Chapter 28: The Weight of the Lost

Ethan stood motionless, his gaze locked onto the drifting, wisp-like forms before him.

They weren’t just wisps.

They were souls.

Each one a fragment of a life once lived, now trapped in this labyrinth of sorrow.

But how was he supposed to free them?

How could he give them peace?

He had no idea.

Instinctively, he checked his skills and inventory.

‘All intact. Perfect.’

Then, with no other choice, he began to walk.

The labyrinth stretched infinitely in every direction, its walls shifting like living shadows. The deeper Ethan ventured, the thicker the air became—filled with whispers.

Soft. Endless.

Voices of the lost.

Some murmured in confusion.

Some called for people who were long gone.

Some simply ... screamed.

Floating lanterns lined the corridors, their glow weak and flickering, like dying stars struggling to stay alight.

Ethan took it all in, a chill running down his spine.

“This place is eerie.”

And the further he walked, the darker it became.

The light vanished.

The whispers grew louder.

Shadows pressed in.

Ethan stopped.

He was wandering aimlessly. And more importantly—no one here seemed to notice him.

Not even the lost souls.

So, he took the initiative.

He approached the nearest soul—a small girl, curled up in a corner, trembling violently.

Her body flickered, transparent.