The Word Maze

After his swift victory in the crime scene dungeon, Yi Zhen didn't rest. The thrill of having broken a record was fresh, and he was eager to maintain his momentum. His next challenge led him to a different type of dungeon—a word game puzzle designed for novice players. This particular dungeon was known as the "Word Maze," a mental challenge meant to test the intellectual prowess of players.

Unlike the previous dungeons, the Word Maze appeared deceptively simple at first glance. The room Yi Zhen entered was bright and airy, with walls made of smooth white marble. The atmosphere was almost serene, a sharp contrast to the dark and intense aura of the crime scene he had just left. However, Yi Zhen knew better than to underestimate it. This dungeon was infamous for frustrating players who underestimated the difficulty of its seemingly straightforward puzzles.

The MAIN SYSTEM's cold voice echoed in the room as soon as he stepped inside:

**Objective:** Solve ten word puzzles within the allotted time. Faster completion results in better rewards.

Yi Zhen nodded, readying himself. He had spent years in this realm before his rebirth, honing his mind and body through countless challenges. Word puzzles had been a staple in those early, grueling days, and he had grown adept at unraveling even the most complex ones.

The room began to shift, the smooth marble walls morphing and transforming into tall, towering bookshelves that stretched up into infinity. The books themselves fluttered and moved, as if alive, creating an ever-changing maze of words and letters. Yi Zhen remained calm, his eyes scanning his surroundings, already piecing together the nature of this challenge.

The first puzzle appeared before him in the form of a glowing, hovering book. As he reached out to touch it, the book opened, revealing the first question:

**1. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?**

A small smile tugged at the corner of Yi Zhen's lips. This was a classic riddle. Without hesitation, he spoke aloud:

"**Short.**"

The book glowed brightly before disintegrating into a cascade of shimmering light, confirming his answer. Yi Zhen wasted no time in moving forward. The shelves around him shifted, making way for the next puzzle, which floated gently in mid-air.

**2. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?**

Yi Zhen's mind instantly supplied the answer. These were the kinds of puzzles he had seen a thousand times before. The answer rolled off his tongue with ease:

"**An echo.**"

Another puzzle solved, and the room shifted once again. The bookshelves seemed to move faster now, sensing the urgency in Yi Zhen's pace. His confidence grew with each correct answer, the familiarity of these riddles boosting his speed.

**3. I'm light as a feather, yet the strongest man can't hold me for much longer than a minute. What am I?**

"**Your breath.**"

**4. What has keys but can't open locks?**

"**A piano.**"

**5. The more of this there is, the less you see. What is it?**

"**Darkness.**"

The words flowed from Yi Zhen's mouth almost automatically now. He didn't even need to pause to think—his vast experience made these puzzles seem almost trivial. The room seemed to sense his confidence, the puzzles becoming more complex, but he was undeterred.

**6. What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand?**

"**Your left hand.**"

**7. I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?**

"**A map.**"

Yi Zhen's eyes sparkled with determination as he tackled each question. The speed with which he moved from one puzzle to the next was nothing short of astonishing. He barely broke his stride as the room continued to morph and change, throwing challenge after challenge his way.

**8. What has to be broken before you can use it?**

"**An egg.**"

The room seemed to grow brighter with each correct answer, as if acknowledging his skill and urging him on. The bookshelves twisted and turned, leading him to the ninth puzzle.

**9. What has a heart that doesn't beat?**

Yi Zhen hesitated for just a fraction of a second before answering:

"**An artichoke.**"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the bookshelves parted one final time, revealing the last and most difficult puzzle. The book that held the tenth riddle was much larger than the others, its cover adorned with intricate patterns of gold and silver. Yi Zhen stepped forward, his hand hovering over the cover. The air seemed to hum with anticipation as he opened the book.

**10. I'm not alive, but I grow. I don't have lungs, but I need air. I don't have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?**

Yi Zhen's brow furrowed in concentration. This riddle was more abstract than the others, designed to make the player think beyond the obvious. But Yi Zhen's mind, sharpened by years of survival in the Oblivion Cascade Realm, quickly deciphered the hidden meaning.

He smirked, realizing the answer:

"**A fire.**"

The moment he spoke the answer, the entire room shuddered as if acknowledging his victory. The glowing book disintegrated in a shower of light, and the shelves of books began to dissolve into nothingness. The MAIN SYSTEM's voice echoed through the now empty room, cold and precise:

**"Yi Zhen—Word Maze record: 3 minutes. Record-breaking performance."**

The announcement was swiftly followed by a notification that spread across the entire Player City. Every player in the city received a message, announcing that yet another record had been shattered by the mysterious new player, Yi Zhen.

**Notification:** "Yi Zhen—Word Maze record: 3 minutes."

Yi Zhen allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. He knew his performance would stir the attention of other players, but that was part of his plan. The stronger he appeared, the more opportunities he would have to gather resources and allies.

As the room faded completely, a new holographic interface appeared before him, presenting his rewards. Because he had once again broken a record, Yi Zhen was allowed to choose three out of five rewards:

1. **Lexicon Amulet** (B-Class Prop): Increases the wearer's ability to comprehend and solve linguistic puzzles. Provides a slight boost to intelligence.

2. **Book of Shadows** (C-Class Prop): A mystical book that contains dark spells and incantations. Can be used to gain an advantage in combat.

3. **Silent Step Boots** (C-Class Equipment): Lightweight boots that muffle the wearer's footsteps, ideal for stealth missions.

4. **Puzzle Box** (D-Class Item): A small, enchanted box that contains a riddle or puzzle. Solving it grants a random, minor reward.

5. **Mind's Eye** (D-Class Prop): A small crystal that enhances perception, allowing the user to see through illusions and detect hidden traps.

Yi Zhen quickly selected the **Lexicon Amulet**, **Silent Step Boots**, and **Mind's Eye**. Each item was carefully chosen to aid him in the more challenging dungeons that lay ahead. The rewards materialized in his inventory, ready for use whenever he needed them.

As he exited the Word Maze, Yi Zhen couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anticipation. The MAIN SYSTEM might not know of his rebirth, but it wouldn't be long before his name was on everyone's lips. He was on a mission, not just to survive, but to conquer. The days ahead would be filled with danger and deceit, but Yi Zhen was prepared.

The word puzzle had been child's play to him, a mere warm-up. The real challenges would come later, and he intended to be ready for every one of them. His journey through the Oblivion Cascade Realm was only just beginning, and with each dungeon he conquered, his resolve to escape and destroy the MAIN SYSTEM grew stronger.

Yi Zhen wasn't just playing the game—he was rewriting the rules.