminded them. Though costly at one gold each, he ensured each of them had one.
"Understood," Yehken replied, feeling a bit uneasy. The real worry was Eddie getting lost, but before he could voice his concern, Eddie reassured him, "Don't worry, I have no problem navigating mazes!" Eddie said with a slight smile, aware of their concerns.
Eddie confidently embarked on his journey through the winding paths of the Blackstone Maze, armed with his ingenious Five Elements Gold-Seeking Mice.
Their keen senses were a boon in the labyrinthine network, where even the sliest of tricks and misleading signs laid by previous adventurers could not deter them.
Despite this mechanical aide, Eddie's innate sense of direction, honed to near perfection after his transcendent awakening and mastery of Invisible Sword Qi, was his true guiding star.
His intellect and intuition, now heightened, seemed to make him nearly impervious to losing his way. Additionally, his Level Two Insightful Eyes provided an almost supernatural edge in navigating the maze's treacherous turns.
As he briskly advanced, his mechanical mice scurried ahead, their vigilant eyes ensuring that no deceptive marker or hidden peril could hinder their master's progress.
Yet, a tinge of concern lingered in Eddie's heart, for the mice had not yet picked up any trace of Sophia. It was increasingly likely that she had chosen a path diverging from his at the maze's outset.
The maze teemed with a motley array of insect and plant-type creatures, swarming in relentless hordes.
Though their attacks were feeble, Eddie, bound by the non-combat rules of the maze, relied on his agile movements to avoid their onslaught. This restriction left Grey Wolf, his formidable companion, to take the lead in fending off the pesky foes, relishing its newfound prowess.
Gradually, Eddie discerned the underlying essence of the Blackstone Maze. The quest for the 'Oak Heart' was but a facet of a more profound endeavor – a meticulously crafted crucible designed to refine and enhance the capabilities of plant-type guardians.
Several segments of the maze demanded specific plant-based abilities, turning the journey into an arduous trial for those who lacked a powerful companion like Grey Wolf.
Eddie speculated that Sophia, accompanied by her plant-type guardian beast, was gaining invaluable experience amidst these challenges.
The maze did not merely test one's combat prowess; it was an arena that fostered collaboration and teamwork. In particular junctures, the necessity of cooperative strategy was paramount, presenting a formidable hurdle for lone adventurers like Eddie.
This realization affirmed the maze's role not just as a battleground, but as a forge, tempering the bond and synergy between a warrior and their beast.
Eddie was struck with astonishment upon discovering that the Blackstone Maze completely prohibited flying creatures. It seemed tailored to test plant-type guardians, imposing a no-fly zone throughout its expanse.
Even his attempts to leap atop the towering black stones for a better vantage point were thwarted by an invisible force that curtailed his jumping ability.
After a six-hour trek, a journey that would take an average adventurer at least three days, Eddie reached the base of the ancient Oak Tree. Contrary to his expectations of an anthropomorphic tree with a wise old face, the reality was different.
The tree was colossal, its aura brimming with a mysterious life force, its crown faintly glowing with an ethereal light. Eddie realized that the 'Heart of Oak' wasn't a physical object but an energy bestowed upon plant-type guardians, varying in potency based on the adventurer's performance in the trials.
Before the ancient Oak Tree stood a softly glowing crystal column, entwined at the base by tendrils and roots. It was clear that this column served as a conduit between the tree and the adventurers, with the Oak Tree dispensing the 'Heart of Oak' energy reward based on the tasks inscribed upon the column.
Eddie noted the tasks' increasing difficulty: identifying seeds, gathering mushrooms while negotiating with mushroom guardians, collecting apples amidst venomous spiders and snakes, and slaying swamp crocodiles.
The most daunting task was to slay a nine-headed beast from the Bloodwater Marsh, a creature of at least Bronze Level Seven, with the reward being a millennia-old 'Heart of Oak.'
Contemplating whether to wait for Sophia or test his mettle against the nine-headed beast, Eddie resorted to flipping a coin to decide its fate. Heads, he would wait for Sophia; tails, he would confront the fearsome creature. The coin spun high into the air, leaving the beast's fate hanging in the balance.